Chapter 141

Anila’s POV

I’m not sure how long I had been out, but when I woke up, I was no longer in the burning towns. I was lying in a fairly comfortable bed in a familiar room.

“Oh, good. You’re awake,” Nurse Lorelei, the head nurse at Lunar Academy, said with a smile.

“I’m back at school?” I whispered, my voice sounding unfamiliar and hoarse. My body was stiff as I attempted to move, but I didn’t feel any actual pain.

“You were brought back a few days ago. You were sleeping ever since that battle,” she said sighing. “I heard quite the story about you. I must say, word had gotten around quickly.”

My cheeks flushed at her words.

Everyone knew what had happened?

“Anila,” I heard my name from the doorway as Xaden walked into the room. “We could feel that you were awake through the bond.”

I smiled weakly at him and gave him a small wave, trying to get my body to cooperate again.

“Just take your time,” Lorelei said gently. “You hadn’t used your body in days so it’ll be stiff.”

“I was so worried,” Xaden whispered, stepping closer to the bed as Lorelei gave us space. “After everything went down, I thought we might have lost you.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” I teased. “Who would keep you from killing your brother?”

He laughed and before he could reply, Zach spoke from the doorway.

“He could try,” Zach muttered, stepping into the room. “But I wouldn’t go down without a fight.” He smiled when he saw me and it was a nice smile, making my heart flip in my chest. “Hey, little mate. Welcome back to the land of the living. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” I admitted. “And stiff.”

“Yeah, you used a lot of magic. They could apparently feel it all the way at this school. You’ll probably be tired for a while,” Zach told me, a look of pride on his face. “My mate’s kind of a badass.”

This made Xaden laugh as he nodded in agreement.

“She’s smart too. I like my women with a brain,” Damien said, stepping into the room. “You used a lot of really great spells. I was pretty impressed. But that last spell you used…” he whistled appreciatively. “I never taught you anything like that. I don’t think I could even if I tried. That was a doozy, and it took a lot out of you. I’m surprised you aren’t asleep longer.”

I let out a weak laugh; I’m not entirely sure what possessed me, but it was something. Or someone.

I didn’t voice that out loud though; they had enough to worry about. I wasn’t going to add to it.

“And she’s strong,” Harley said, walking in after Damien. “Heard she was picking up pillars like it was nothing.”

Harley walked around the bed and slid in beside me, wrapping me in his arms. There was barely any room for the both of us, but as I snuggled up with him, grateful for his warmth. He knew exactly what I needed at that moment.

“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Jaxon said from the doorway; his eyes dark as he stared at me.

My heart skipped a beat as I shimmed out of the hold of my mates and got to my feet. My legs didn’t work at first and Harley had to catch me before I fell. But I was too eager to get to Jaxon. I was so worried about him… seeing him now made me feel nothing but relieved.

“I could have come to you,” he told me as I finally neared him.

He wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled his face in the nape of my neck, inhaling deeply.

“I was so worried,” I whispered to him. “Are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that,” he said, peppering kisses along my shoulders. At that moment, I realized I was completely naked. But that also didn’t matter because I was with my mates, and it wasn’t anything they hadn’t seen before.

“I’m okay now,” I told him.

He lifted me into his arms and carried me back to the bed, his lips never leaving my neck as he kissed and nipped at my sweet spot.

“Good,” he murmured against me, sending a warmth like no other throughout my body.

“Have any of you guys seen my friends?” I asked, refocusing my attention. “Are they okay? How’s Penny? What even happened out there? How did I end up here?”

They laughed at my rapid questions.

“One question at a time, little mate,” Zach teased. “They are all fine. They are recovering but for the most part, they will heal fine.”

“I made sure Penny made it through,” Jaxon told me. “I caught her before she landed on the ground and cured her from the dragon's scratch. She’ll be okay. Just tired, like you.”

I nodded as relief washed over me.

She was okay.

I didn’t lose my best friend.

Thank you, Goddess.

“As far as what happened, well you can thank Zach for this plan,” Xaden said, patting his brother’s shoulder. “He took charge. It was his idea to use everyone as a distraction for the Alpha King and to bring in Sadie and Sally. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to get the dragon stone.”

Zach shrugged.

“It wasn’t hard to distract him,” Zach murmured. “I figured Sadie and Sally were small enough in their animal forms that they could get the dragon stone without being seen. Penny volunteered to get them close to the king. Having the wolf and bear shifters there just added to the distraction. I could see him losing his mind from the ground.”

I thought about the Alpha King in dragon form, whipping around and trying to figure out who to attack first while Sadie and Sally were getting the Dragonstone from him.

“You’re incredible,” I whispered to Zach, hugging him. “Thank you. But you could have told me.”

“It was funny watching you be confused,” he admitted with a sly grin. “But I’m just glad the stone is back where it belongs,” Zach added, glancing at Jaxon who nodded at him.

“Now, I just need not figure out a place for my dragons. I don’t think Dragon Valley is going to survive, nor is it safe.”

“Are the dragons, okay?” I asked him.

“Yeah, they feel awful about what happened. But they are okay. I’ll need to train new stable help as well.”

My chest tightened.

“I’m sorry for your losses, Jaxon,” I whispered, thinking about the stable help who had lost their lives trying to tame the dragons.

He nodded, his mind whirling and I could feel it through out mate bond. He was conflicted about something.

He finally looked at me, his eyes shining with remorse.

“I planned to make you my queen after this whole thing was over,” he told me gently. “But I think for now, I’ll hold off on planning. I need to focus my attention on my people.”

“What are you saying?” I asked him, my voice breathless.

He stepped towards me, cupping my face in his hands and bending to kiss me.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Anila. Thank you for your help and thank you for the greatest gift I’ve ever gotten,” he whispered against my lips.

“What gift would that be?” I asked him, my tone trembling, not liking where this conversation was going.

“Your love,” he replied simply. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Take care of yourself.”

“Y…you’re leaving?” I asked, my heart aching.

“For now,” he told me. “Not forever. You are my mate after all. I can’t leave you for good. But for now, I need to focus on some stuff, and I think you have your hands full here,” he added, glancing at my other mates behind me.

“Jaxon…” I whispered.

“Don’t be sad,” he told me, his tone holding authority. He brought his lips down to mine. “Just be the queen I know you are.”

He kissed me one last time and then he was gone.

Epilogue

Anila’s POV

5 years later.

A knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts as I stared at myself in the full-length mirror; a frown marring my lips.

“Are you ready?” Penny asked, stepping into the room. “Everybody is waiting on you.”

“I look fat,” I sighed.

“You’re not fat. You’re pregnant,” she muttered. “You are glowing. Come on.”

I stared down at my protruding baby bump and a small smile lit up my face. I was pregnant with my mate’s baby. Truth be told, I had no idea which one was the father and none of them really cared to find out.

Today was the day that Xaden was officially crowned the Alpha King.

He had to do a lot of training and Jaxon had to pass the title down to him considering he was the one who killed the former King, which made Jaxon the Alpha King by default, but he didn’t want the title.

He was content being the Dragon King.

I have been living in the Alpha King palace with my mates since I graduated from Lunar Academy last year. This was also where the inauguration ceremony was being held.

My mates should be waiting for me downstairs.

As we walked down the long hallway that led to the grand staircase, I smiled at the trophy in the case against the wall. After the battle 5 years ago, everyone was so impressed with my abilities that they named me the winner of the competition; the competition that got interrupted by the battle.

I always felt a sense of pride when I looked at that trophy. Principal Rapport was so proud of me when he gave me the reward.

“There she is,” I heard Jaxon saying as we walked down the stairs.

Jaxon had left 5 years ago, and I barely saw him. He was busy rebuilding his nation and I’m proud to say after a couple of years, he was able to rebuild Dravon Valley, only this time, he built it above ground. Since he accidently became the Alpha King, the rules were up to him now and he unbanished dragons and dragon masters. It took a lot of convincing for everyone else, but they all eventually saw that the Dragons themselves weren’t dangerous.

I also might have had to do some convincing on my end.

Jaxon returned to me full-time almost 3 years ago and on and off lives in the palace. I also visit Dragon Valley often and help whenever needed.

I saw all my mates standing around smiling up at me as I walked down the stairs.

“I’m going to find the girls,” Penny said, kissing my cheek before she skipped down the stairs to find the rest of our friends.

Jaxon walked towards me, a smile on his lips as he held our 2-year-old son in his arms.

“Mommy!” Brayden said as he reached his arms out to me.

I smiled and kissed his flushed cheek, holding him in my arms.

Braydon was my biological son with Jaxon. I made sure to bear him with a son before the others so he could have an heir, as promised. Though he’s Jaxon and my son, the others help out plenty as well.

“You look beautiful,” Harley said, kissing my cheek.

I smiled at him.

Zach was the next to kiss me, only his was a long and deep one on my lips, making the others roll their eyes.

“Shouldn’t you be more mature now, Alpha?” I teased.

“Can’t tame this beast,” he joked.

Now that Xaden was being named the Alpha King, Zach was named the official Alpha of their pack, with their father’s blessing.

I kissed Braydon’s head and handed him back to Jaxon.

“Are you ready?” I asked Xaden as I took hold of his arm. “You’re about to be crowned a King.”

“As long as you’re by my side as queen… I’m ready for anything.”

The End