Page 82 of Kiss of Embers
Niall marched to him and extracted his daughter from Struan’s arms. “Thank you, Struan,” he said deliberately.
Struan smiled. “That’s exactly what Queen Isolde said.” He shot Zara a smug look. “They named the babies after me.”
“One ofseveralmiddle names,” Niall corrected, gently bouncing the baby. His features softened. “But you’re right, MacLure. Cormac, Isolde, and I can never repay you for what you did.” He looked at Zara. “You too, lass.”
Zara’s eyes widened. “Me?”
Niall’s dark eyes gleamed. “Who knows how things would have worked out if you hadn’t signed up for the Games? Fate is a powerful force, but our choices can be just as powerful.”
I moved to Zara’s side. “I’m just glad she chose me,” I said, tucking a strand of pale hair into the elegant style at her nape. I looked at Struan. “And Struan.”
He winked at me.
I smiled at him. “Probably, I was her first choice, though.”
Zara tugged the baby’s blanket down, exposing the child’s face. Dark curls peeked from a knitted pink cap. Her rosebud mouth was pursed, her thick lashes resting on peaches and cream cheeks. For one second, a diminutive scale pattern appeared across the bridge of her button nose, the overlapping design a brilliant emerald green. It shimmered and then disappeared, her skin smooth and pink once more.
Niall ran a reverent finger down the little girl’s cheek. “Cormac says that’ll stop happening once she’s older and learns how to control her beast. Until then, we have to prepare for toddlers with wings.”
Struan cast a dubious look around the antechamber with its soaring ceilings and suits of armor. “Puts a whole new spin on baby-proofing.”
Niall followed Struan’s gaze, mild panic flaring in his dark eyes. “Yes. We might have to do some…redecorating.”
“You’ll be just fine,” Zara said. She gave a dreamy sigh as she gazed down at the baby. “She’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Niall beamed at his daughter. “She is,” he said softly. “A dragon princess.”
Struan chuckled. “This castle isn’t going to know a moment’s peace.”
Niall frowned. “Oh no, I don’t think that’s true. So far, she’s much easier than her brother.” His brow smoothed as he tucked the baby’s blanket more firmly around her. “I’m confident this sweet lass will give us no trouble at all.”
Epilogue
ZARA
Six months later
Struan’s whoop of joy drifted onto the beach.
Sand crunched, and then Finn appeared next to me. He studied Struan for a moment before murmuring, “Do you think he’s seen that wave cresting behind him?”
“Nope.”
Finn chuckled. “What an idiot.”
Seconds later, the wave behind Struan crashed over him, knocking him from the surfboard. His head went under the water…and didn’t come back up. I held my breath, my gaze on the ocean. A minute passed. Struan didn’t appear.
“Where is he?” I asked, my heart beating faster.
“He’s fine,” Finn said, sounding bored. “He’s a dragon.”
I looked at my husband. “Yeah, but he sucks at surfing.”
Something pinched my ass. I yelped, then whirled to find a naked Struan just behind me.
“Struan!” I shoved him hard. He stumbled backward, his shoulders shaking as he laughed.
I glowered at him as I rubbed my ass. “I was really worried!”