Sylvie fought the blush rising into her cheeks as Cobalt’s words hung in the air between them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You called him your mate,” Chromium added unhelpfully, and she gave him a glare.

She’d been so busy making and then executing a plot to take out the lady dragon that she hadn’t even been watching what she said.

She only knew that she’d felt a feral, possessive rage throughout her entire being when she’d seen the bitch lay a hand on Cobalt.

He was hers.

No one else was to touch him.

And she didn’t regret killing Hora. In the time she’d been captured, she’d heard enough about Hora to know that someone would have to condemn the bitch to death in order to stop her.

And since she’d threatened to rape the most amazing person that Sylvie had ever known, the man that Sylvie was in love with, she was honored to be the one to make sure Hora was stopped.

She hadn’t felt anything but rage and satisfaction as Hora had met her end.

Chromium was looking at Hora’s body, now able to move his head. Sylvie knew it probably wouldn’t be long before the rest of the paralysis wore off, and she had some things to say before it did.

The portal behind them slowly faded, much to her relief, and she stepped over Hora’s body to stand in front of the dragons.

“So you thought I’d just leave, huh? Leave my friend and my mate and just run and save my own skin?”

“It was dangerous,” Cobalt muttered. “I didn’t want anything to happen to you since you’re a human.”

She crouched. “Oh yeah? Just a human?”

Cobalt looked up at her, that infuriating grin on his face. “Not just a human. The best human I know. A precious human.”

She felt her flush grow deeper and stood up, folding her arms. “If I’m going to stay around, there are going to be some new rules around here.”

Chromium and Cobalt looked at each other, puzzled expressions on their faces.

“First, no one is to touch you but me,” Sylvie explained, ticking her first demand off on her fingers. “You can’t let any other evil she-dragons touch you.”

“But—”

“Ah-ah, my turn to speak,” Sylvie said playfully, putting up her hand. “And you aren’t allowed to get jealous of Chromium. He just wants the best for you, and he was giving me help.”

Cobalt nodded reluctantly. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. My dragon isn’t as rational as I’d like sometimes.”

She pursed her lips and paced, stopping in front of him again and putting her hands on his firm shoulders. God, she loved touching him. “And my last request? Love me forever. Don’t ever stop, or I’ll break. Because I love you so much.”

She felt his paralysis break as he threw his arms around her, pulling her down and against him so tight she could barely breathe.

“I could never stop loving you,” Cobalt said quietly, pressing his lips to her ear. “I was born to be by your side.”

She closed her eyes, too touched by his words to speak, and heard Chromium clear his throat next to them.

“Gross. Save it for later.” He stood, trying to pull his shirt together and then giving up with a huff. But when he looked at the two of them, he couldn’t help giving them a smile. “I’m glad you two worked things out.”

“Oh, we haven’t worked everything out yet, but we will.” She stood, reaching out a hand to pull Cobalt up with her, and he put a hand around her waist. “So I guess we should head back?”

Cobalt groaned as he looked at the road leading back to the mansion. “Ugh, I guess we should probably get the others out here. Explain what happened with Hora.”

Chromium closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated.

“Hey,” Sylvie said. “This is no time to sleep—”

“Wait,” Cobalt said, stopping her. “That’s not what he’s doing.”

“I have the ability to communicate telepathically at a much greater range than other dragons,” Chromium said. “I got ahold of Zinc. The others should be coming soon.”

They sat back down on the grass together and surveyed the large number of fallen wyverns around them.

“Do you think I’m going to get in trouble?” Sylvie asked, leaning in against Cobalt. She felt so warm and safe against him, and she was never letting him out of her sight again.

“I don’t think so,” Cobalt said. “Chromium and I are here to speak up for you if you are.”

“I couldn’t let her take you,” Sylvie said. “And she was never going to stop. And I… I love you, Cobalt. I’d do anything for you. I know I ran, but I couldn’t really have left you. The second I left, I knew it was a mistake, that I wanted to be by your side. I was just being stupid, and Chromium helped me see I was wrong.”

Chromium just nodded, picking absentmindedly at the grass. Nothing seemed to shake him.

“You said I was your mate,” Cobalt said resolutely, and she laughed.

“Is that all you heard? Are you even listening?”

“I am, but that’s all that mattered. It’s all I’ve wanted since I met you, Sylvie. I’ve wanted you to be mine.”

“Then I’ll mate you.” She leaned against him, and he tilted her head up for a kiss just as they heard the sound of beating wings overhead.

Zinc and the other dragons landed in front of them with a thud, shaking the ground.

Zinc walked forward, sword drawn, and surveyed the scene. “What happened here? Is everyone okay?” His eyes fell on Hora, lying still on the ground, and Sylvie thought she saw a flicker of triumph in his eyes. “You killed her?”

“Sylvie did.”

“Sorry,” Sylvie said. “But I couldn’t let her take Cobalt. Oh, and she wanted to take over the world. But all that really mattered was she wanted to take my world.”

Zinc gave her a smile, looking between her and Cobalt. “I’m glad you two worked it out.”

Cobalt ran a hand through his hair. “Did everyone know about us?”

Zinc ignored that and just laughed, walking over to where Hora was lying and staring down at her with a solemn expression. “I guess that’s over, then.”

Cobalt nodded. “She showed up with a bus full of wyverns. It was a trap. Hard to explain. I’ll talk to the oracle if you’re upset—”

Zinc put up a hand, keeping his always-kingly demeanor. “I’m not upset. Hora tried to get my mate to roofie me. She was full of evil and would never have been stopped any other way.” He cocked his head and looked at Sylvie. “Though, I’m a little surprised it was a human that took her down.”

“More like her own stupidity in underestimating me,” Sylvie said with a little huff. “She thought I was so far beneath her that she didn’t bother to watch her back. She thought I’d run. As if I’d leave my mate behind.” She let out a little snort. “She can suck dick in hell for all I care.”

Zinc threw his head back in a laugh and then gave the order for the dragon guard to start cleaning up.

“Are you going to call the oracle?” Cobalt asked.

“No need,” a voice interrupted, and they turned to see a blue portal open with the oracle stepping through. She looked at Hora on the ground and then over at Cobalt and Sylvie.

She folded her arms and cocked a curvy hip. “I don’t know why I even bother interfering in your choices of mates because you dragons just do whatever you want.”

Cobalt shrugged. “Some things are just fated.”

Sylvie nuzzled against him, sure that no one could ever come between them again. “Yup. He’s mine now. Sorry, oracle.”

The oracle threw her hands in the air in frustration, but her eyes were definitely twinkling. “Who am I to argue with love?”

Then she shook her head and walked over to join the other dragons.

“I guess I should go help, too,” Chromium said, pushing to his feet.

“Thanks,” Cobalt said, shaking his extended hand. “And don’t think I won’t want you around just because I have Sylvie. You’re still my best friend and an important part of my family.”

Chromium stared off into the distance. “I know. But I have my own adventures to seek.”

“That’s right,” Sylvie said, glaring at him suspiciously. “You never did say what you were doing out here.”

“He was here when you got here?” Cobalt asked.

Sylvie nodded.

“Yeah, what were you doing?” Cobalt pursed his lips. “That’s not safe.”

“Oh, look at the time,” Chromium said flatly. “Looks like I’d better head back to the mansion.”

“Oh no you don’t,” Cobalt said, leaping after his cousin and grabbing his shirt. “Get back here and tell me what you were doing outside the mansion.”

Chromium laughed and jerked out of his hold, and Sylvie couldn’t help smiling as she watched the two argue back and forth, ignoring the dragons dragging bodies around in the distance.

It was chaotic and crazy here, and there would probably never be a dull moment. But her life here with her friends and her mate would also be full of hope and love.

As Cobalt gave up on chasing Chromium and looked over at her, his blue eyes sparkling with love, she felt her heart swell to bursting.

She’d finally found the place she was meant to stay.