Chapter 200: Wedding Miracle
**Avery**
The vows were spoken, the bindings sealed by Alden’s ancient magic, and the kiss… the kiss was a glorious, possessive collision of seven mouths, a promise sealed not just in front of our allies, but in defiance of the cosmos itself. The reception that followed was a blur of laughter, music, and the intoxicating hum of the newly awakened Talos. The very ground beneath our feet felt alive, pulsing with a magic that sang in my blood.
I felt whole, truly and incandescently happy, yet a tiny, persistent ache remained in a corner of my heart. It was the space reserved for ghosts, for a family I’d never known. Watching Adrik move through the crowd was a surreal experience. He didn’t mingle so much as hold court, his immense presence drawing gazes of awe and terror in equal measure. He seemed to take a particular delight in tormenting my mates, a glint of predatory mischief in his golden eyes.
I saw him corner James and Donn by the overflowing banquet table. "I heard tales of the King of Talos," Adrik rumbled, his voice low enough for only them to hear, yet carrying the weight of a landslide. "I didn't realize he required five other guards just to stand at an altar." He then turned his gaze on Donn, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. "And you, Reaper. Still lurking in the shadows, I see. Some things never change. At least this time you’re on the right side of a wedding."
Donn just grinned, unfazed. "Someone has to keep an eye on the father-in-law. Old habits die hard."
The playful tension was a perfect backdrop to the joy of the evening. I was surrounded by love so fierce it was a physical force, a shield against any darkness. And yet, as Alden announced it was time to cut the cake, that little ache for the missing pieces of my soul returned.
The cake was a work of art, seven tiers of alternating silver and black, decorated with intricate sugar work depicting dragons, shadows, and flames. My six husbands gathered around me, their eyes sparkling with competitive glee, each one ready for the playful war that was about to commence. James handed me the ceremonial knife, his hand warm and steady over mine.
"Ready to make your mark, my queen?" he murmured, his breath ghosting over my ear.
I looked at the cake, then at the six gorgeous, hungry faces surrounding me. I was about to smear frosting on every single one of them. But before the chaos, a quiet, desperate need rose within me. I closed my eyes. This wasn't a gentle wish whispered to a star. It was a demand, a command issued with the full force of my shadow-fire soul, fueled by the reawakened magic of Talos.
I want them here. I thought, pouring all my longing into the intention. Ashton. Ayden. Akon. My mother, Layla. I want my family. My focus sharpened, the desire so strong it felt like a physical thing. And for my friends, for the future… I want to give Draven a dragon, a mate for Jace’s Meg, so they won’t be alone.
The moment the wish was fully formed, the ground beneath us didn't just tremble. It lurched.
A collective cry of alarm went up from our guests. The music screeched to a halt. My mates instantly formed a solid wall around me, their bodies tense, their instincts on full alert. Out on the horizon, the ocean, which had been so calm, was rising. A wave, a liquid mountain crowned with frothing rage, was hurtling towards the bluff at an impossible speed.
Panic erupted, but before anyone could flee, the colossal wave reached us. It rose high above the cliff, blotting out the sun, a wall of churning turquoise and white. But it didn't crash. Just as it was about to break over us, it froze, shimmering, and then it shattered, not into water, but into a million droplets of pure, iridescent light and a fine, salty mist that smelled of ozone and ancient magic.
And where the wave had been, they stood.
My breath caught in my throat. In the center was a woman of such breathtaking beauty that it seemed impossible. Her hair was the color of a fiery sunset, a cascade of long, flowing red that seemed to hold a light of its own. Her eyes were the bluest I had ever seen, deeper and more vibrant than the ocean itself. She wore a simple, elegant gown of sea-green, and her presence was a calm, powerful beacon.
Beside her stood three men, each one a pillar of raw, masculine power. They were huge, tanned, and tattooed, their builds mirroring my father’s with an unnerving similarity. One had hair as red as mine, another was a sun-streaked blond, and the third had rich, brown hair. They looked around, their expressions a mixture of confusion, awe, and dawning recognition.
The world seemed to hold its breath. Then, Adrik let out a choked sound, a mix between a sob and a roar.
"Avery!" he yelled, his voice cracking with disbelief and overwhelming joy. He pointed a trembling finger at the figures. "You did it! You fucking did it!"
The beautiful woman with red hair turned her serene gaze on my father, a small, fond smile playing on her lips. "Hubby, watch your language," she said, her voice like the gentle lapping of waves on a shore, yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Our children and grandchildren are present."
Just then, another shadow fell over us. A magnificent silver dragon, ancient and wise, landed beside her with a ground-shaking thud. He shimmered, his form shrinking and morphing into Sam. "I knew they hid you for a reason," Sam said, his voice a calm rumble. "Your family is here, little queen. We are here, and we will help you claim your fate."
My mother. My fathers. My brother. My family. Tears streamed down my face, not of sorrow, but of a joy so profound it was painful. The ache in my heart was gone, filled to bursting with a love that spanned realms and lifetimes.
I looked from my new, impossible family to my six husbands, who were staring, utterly dumbfounded but with dawning smiles of their own. My home was no longer just a palace or a kingdom. It was here, on this bluff, surrounded by every soul that mattered.
My family is here. My babies will be born soon. And then, our work will truly begin. We will reclaim Altima, the lost dragon homeland, and we will merge it with Talos, forging a new world from the ashes of the old. My home will be restored, just as my family was. The Goddess had her turn. Now, it was ours.
**—Author’s Note—**
I hope you enjoyed this story. Look for the next book, 3, Rise of the Flame. Coming out in 2026. Thank you for all of your support.
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