“This is really happening, huh? We’re actually… dating?”
“It’s more than that,” he said softly. “We’re falling in love, Sasha.”
Oh, my God.Love. A word to conjure up unshed tears and an emotional lump in her throat. Something she hadn’t given herself any time to experience.
Yes.
This was love, wasn’t it? The rushing beat of her heart, the blood in her cheeks. Her mind was stuffed with thoughts of him, and a longing to be close, longing for their hearts and bodies and souls to crash into each other again.
The avenue of emotion frightened her. At the same time, though, she didn’t want to shy away from it.
A knock at the door brought them out of their intimate embrace and they gathered themselves together before answering.
Torag stood in the doorway. “I know everything,” he said with a snarl.
“Yes?” Cyrus said, instantly stiffening while Sasha braced as if for an attack.
“The vampires… their attempt to distract you. And what my beloved son sent to you. Your sister told me everything, and we had a few witnesses who commented on the attack as well. I am… most furious. I will not be defied like that.” His cold eyes examined Sasha. “You are unharmed?”
“Yes sir,” she said before she could stop it. Thesircaused a lip to twitch at one corner of the older dragon’s mouth.
“Good. You keep winning, son. I’ll take care of this little insurrection, and I will makedamnsure that they don’t try such a stunt again.” He gave a weird half-bow, looking as if he wanted to reach out to Cyrus, but refrained in the last moment. “I don’t want to rub salt in the wounds, but… did you enjoy your Thanksgiving?”
“I did.” Cyrus smiled. “I spent it with Sasha here. And it was… a lot better than anything I’ve ever had with our family.”
“Hmmph.” Torag frowned. “True, it’s only formality for us. I am… sorry to have kicked you out. I hope one day I can bring you both in, you and Aleera, and there will be no shame.”
“Sir, if I may…” Sasha lifted a hand, feeling a little awkward. Both dragons looked at her. “The shame is magnified when you show it. But if you acted proud, then either people would be with you or against you. And then perhaps it will be easier to see who is worth keeping.”
“I see.” Those cold eyes bored into her with stark intensity. “You like my son, don’t you?”
“I…”
“You’ve stuck your neck out. You approach me with such diplomacy. Yes… he could do worse than you, that’s for sure.” He gave an approximation of a smile. It looked more like a grimace. “Sometimes I think I would’ve been happier with Aleera’s mother,” he then added, so quiet, Sasha barely heard it.
“You… do?” Cyrus said.
“Yes. She was a good person. But, it didn’t work out. The world is cruel like that sometimes.” He sighed. “I love my wife too. I am not the best for expressing it.”
Sasha felt like she was intruding on a very personal father-son moment in this instance, seeing the way Cyrus’ eyes lit up.
“You’re expressing yourself pretty well now… Dad.”
Now he did reach out and grasped his son’s shoulder. Then, saying nothing else, he departed.
At that, Cyrus spun around, beaming.
Sasha copied the beam, right before falling into his arms again.
Epilogue – Cyrus
With so many fights and so many wins under his belt, he felt his confidence grow by the day. He stared at the ceiling of his home, sunk in happy bliss with Sasha tangled up in his arms. She snored softly, leaving a little drool patch on his shirt.
A new day with this amazing woman by his side. He gently brushed her hair and kissed her forehead.
He didn’t know how long it’d take before his father finally announced to the world that his son had dominated the arena. The strange fighter with the twisted form that conquered so many before them. The frost that had built up between him and his family over the years was thawing, slice by slice. He didn’t know if things could ever fully thaw out, but it was a start.
His brother, colluding with the Infernus son, had… heavily fallen from grace. The engagement was still on, but Cyrus highly doubted that the marriage would be a good one.