Theo stayed another week in Woodport, helping Torin settle into his new role. He'd been so eager to return to Kastali Dun, to his old life. Now, he didn't mind lingering. This was Sophie's home, and wherever she was, was where he wanted to be. Besides, he wasn't eager to take her from the place she'd known all her life, even if she was eager to experience something new.

"You're sure you've got everything you need?" he asked again, eying the trunks stacked neatly together. Gundry would be bringing them in his travel wagon to the port at Squall's End, where a ship was waiting. It turned out he wasn't taking the trip alone. Amelina was joining him, because she'd insisted as Sophie's best friend, she would not be left behind.

Soren had opted to stay in Woodport for a few more months to help his brother adapt. Mostly for moral support, since he'd never taken the time or interest in politics. But he'd be on his way to the capital in time for their bonding ceremony, which Theo assured them would be months from now, because his mother would want plenty of time to make kingdom wide plans.

Sophie hadn't rejected the idea of a long engagement, even if he'd wanted her to. He was eager to bond with her. But he chalked that up to his dragon's possessive desire to have her completely. And, if he was being perfectly honest, his too.

"There are only a few gowns I'm truly attached to," Sophie explained, eying her luggage. "And a few paintings." She'd made sure to wrap the painting of him very carefully before placing it in the large trunk with her most precious art pieces. The rest, she'd claimed, could be left behind for when she came back to visit.

She wanted to start a new life, and that meant new things, too.

He liked the idea. He'd buy her as many godsdamned gowns—and whatever else—as she wanted. After all, when he returned, he'd have full access to his coffers again. That had been part of the bargain. He ended the rebellion, at Sophie's side, of course, and he'd get his accounts back. Only now, he had something much more worthwhile to be spending his money on.

"Ready to get going?" Sophie asked, looking up at him, cheeks flushed with excitement.

"More than ready," he grinned, excited to fly with her. Even if there was one more thing they had to do first.

They made their way through the keep, saying goodbye to a few more people. She gave Tatiana and Halley hugs. They'd opted to stay behind with their families; he didn't blame them. Sophie had already met with her rebellion operatives two days prior. She'd enjoyed a boisterous night at The Round Barrel, one of the nicer taverns in Woodport, celebrating the end of a rebellion and her mate bond, because yes, she'd told Edric and he'd told everyone else. They also spent the time mourning over everyone they'd lost. She told him about Sari and Sari's family, about Letty, about all the people who'd made sacrifices for the greater good.

He'd listened, admiring the way she remembered every single name, every single loss. He'd forced himself to also commit those names to memory. Because they meant something to her, but also because they meant something to their kingdom.

Theo had spoken with Torin later that night. The young lord had promised him that every family who'd lost someone to the rebellion would be financially compensated. It wouldn't bring their loved ones back, but it was the absolute least Woodport's new lord could do, to make up for what the previous lord had done. There would also be a monument erected just outside the forest's edge, with all the names of those lost carved into its surface.

Woodport would always remember.

Sophie led him down into the dungeons. He hadn't wanted her to see her father, but she'd insisted. It was the final, necessary task in preparation for their departure, and she'd put it off for days. They found both Hawthorne and the ex-lord sitting in near comfort, their cells illuminated to show a cot, table, arm chair, and chamber pot. It wasn't as bad as most dungeon dwellers received.

"Come to gloat," her father snipped. Hawthorne didn't say anything, only glared.

Sophie sighed. "The king's shields were going to kill you, you know," she told him. "It's treason to poison a prince and then threaten to kill him." Lasker made a scoffing sound. "I argued in your favor, for leniency. They've decided to give you a choice. You will be stripped of your titles for your breach of contract. Everything will pass to Torin. But for what you did to Theo—my mate—you may live out the rest of your days in this cell."

"That's no choice," he croaked. He clearly equated imprisonment with death. "You're to be the princess, aren't you you? It sounds as if you don't really have much power at all."

Sophie laughed. "Is that what you think? That sentencing you to a lifetime of imprisonment was the best I could do?" She shook her head. "Father, this sentence was my idea. You haven't an ounce of remorse for what you did to Theo. Why should we let you go free when you'll try and worm your way back into power. Torin doesn't need your manipulations."

She didn't give her father the chance to speak again, turning. Her eyes caught on Hawthorne. "And you. While you were involved in my father's...schemes, they weren't your idea. The shields have offered you a more lenient sentence. One I approve of. Ten years imprisonment, then you are free to return to Mistport."

Hawthorne's pale face turned paler. He reached for her through the bars, but she took a step back. "Sophie—"

"I'm going to stop you right there," Theo growled, stepping from the shadows and speaking for the first time. "You will address her as my lady, or princess. The two of you are no longer on a first name basis."

Hawthorne looked at him and fought an expression of distaste. Finally he turned to Sophie and said, "My lady. I am sorry. Forgive me."

"I don't think I can," Sophie admitted, her voice soft. "But I appreciate your apology."

With that, she turned and strode from the dungeon, her shoulders held high. Gods, he was proud of her. She was going to make a brilliant queen some day. Until then, a marvelous princess.

When they reached the courtyard, his companions were waiting, as were his father's shields. "We must return to the capital with haste," Kardan informed him. "Take your time with your mate. There's no need to rush. I will inform your father of what has transpired here, and let him know he can expect you."

"Thank you, Kardin," Theo said, taking the drengr's forearm and grasping it in farewell. "Jacek," he added, giving the other shield a similar farewell. "See you when I return."

Both drengr jumped and morphed, taking off into the sky.

"Well, sister, I suppose this is goodbye," Torin said, a soft smile on his lips. "Come." He held his arms open and she went, letting him fold her into a hug. "Mother would be proud of you," he murmured against her hair. It was too quiet to be overheard except by drengr ears, which were far superior to a human's.

"Thank you," she sniffed. When she turned from him, her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.

Soren was next. "Don't make me wait for you too long," she warned him. "There's a whole new library that requires your attention."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Soren said, folding her in his arms. "I'll be there in time for the ceremony, I promise."

She nodded, then kissed his cheek before stepping back to Theo's side. He grabbed her hand, unwilling to be near her without touching her. The others said their goodbye. Xander promised to make a trip up to visit Torin after the ceremony. They'd formed an unlikely friendship after Theo had stopped visiting taverns with Xander.

"Ready?" Theo asked everyone, but more specifically, his mate.

"Whenever you are, Princeling," Fallon announced.

His four companions launched into the air, shifting as they jumped, before extending their wings to take them skyward. Aloft, they beat their powerful wings, waiting. The others in the courtyard watched for a moment before attention shifted downward.

Theo repositioned the large pack on his shoulders, then stepped away from everyone to transform. Sophie's lady's maids had set aside a few of her belongings, things she'd need for the journey south, and he'd added them to the bag he'd brought. They planned to fly easy, resting and camping at night, taking as many breaks as necessary to keep her comfortable.

He transformed, then waited. Sophie gave him a tentative look before her expression turned resolute. She only needed two tries before making it up to his back. Soren snickered, making a comment about her needing assistance, to which she shot back, "I bet you wouldn't manage if you had five tries."

He only grinned up at her and said, "Give him hell, little sister," then stepped away.

Theo snorted, and it came out as a plume of smoke. Those closest to him backed up further, suddenly intimidated.

He waited a few moments for Sophie to stop shifting before launching into the sky. Her giggle turned into a squeal, which made his chest rumble. As he rose, he gave the keep and Woodport a final look, taking in the sight of the place that had changed so much for him, then took off south, flying high over the lake.

His companions roared, letting their excited farewell ring out through the sky, then formed ranks around him. A thrill took over, sending shivers through him. He loved flying, but he especially loved flying with his mate.

Now, if only she'd touch him—

Sophie's mind immediately pressed against his. Her skin against his scales. "I've been waiting to do this properly again, since...the last time," she admitted.

His chest tightened. She'd been wearing gloves, and he'd half expected she wouldn't be ready to share her mind yet. He wouldn't have held it against her.

"I am ready," she said, seeing his thoughts clearly. "I was just...it was overwhelming. But I'm ready."

"I know," he said, letting his happiness occupy the forefront of his mind. "I think this will be the least boring flight I've experienced."

"Why's that?" Except that she already knew, could see the admission freely in his mind.

He said it anyway, "Because we can comb through each others thoughts the whole time. You can get to know everything about me, if you'd like. Just as I wish to know everything about you."

"We can do that?" Her words, though they were merely thoughts, sounded breathless.

"Yes." He settled in, focusing on what she could see in his mind. It took him a moment to realize that the desolate structures that had once been a landscape of ruined castles as far as the eye could see, looked whole again. Instead of ruins, she was standing amidst pristine stone walls, completed open stairways, and battlements that had been mended. It surprised him at first, but she was the one who said—

"I think our coming together healed you in a sense." There was a sense of pride in her voice, at the part she'd played in that.

And she was right: he didn't feel as lost as he once had. He didn't fear his people's judgment as he once had. Something about Sophie, about her effect on him, had changed him in so many ways over such a short time. He'd become...whole.

"So," he said, fighting against the emotion clogging is giant, scaly throat. "The windows you see—each one will show you a memory, if you care to look."

There were many, many windows. Because the castles didn't enclose anything, they were just open walls like a maize, the windows looked exactly as they ought, open to other walls beyond, but he knew that the moment she looked through one, she'd see something.

Her giddy excitement was palpable. She stepped up to one, then leaned forward, peering through. The effect was instantaneous. A scene rushed up to meet them, the time when he'd sprouted wings as an adolescent. His body began changing, and the joy he felt at discovering his color, finding the other half of himself, bled into their bond. By the time the memory ended, he could feel the tears streaming down her face.

She immediately went to the next. This one wasn't so joyous. It was a memory of his parents scolding him for staying out all night at a tavern. For being careless. His defiance was prominent. He felt shame over this one, over the way he'd used his fear of failure to pretend he simply cared about nothing. The way he'd let his fear make decisions for him. The way he'd let his reputation fall into ruin.

He expected her judgement when she stepped away, but there was only understanding and acceptance. His chest swelled. Was this what unconditional love felt like?

"I think it might be," she mused.

They continued like this, searching through each other's memories. Sometimes taking turns. She'd view a window, then he'd dive into her mind, picking through the things he especially wanted to see. For humans, even once bonded, the mind was different. Drengr minds always represented something that aligned with their being, in his case, castle walls. For Sophie, her mind was simply an awareness, a presence occupying his space, and he could slip in to whatever place he wished.

Days passed, spent flying over Dragonwall's vast kingdom, taking frequent breaks so that Sophie could stretch her legs. Nights were just as enjoyable. There was always a campfire, and his companions didn't miss a single opportunity to lay all of Theo's secrets out in the open. Little did they know, she'd seen all there was to see in his mind.

She laughed along to some of their more embarrassing stories, like the time he'd woken up in an inn only to find all this clothing gone. His companions had made whatever excuses they could not to help him, after he'd blatantly abandoned them for a girl. So, he'd been forced to use blankets from the bedding to traipse all the way back to the great keep.

He'd been furious at the time, but hearing Sophie laugh about it, that sweet musical laugh, made him laugh in turn. It was much funner now.

By the time the great city of Kastali Dun materialized on the horizon, Theo felt as if he and Sophie had known each other for a lifetime. In a sense, it was true. They'd each lived the other's lifetimes in their memories, which made them more than ready for the lifetime they had ahead of them.

As Sophie's shock over Kastali Dun grew, he descended towards the great keep. Toward's its largest courtyard. He'd been so angry about leaving, and yet, look where his journey had taken him? The place he'd believed was home, had never been complete. It took finding Sophie to realize that. But now that she was here, with him, he knew this place would truly become their home. Their story might have started on the other side of the kingdom, but this was where it would flourish and grow. Where it would truly begin.

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My friends!

Cue the "awwwww" moment! But don't worry, this is not the end. Stay tuned for an epilogue :)

--Mel