Wildfire Sea Dragon (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew Book 3), page 23
He kissed the tip of her nose. “You did all the hard work. I just had to stand there.”
“You had to embrace the part of yourself that you’d feared.” She traced light spirals up his spine, making his breath catch. “I know how hard that is.”
“Yes,” he said softly. “I know you do.” He snugged her closer. “Know what else is hard?”
She laughed. Her hips flexed, deliciously. “Joe. We have to get up and cut line in four hours.”
He sighed, releasing her—but she rolled, straddling him. Her hands pinned his wrists. She grinned down at him. Her sharp-edged smile sent a jolt of pure fire through him.
“So I’ll be quick,” she said.
She sank down onto him, capturing him in her wet heat. All thought fled. There was nothing in the world but her, riding him, hard enough to make him see stars.
“Oh, sea,” he gasped, arcing up to meet her. “Seven. My mate.”
She captured his mouth, silencing him. Her hips ground against him, getting just the right angle to rub her slick, swollen nub against his hardness. Her inner walls tightened. He could sense her own pleasure gathering like a tidal wave, increasing his own.
He couldn’t hold back. Hot pressure built at the base of his spine. He spilled into her in ecstatic pulses, feeling her grip him tight in her own release.
She collapsed down onto him, breathing hard. She kissed the side of his neck.
“There,” she said, sounding smug. “I finally found out how to make you stop talking.”
“A mighty feat,” he agreed. “You should add it to your name. You know, officially. Seventh Novice, Slayer of Demons, Silencer of Joe.”
“Guardian of the Sea’s Heart,” she said sleepily.
“That too.” He held her close, hearts beating in unison, slowing. His thoughts were slowing too, turning fuzzy around the edges. “Actually, I guess you won’t be Seventh Novice, will you? You fulfilled your quest. I’ll have to get used to calling you Fourteenth Knight, or whatever number they’re up to in the Order of the First Water.”
“Seren,” she mumbled.
“What?”
“It’s my birth name.” She nestled closer against him. “The one my mother gave me. I haven’t used it in a long time, but now I want to reclaim my human side as well as my shark. You can call me Seren.”
“Seren,” he whispered. “Oh, yes. My Seren.”
Sleep enfolded them both, softly as a blanket.
And all his dreams were good.
Epilogue
Even far under the sea, Atlantis glowed with light. The waters surrounding the city were filled with shimmering bioluminescence. Through the air bubble enclosing the Imperial Palace, the soft, constantly changing shades of blue and green looked like the Northern Lights. Vast shoals of glowing fish danced and darted in ever-shifting, living constellations.
Joe gazed up, watching a pod of young dolphin shifters playing in the waters outside the magical barrier. A sinuous sea dragon knight hovered a little way off, nominally on guard, but mostly just keeping an indulgent eye on the exuberant children. He breathed deeply, inhaling the sharp tang of salt.
A warm hand fell on his shoulder.
“It is good to have you home, my son,” his father said.
“It’s good to be home.” He turned, leaning back against the polished coral railing. “Even if it’s only a flying visit. I wish I could stay for longer, but we only get two days off every few weeks.”
“We are honored that you chose to spend them with us.” His father was in full formal armor. Light danced from the polished metal plates as he chuckled. “I must confess, most of the time when I finish a long shift of firefighting, all I want to do is sleep.”
Joe grinned back. “Well, not going to say it wasn’t an effort to force myself out of bed this morning.”
“I suspect that had very little to do with sleep,” his mother said dryly as she joined them. She adjusted the ornate crown perched on top of her cloud of dark curls. “Are you ready?”
He touched his own circlet. It was just a simple golden band, set with a single deep blue sapphire, but it still felt heavy on his brow. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
His mother and father glanced at each other, in the silent communication of a long-mated couple. He smiled again, thinking of Seren. One day, that would be them, the bond between them only growing deeper and brighter with each passing year.
“I will see if the Princesses are finally dressed,” his father said. A faintly pained expression crossed his face. “And not in ripped jeans and sneakers.”
“Tell them that if I have to wear this stuff, so do they.” Joe held up his hands, showing off his own formal, traditional attire—tight leather trousers, golden armbands, his torso bare but for a turquoise silk sash that matched his eyes. “At least I make it look good.”
“I shall exhort them to live up to their big brother’s shining example.” His father hesitated, his eyes going suspiciously bright. “I am proud of you, my son.”
A lump came to his throat. He shrugged, affecting nonchalance. “Hey, it’s just an outfit.”
His father clasped his shoulder again, fingers tightening. “I was not referring to the clothes.”
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” his mother said to him as the Imperial Champion left. “Make it a public ceremony, I mean. Not if you don’t want to.”
“I do want to. I have the most amazing mate in the world. I want to show her off to everyone in Atlantis.”
His mother stretched up to tap his circlet, the crown of the Emperor-in-Waiting. “You could do that without this, though.”
He studied her. His mother, the one who’d held him and sung to him and kissed his bruises; all that still, and also every inch the Empress.
“I want to make you proud of me too,” he said.
“I already am.” She smiled, through the tears welling in her eyes. “I have always been proud of you.”
He hugged her tight, resting his cheek against hers. “Seren told me that you knew. About my gift, I mean.”
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled into his ear. “It’s not fair. I’ve given you so many burdens by being your mother.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He stepped back, offering her the end of his sash to wipe her eyes. “I was scared of my birthright for a long time, but I’m…well, to be honest, I’m still scared. But I’m not running away from it. Any of it. Not anymore.”
“If you wanted…” His mother stopped, sniffed, and went on. “If you wanted to renounce the throne, I would support you, you know.”
“I know.” He brushed his fingers over her crown. “But I know as well as you do that this is just a symbol. I was born with power. I could try to deny it, turn my back on it, insist that I was like everyone else…but it wouldn’t be true. I was given a great gift, unearned. I have to pay it forward. Use it to help people who weren’t so lucky.”
He reached out to take her hand, squeezing it. “Just like you do.”
His mother gazed at him for a long moment.
“Sea dragons have it wrong, you know,” she said softly. “It’s not our ancestors we have to try to live up to. It’s our descendants.”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “If that’s a subtle hint about grandchildren, you’ll have to take it up with my mate.”
She burst out laughing. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Pity. I was hoping you’d start crocheting tiny booties meaningfully in her direction.”
“Riveting tiny war boots, possibly. Between your genetics and hers, one doesn’t have to be able to see the future to predict that your children are going to be utter terrors.” She sounded distinctly pleased by the prospect.
“I just hope they take after their mother.” The mate bond brightened in his heart as he spoke. “Speaking of which…”
Seren stepped through the archway, joining them on the balcony. The underwater aurora shimmered from her armor, washing the curving steel plates in turquoise and emerald. The gems set into her silver bracers sparkled.
As always, his heart moved sideways in his chest at the sight of her. He caught her hand, lifting it to his lips.
“You look stunning,” he breathed.
She made a small face, tugging self-consciously at one pearl-inlaid shoulder-guard. “I’m still getting used to it. My old leathers were lighter.”
“Ah, the burdens of knighthood,” he teased her. “I have something for you.”
Her eyes flicked downward, and then to his mother. “Is this really the time?”
He laughed. “Not that.”
Though that would come later, he vowed. Gorgeous as Seren was in her new armor, she would be even more gorgeous out of it. Naked, splayed across the royal bed, while he adorned her with gold and gems from his personal hoard…
He had to surreptitiously adjust the end of his sash. There were distinct disadvantages to the skin-tight leggings of traditional sea dragon male attire.
“It’s a mating gift,” he said, kneeling to open the chest next to him. “It’s traditional for a Crown Prince to give his new Princess something from the Imperial treasury.”
“It’s not a crown, is it?” she asked, sounding a little apprehensive. “Or some other kind of heavy jewelry? I mean, I’m already clanking when I walk.”
“Nope.” He straightened, turning back to her. “I thought you’d like this best.”
She gasped at sight of the gleaming sword balanced across his palms. “Joe. That’s—that’s—”
“Seafire,” he said. The opal on the sword’s pommel sparkled in response to its name, gleaming with frozen turquoise flame. “Yes.”
“Forged by the Fourth Empress,” Seren breathed. Her hand trembled over the hilt. “For her mate, the Founder of the Order of the First Water. Carried by knights of the Imperial bloodline for generations. Joe, you can’t give me this.”
“Actually he can,” his mother said mildly. “I told him to pick whatever he wanted. And I thoroughly approve of his choice. The Guardian of the Sea’s Heart needs a worthy weapon if she is to protect my son.” Her smile softened, shaded with old sadness. “That was my father’s sword. He would have been delighted to see her go to you. More than anything, he wanted to heal the rift between sharks and sea dragons.”
“Take her,” Joe urged, when Seren still hesitated. “You need a proper sword in order to be knighted. And look, she knows you. She’s been waiting for a worthy wielder. Take her.”
The glow from the opal was brightening, the colors within swirling faster. When Seren’s hand closed on the hilt, the whole gem lit up in a dazzling flare. Her mouth curved in a stunned, joyful smile as she lifted the sword.
“Seafire,” she said reverently, drawing it an inch to inspect the thousand-layered steel of the blade. “She’s beautiful.”
“Just like her knight.” He claimed her mouth for a kiss. “Now come on. Atlantis is waiting for us.”
There was still some confusion over her name, Seren noted with amusement as she rose. The Imperial scholars had been debating for weeks whether Princess-Consort should come before Sixteenth Knight of the Order of the First Water, or vice versa. Apparently, two eminent sea dragon historians from the Underwater Academy had even come to blows over whether Guardian of the Sea’s Heart was indeed a formal title at all, or merely a fond poetic nickname that had been invented the one and only time previously that an Emperor-in-Waiting had ended up mated to his bodyguard.
The people of Atlantis, however, seemed to have made up their own minds. Even as the Knight-Commander of the First Water lifted her to her feet, formally welcoming her into the Order as a full knight at last, a single shout went up from the watching crowd.
“Demon-Slayer!” they roared joyously, in both human and dragon tongues. “Demon-Slayer!”
The Knight-Commander chuckled as they clasped forearms in the greeting of one warrior to another. “So much for scholarship,” the tall, dark sea dragon woman murmured.
The Knight-Commander turned to address the assembled ranks of knights, gorgeous and gleaming in formal armor. “It is my great honor to present to you our newest sister in battle. All hail the Demon-Slayer, Sixteenth Knight of the Order of the First Water, Princess-Consort and Guardian of the Sea’s Heart!”
The knights drew their swords, saluting her. Seren drew Seafire, marveling once more at the exquisite balance and beauty of the blade. The crowd cheered even louder as she lifted the sword high.
Only one person wasn’t cheering. Lord Azure had drawn his sword as tradition demanded, but his salute was half-hearted at best. Technically, he was supposed to have been the one to knight her, but he’d relinquished that honor to the Knight-Commander. Seren had been secretly relieved by that. Lord Azure might have been forced to accept the success of her quest, but he clearly hadn’t been happy about it.
Now he was glowering at her, the only scowling face amidst the beaming knights. He rammed his sword back into its sheath. She saw his lips move, muttering something.
She too far away to hear what he’d said, but sea dragon hearing was better than a shark’s. A little ripple went through the knights, a kind of mass in-breath of shock.
“Lord Azure,” Joe said from behind her, his voice silky-smooth. “Would you care to repeat that?”
Lord Azure twitched as everyone turned to stare at him. “It…it was a private comment, Your Highness.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Joe stalked toward Lord Azure. The rest of the knights wisely scattered out of his way. “It was a very serious accusation. Repeat it, or retract it. Now.”
Lord Azure swallowed, throat bobbing. He glanced around as though for support. The crowd had fallen absolutely silent, riveted by the unexpected drama. Seren knew that a man as proud as Lord Azure would never back down in front of such a large audience.
The knight drew himself up, puffing out his chest in a show of bravado. “I shall repeat it, then. She would never have been knighted had she not been your mate.”
The assembled shifters gasped. Seren’s heart thudded as people’s eyes moved from Lord Azure to her and back again.
They’ll believe him. She could see it in their faces, hear it in the growing whispers. At least some of them will believe it’s true.
“It is only the truth!” Lord Azure lifted his voice, emboldened by the crowd’s response. He jabbed an accusing finger at her, playing to his audience. “I had no choice but to say that she was ready, for fear that the Crown Prince would unjustly and unlawfully take revenge on the entire Order. In truth, I would never have recommended her for knighthood. She is not worthy, will never be worthy! She dishonors the Order of the First Water!”
Pure fury washed over her, but she held herself back. She tore her eyes from the raving Lord Azure to seek out Joe. He was a single point of calm amidst the growing chaos. Despite his earlier anger, he now stood in a relaxed stance, thumbs hooked into his sash, head tipped back. He gazed thoughtfully up past the magical air bubble enclosing the plaza, into the deep blue of the waters above.
Then he looked at her. He winked.
“Lord Azure,” she said loudly, instantly silencing the crowd. “You insult my honor. I challenge you. Will you accept or concede?”
“Accept,” he snarled. “I have no fear of a mere shark.”
She bowed to him, in the barest minimum show of courtesy. “Then the choice of weapons is yours.”
“You have been given a blade.” He drew his own, light running down the razor-edged steel. “Let us see if you can use it.”
“Lord Azure!” the Pearl Empress said sharply. “You know I do not condone duels with live steel. Does honor truly demand that this is settled with blood?”
“Yes,” Lord Azure and Seren said together.
Joe had moved to his mother’s side. He touched her sleeve, whispering in her ear.
The Empress puffed out her cheeks, but nodded. “Very well then. But to first blood only, understand? My extreme displeasure will fall upon anyone who inflicts a serious injury on the other.”
Seren saluted the Empress, then Joe. His sun-bright confidence in her filled her heart. She felt no fear, not so much as a single flicker of doubt as she took up her stance opposite Lord Azure.
She swept her sword round and up, formally saluting him. He sneered, and launched straight into an attack with none of the customary respectful preliminaries.
Seafire was an extension of her own body. The sword sang joyously through the air, turning aside Lord Azure’s blow.
The whole world fell away. She danced in combat time, every part of her gloriously alive, focused entirely in this moment. For all the danger, there was delight, too. This, this was what she had dreamed of, what she had trained for, what she had been made to do.
Lord Azure had been a full knight for nearly a decade. He was arrogant, true, but it wasn’t entirely unearned. He was good. She knew he was good.
And yet, as their blades clashed time and again, she could taste his rising distress. Despite all his experience, all his confidence, he couldn’t penetrate her defense.
He was good.
And she was better.
She saw the moment he realized it, that he wasn’t going to win. His guard faltered, just for an instant. Seafire darted in, swift as a dolphin. Lord Azure only managed to save himself with a frantic, clumsy leap back, barely evading her blade. He stumbled, off-balance, almost falling into the crowd.
She could have lunged and had him there and then, but she checked herself. There were too many people around, pressing too close, idiotically pushing each other to get a better view. There was too much risk of someone getting hurt.
She retreated to the center of the impromptu arena, giving Lord Azure space to do so too. “At your convenience, Lord Azure.”
He glared at her, falling into stance once more. He was winded, clearly losing, and yet she still tasted a sudden sharp surge of triumph from him.
“I shall show everyone what you are,” he hissed.
He spun his blade. It might have made sense as an attack if she’d been behind him…barely. Confused, she tightened her guard, wondering what in the sea he thought he was doing.
