“We’re always together, even when we’re not together. Always.” Lara set her hand on her heart. “That’s what got me through these past ten years. I’ll contact you when I have anything.” She turned to leave.

“Lara.”

She paused, looking back over her shoulder.

“Be careful.”

Smiling at him, she flipped up her hoodie, hiding her beautiful red hair, then she disappeared into the night.

After she was gone, Kai turned to Tony. “Put a tail on her.”

Tony nodded and took out his phone without a word. He began typing.

“Do you think Alden will hurt her?” Sera asked.

“I’m worried she will help Alden hurt you,” Kai replied.

Sera opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She saw the protective gleam in his eyes as he looked at her. He was serious.

“So what you told Lara…”

“Was what she needed to hear. And what Alden needs to hear if he really did send her.”

“But… ‘You were lost to us for so long. For so many years, our family was broken. It took us a long time to put the pieces back together. I won’t let you go again.’ I should have known you weren’t so poetic, so emotional.”

Callum laughed under his breath.

“Was that really your sister?” she asked Kai.

“Yes. That I know for certain. I can feel it in her magic. What I don’t know for certain is whether Alden really turned her mind. I’m not taking any chances. We’ll test her. Until we’re convinced either way.” He looked at his watch. “It’s time to go to the office to meet our informant.”

* * *

All six of them drove together to Kai’s office building to meet this mystery informant. The hour was late, so there was no one in the lobby. As they entered, the overhead lights flared to life. The white, glossy tiles of the lobby shone like blocks of ice in the moonlight. The commandos led the way, spreading out to check the scene. As though they suspected there were monsters hiding in the shadows, ready to jump on them. Sera didn’t feel anyone else here, but then again, you could never be too careful.

“It’s clear,” Tony said as Sera and Kai passed a wall of tasteful paintings on their way to the elevator. “We’ll wait here to keep an eye on things and wait for the informant.”

As he spoke, the commandos took up positions throughout the lobby. Riley joined them, moving as though he’d done this before. Before Sera could ask him about that, the elevator doors closed.

“He’s a grown man,” Kai told her, hitting the button for the 28th floor. “And a competent one.”

“He’s done something like this before.” She sighed. “And you didn’t tell me.”

“You have to let him go, Sera. Let him live his life. Let him be happy.”

“Putting himself in danger makes him happy?”

Kai smirked at her. “Well, he is your brother.”

She punched him lightly in the arm. He laughed.

“Riley isn’t in danger,” he assured her. “He is surrounded by three highly-trained, very deadly commandos.”

“The guys are good,” she admitted.

“Riley is good too. He’s been training with them.”

Sera choked down her protest. So it was true. So the guys really had adopted Riley as the fourth commando.

The elevator doors parted, and Kai’s laughter spilled out in the hallway. “You’re as protective as a mother hen.”

“A mother dragon,” she growled.

“I stand corrected,” he agreed as they entered his office.

A wall of floor-to-ceiling glass lay before them, showcasing a spectacular view of the bay. A small lounge area was laid out not far from the glass wall. A bowl of chocolate sat atop each of the three side tables, one white chocolate, one dark chocolate, one milk chocolate. Death by Chocolate, the trilogy edition.

Sera thought back to the first time she’d come here. That day felt like ages ago. Her eyes darted to the desk they’d made out on during only the second time she’d come to his office. She blushed when she saw Kai watching her, as though he knew what she was thinking. Kai’s magic thumped with satisfaction. He was obviously thinking about it too.

She turned from the desk. “Riley has been my and Alex’s responsibility for eight years, Kai. It’s not so easy to let go.”

“You two did a fantastic job. And now he’s ready to live his own life. But you will always be a part of it. Even if he’s a bit further away.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh.” His lips popped out the word.

“Oh? What’s oh, Kai?”

“Riley graduates tomorrow,” he replied calmly. “After that, he will come work for me. He’s already found an apartment close to the office.”

“How did I miss this?”

“Riley was keeping it quiet. And you’ve been busy. The end of the world can be an exhausting ordeal. And then you’ve been worried about growing your magic and linking with your dragon.” He smiled at her. “I hope I’ve played some small part in distracting you as well.”

She snorted. He leaned in to kiss her lightly on her lips.

“The house will be so lonely,” she lamented.

“You don’t have to stay there, you know.”

“Find a new place?” she asked. “Something smaller perhaps.”