Epilogue
The compound spanned over rolling, green hills, perfectly landscaped with trees and flowers. Stone paths wound through the gardens past tranquil fountains. Some referred to this place as “Paradise.” It had an official title: Tarasque Center, named for the legend of a dragon tamed by the love and patience of Saint Martha.
Seph and Asha walked side by side through the grounds. She carried a smart tablet, swiping her forefinger over the screen. The white jewels imbedded in the pink polish on her long, beautifully manicured nails twinkled in the sunlight. “Now,” she said, “this is today’s itinerary. At nine, one, and three, we have the What to Expect from Your First Clutch classes. At noon, we have the lunch with Dr. Meredith giving a talk about nutrition and the importance of maintaining the proper diet during and after pregnancy. Then at five, we have Laying an Egg: Giving Birth to Dragons.”
Seph cringed at the last one. “I still think we shouldn’t have scheduled that last one for just before supper,” he said. “The video is pretty graphic. It’s just…” He made a disgusted noise and shuddered. “I don’t know. It might be too much.”
Asha laughed. “For you, maybe,” she said, and smiled up at him. “You are one of the most squeamish people I have ever met – and you’ve hunted in Dragon form! How can you take down a deer in the forest with your bare teeth and be grossed out over the sight of something as beautiful as a woman passing an object the size of your head through her vagina – oh, wait.” She held up a hand. “That’s it. I forget that men, no matter what their species, don’t mind seeing things go into a va-jay-jay, but they have problems seeing something coming out of one. Mm-hm. I got you, now. I got you.”
“Yes, well,” Seph sighed, “I suppose there’s something to that.” He caught the sleeve of her blouse, the off-white lace a lovely contrast to her brown skin, and stopped her. Pulling her around to face him, he smiled down at her. “I know I say this to you every day; if I didn’t, you would think there was something wrong with me.” He gazed into her dark eyes. “I love you.” He spread a hand over the swell of her belly. “And I will be there every time, whenever you give birth to our children.” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe how blessed I am to have found you.”
Asha smiled and reached up to touch his cheek. “I was always right here,” she said. “Right under your nose, the whole time. I still can’t believe that I was your perfect mate.” She dropped her hand down to cover his where it rested on her stomach. “Honestly – if you had told me three years ago that I would be carrying a second Dragon clutch in my womb, combining my matchmaking business with a retreat that counsels couples and teaches them the ins and outs of raising a family? I would have laughed in your handsome face.”
“And yet, here we are,” Seph said. He pulled her fingers up to his lips and kissed them. “Motherhood suits you, too. You’ve given me two amazing daughters with our first clutch; soon, we’ll have a son.” He still remembered his joy when he saw the results of the last ultrasound and discovered that one of the eggs contained a male. He loved their little girls from the first clutch – Mara and Tansi were the priceless jewels in their daddy’s hoard – but he could not help the feeling of pride and anticipation for the arrival of their first male child. He looked forward to the day when the egg left his wife’s body, when he would hold it in his hands and help peel away the pliable, leathery, protective shell and free the infant inside. “Our little Kur.”
“I still don’t know how I feel about that name,” Asha said. “I know it’s in honor of the First Dragon, but it still sounds like another word for ‘dog’ – ‘cur.’” Her full lips twisted slightly. “I just don’t want to set our child up to be teased by other kids. Because while I know you grew up with private tutors and all, I know how cruel children in public schools can be. And I am adamant about sending our kids to regular schools. They need to learn how to socialize with other people, and realize that they are no better than anyone else.” She smiled. “But we don’t have time to rehash that discussion. We’ve got a class to teach, and a lot of nervous couples to calm down.”
“Because seeing how happy and successful we are sets a good example,” Seph said, repeating the claim Asha had made when they first conceived of Tarasque Center.
She grinned. “And they told me Dragons can’t be trained.” They began to walk again. “I’ve still got to work on getting you properly housebroken, but we’re getting there.” Asha peered up at him, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Even if it takes the rest of my life.”
“Till death do us part,” Seph agreed. He knew from personal experience with his parents how short life could be. One could hope for a long life with one’s chosen mate only to have those dreams shattered by sickness, or some other sudden, unexpected event. He had made a promise, both to Asha and himself, that he would not dwell on those things or over-analyze them, and instead be thankful for what they had and to savor every moment. We’re going to watch our children grow up and have children of their own, he thought. Father may have tried to push him into finding a wife and settling down, but Seph had taken control of his own life and made his own choices. And I am happier for every one of them.
He thought back to the day when their first clutch had come into the world, recalling the tears that had filled his father’s eyes when they had told him one of the girls had been named ‘Mara,’ after Seph’s mother and Cyril’s late and much-beloved wife. Seph still had to marvel every time he saw his father with his granddaughters, how animated the patriarch of the Vovin Clan would become in their presence. It’s amazing how two little girls managed to melt the cold heart of one cranky old Dragon, Seph mused.
Cyril had come to embrace Asha, as well, welcoming her as a member of the family. Like Seph, he admired her strength and no-nonsense manner. Asha had made it clear early on that she would not allow her father-in-law to disrespect her; that fire had been one of the reasons Cyril had taken a shine to her, and had given his blessings to their union. Seph looked at his wife and the mother of his children, and smiled. Even if Father had wound up disowning me, for whatever reason, I still have a family – the one I’ve made with Asha, my perfect match in every way.
Looping an arm around Asha’s shoulders, Seph hugged her to his side, determined to keep her there for many years to come.
*****
THE END