Dragon Springs had eagerly embraced the opportunity to show off for the alpha ceremony, which was celebrating both Damon coming into his full power, and his and Autumn’s mating.

Autumn was wearing a gorgeous white gown studded all over with tiny diamonds arranged in the shape of swirling vines and flowers. It hugged her chest tightly, showing off her ample cleavage, then widening at the waist to gently flow over her curves with layer after layer of chiffon and silk. Whenever she turned, the skirt swirled around her. She looked like a princess—and moreover, the diamonds on the dress satisfied Damon’s inner dragon, who’d been aching to drape her in approximately forty pounds of gems and pearls.

Instead, the only jewelry she wore were the golden bracelets Damon had created for her at their mating, together with gorgeous studs of diamonds in the shape of flowers in her ears and a tiara in her hair. They’d belonged to Damon’s great-great-grandmother, who’d worn them at her own wedding—to a Spanish dragon who’d been a duke, or so Damon claimed.

It had been somewhat terrifying at first, reminding her painfully that she hadn’t been able to afford anything but the payments on her car for most of her adult life. Despite the gorgeous dress, she couldn’t be more unlike a princess if she tried.

But then she’d taken her first step out into the town’s square by Damon’s side, and all of her fears had fallen away.

Everyone had come. Tilly hadn’t been able to leave the farm during the busy season, but they’d promised her to stop by on their honeymoon.

The entire town of Dragon Springs had gathered, cheering and whooping and waving. And so many of them had become friends by now that it truly felt as if Autumn had at last arrived home.

There was the crocodile doctor, her stern face now lit up with a rare smile, although her eyes had lost none of their shrewd sharpness.

And Autumn’s mom had immediately befriended the older woman as soon as she’d arrived. Now, they were standing side by side as they watched the proceedings.

Next to them the entire clan of bears had gathered, the men shifting uncomfortably in their good suits. All the foxes were out as well—and for once, all competitiveness seemed to have been put aside.

Four of the tiny fox cubs were riding on the shoulders of the largest bear shifter for a better view. And the huge banquet table was set with not two cakes, but a single, seven-tiered cake that would be more than enough for all of their guests.

Next to the cake, fox shifter and bear matriarch stood together, beaming in satisfaction as people oohed and aahed at their work. All the layers were covered with white frosting, and decorated with flowers and tiny animals made of sugar, representing every species of shifter living in the town.

“Congratulations once more, my friend,” the sheriff said when they stopped to shake his hand. “And to your mate. The town couldn’t be happier for both of you.”

Next to him, the giraffe shifter stood, who ran the local flower shop. She’d shifted for the occasion, still nudging some of the flower arrangements that hung above the square with her head. A handful of tiny birds was roosting on her back, chirping in congratulation as well.

And then, at last, they’d made it to the center of the square—where a new surprise was waiting for them.

Both the dragon of water and the dragon of air had come. Even griffin shifter Jared stood by their side, all three impeccably dressed. Gregory, the dragon of the storm, had brought his mate. She was wearing a gorgeous dress of lavender silk that curved over her pregnant belly, wearing a diamond at her throat that seemed to shift between colors in the light of the sun.

But most shocking was that there, next to the water dragon, Braeden stood.

At Autumn’s gasp of surprise, the fire dragon gave her a small smile. “I don’t know why, but they’ve let me out for the occasion.”

One of the otter children booed. In response, Braeden shrugged and lifted his hands to show them to Autumn.

Bands of a heavy, strange metal encircled his wrists. It looked like no metal she’d ever seen, so dark it seemed to swallow the light.

“Dragonsbane and obsidian to stifle my powers. I’m impressed at how dangerous they think I am.”

Autumn hesitated a moment. Then, determined, she moved forward and hugged him. After a moment, he hugged her back, and the crowd gasped in shock.

Fire dragon or not, he’d tried to save her life, back when the other dragons had attacked the cave. Without him holding them off while she hid in the bedroom, they might have killed her before Damon made it back to them.

“Hey,” Timothy said to her right. “I’m the one who deserves all the hugs here. Not only does the old monster want me to find a mate as quickly as possible, I’ve also been forced to babysit our fire dragon for this outing.”

Braeden gave the water dragon an unimpressed look. “Don’t pretend I’m the one making your life difficult. After spending the morning with you, I'm not surprised you have trouble finding a mate.”

“Hey now,” the water dragon protested, “I’ll have you know that for the past ten years, I’ve won Most Eligible Council Bachelor every year.”

Braeden frowned, then suspiciously turned to Damon. “Is that a thing?” he asked.

“No,” Damon said, then laughed. “But if it were, I have no doubt he would’ve won.”

Timothy gave the fire dragon a victorious smirk.

“Of course,” Damon added, “flirting with every single model on a cruise is no guarantee at all that you’ll find a mate.”

“In fact,” Gregory added dryly, “I’d say it’s a pretty good guarantee you won’t.”

Timothy crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I’ll have you know that I’m a World Championship Finalist flirter. A First Degree Charmer. A—”

Autumn laughed. “It’s not about flirting,” she said, even though she had to admit he was charming. He was just too charming. “It’s about love. And commitment.”

“Ugh. My one weakness.” Timothy grimaced. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I haven’t found a mate since the chimera told me to. But not for lack of trying. Anyway, I’ve got a genius plan. After the ceremony, I’ll fly to LA and spend my nights partying my way through every single club there. Bulletproof plan. She’ll fall for me the instant she’ll see me, and then we’re done with this thing and can finally move on.”

“Good luck,” Braeden said, his expression making it obvious that he thought it was the worst plan he’d ever heard.

Damon only shook his head. “Call us if you need help. Really. I mean it. We might not always see eye to eye, but we know a bit more about human mates than you do.”

“Or call Autumn and me,” Naomi added, rolling her eyes at Autumn in sympathy. “Because your experts in the mysterious ways of the human women are standing right in front of you.”

“Will do,” Timothy said carelessly, clearly convinced that his genius plan would work out without a hitch.

Then, at last, the otter children started cheering, clearly in the hope to speed up the boring talking to get to the good parts that involved cake.

A moment later, everyone else joined in. The giraffe florist hurriedly bumped against several baskets hung up high, releasing a cloud of golden glitter that drifted through the air, showering them all in sparkles.

“I guess that’s our signal,” Damon said and laughed. Still holding on to Autumn’s hand, he stepped forward together with her.

At the same time, the sheriff had come forward as well, and now presented Damon with a small box.

Damon took hold of it and turned towards Autumn.

“I love you,” he said simply, his eyes the deep, warm brown of the earth. “Until the end of time itself, I am yours.”

“Until the end of time, I am yours,” she repeated, joy filling her with liquid heat. It was so strong it felt like her heart couldn’t possibly contain all the love inside her.

The mate bond pulsed with golden warmth between them as Damon opened the small box and drew out a necklace.

It was a polished, round stone of amber, encasing a tiny, perfectly preserved flower. In the light of the sun, the stone sparkled like the light of the sun itself had been trapped in it.

Gently, he fastened the chain around Autumn’s neck. The amber came to rest against her skin. It felt strangely warm and seemed to pulse with the same rhythm as the mate bond.

“My mate,” Damon said huskily. “And now also the lady of the earth.”

Autumn drew in a surprised breath as she felt a tickle of energy rushing through her, gathering at her fingertips.

There was a flower arrangement in front of them that had somehow drawn her attention. When she focused on it, she could dimly see another sort of energy that pulsed through it.

The energy of the earth. My element. Our element, Damon’s voice whispered through the mate bond.

Slowly, Autumn raised her hand. The amber at her throat grew even warmer—and then the energy tickling in her fingers pulsed out from her.

Instead of the gorgeous flower arrangement, a strange bush blossoming with at least twenty different flowers had suddenly appeared.

No, Autumn realized a heartbeat later. It was still the same flower arrangement. Only, with the power of the earth moving through it, she’d made the flowers grow roots. New shoots had blossomed into new flowers, and fragrant clusters of red, white and yellow came bursting out of the ground.

Amazed, she raised her hand to look at her fingers. Then she turned to Damon, laughing as the cheering around them intensified.

“I guess we’ll never have to worry about flowers for our table again,” she said, and then she was drawn into his arms.

Damon’s mouth was warm on hers, his strong arms hugging her tightly as he kissed her. Autumn gladly surrendered to it.

His love was streaming into her—and in turn, her own love was flowing towards him through the mate bond. Dimly, she could hear what had to be the song only his dragon could hear: the song of earth and stone and flowers.

Her earth dragon had come home, and the earth was rejoicing. And so was Autumn, because she’d finally come home as well. Home to him—and home to a love as generous as the earth, and as invincible as metal.

My mate, she whispered into the bond, more flowers sprouting at her feet.

Until the end of time, Damon said, the warm glow of the bond increasing until all she could see was Damon. Forever.