It felt like hours passed before the door opened again. A petite woman stood in the threshold, shaking hands gripping a dress that had seen far better days. Her long reddish-brown hair was the same shade as Flynn’s, and her wide eyes were frozen in shock.
Flynn crossed the room and pulled the woman in for a hug.
“Amyla,” he breathed into her hair, holding her to him.
The young woman stood frozen in his arms as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. “Flynn?” His name was little more than a whisper on her lips.
“Yes.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m here.”
Those final words seemed to thaw whatever ice held the girl in place. A sob burst from her lips, and she buried her face in her brother’s chest.
“You came, you came, you came.” The words were quieter each time, more broken, until they were nothing but whimpers on Amyla’s lips.
Tears burned in Octavia’s eyes, and her chest was tight.
This was so beautiful, so right, and she’d played a part in it. It didn’t bother her that she’d parted with some of her gold, nor did it bother her that Flynn had tried to steal from her because right now, they’d freed a young woman from a terrible fate.
After a few minutes, Flynn looked up and met her gaze.Thank you, his eyes seemed to say.For this. For my sister.
And as she smiled back, despite their awful surroundings, a peace settled upon her.
The connection remained between her and Flynn. It thrummed with life, as it had ever since their night together.The mating question had been in the back of her mind all day, but now, she knew what she would do.
CHAPTER 12
Peace Comes in Many Forms
Octavia’s dragon swooped low, the thatched roofs of Fallton coming into view as she flew through the clouds.
After the rescue yesterday, they’d flown from Sandhaven to Thyr, a growing city in the middle of the Rose Empire. After a quiet night in The Rosebud, an inn on the edge of town, they'd taken to the skies once again. Octavia and Flynn hadn't had the chance to talk last night. The witch had spent the night conversing quietly with his sister before she'd fallen asleep in his arms. It hadn't seemed right to interrupt, so Octavia had kept her decision to herself.
Octavia’s two riders held on tight to her back. Initially, Octavia had suggested that she drop Flynn and Amyla off on the edge of town, letting them go to their family together, but Flynn insisted that Octavia come with them. He wanted to introduce her to his family.
Nerves fluttered around in her stomach like tiny butterflies. No one had ever taken Octavia home to meet their family. No one had ever cared enough. Hopefully, she wouldn't make a fool of herself.She had grown rather comfortable with the witchover the past few days, but meeting his family was an entirely different matter.
Octavia roared, banking her wings as she descended towards the cobblestone town square.It was midday, and there were several groups of people milling about. She didn’t try to hide. Instead, she let her size and color catch their attention. It wasn’t difficult. Bright purple dragons were not inconspicuous.
Screams and shouts of amazement filled the air as Octavia circled the square. She remained in the air, waiting until there was no one in the square before landing. Her descent was smooth and easy as if she’d done it hundreds of times before. Her talons gripped the stones, and her tail thumped on the ground. From her back slid the two witches.
Moments later, Flynn circled around to Octavia’s front. Her walking stick and his sword were strapped to his back. He held her clothes in one hand and placed the other hand on her nose.
"Thank you, beautiful." His forehead pressed against her snout. "I'll never be able to repay you."
Octavia frowned. Or she would have, but dragons couldn’t really frown.She would have to talk to him about that, though. He didn't owe her anything.For one, she'd only done what any decent person would do. Anyone who had seen the place where Amylawas being held would know that it was not suitable for any person. But perhaps more importantly, there was no debt between them because she could never hold her mate in that kind of position.
They didn't have time to talk about that, though, because a high-pitched squeal came from nearby. A woman wearing a long walnut brown dress came running between two wattle and daub houses, wiping her hands on her flour-dusted apron. A white braid flew behind her, and her cheeks were ruddy as tears ran down her face.
"Amyla," the woman sobbed. She gathered the witchling in her arms and wept.
Flynn leaned against Octavia's hind leg. "My mother," he murmured, running his hand down her scales.
Yes, Octavia had gathered as much.
After that, four other young women and an older man quickly followed. The rest of Flynn's family. There was a flurry of tears and hugs and joyful reuniting. It was a beautiful scene.
Flynn eventually left his post, joining his family and recounting the tale of his sister's rescue.There were more hugs, more tears, more love.
Octavia was starting to feel bad about intruding on this obviously personal moment when Flynn turned back to her. The smile on his face could only be described as glowing as he strode over and placed a hand on her scales. "Mother, Father.I'd like to introduce you to someone very special to me." He turned to Octavia. "Will you shift?"