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Two months later, we gathered in a meadow near Annandale. Hundreds attended. The party outshone my birthday five times over. The greatest excitement of all came from the dozens of dragons in attendance. Most came in their human forms, but more than a few sat around the edge of the clearing in their full stature, the sun gleaming off of their scales. Langston and I were wed. My father kissed my cheek and cried. Marie stood beside me and Argodan stood with Langston, both of them very striking in their black wedding suits. The town celebrated our wedding, but also the return of dragons. Whatever open animosity existed in our niche community had been hidden or wiped away with the Duke's death. The Governor and Parliment held a two week trial and trotted out every bit of damning proof against the man. Not only had he employed Locke and others in his mad quest for power, but he had many other horrendous crimes that had gone unnoticed.

My father oversaw the breakup of Lord Locke's holdings. The majority of the land was divided up and sold, with the profits being returned to the people. Father made certain to provide for Lady Grace. I never saw her again, but people said she was resolute in standing with her husband. She testified against the Duke and spat in his face. If she blamed my family or Langston for the death of her son, she never showed it. After the trial, she packed up her things and returned to England, taking Isabelle Carrow with her. I did receive a letter from Lady Grace on our wedding day. It contained only a single line, "May you have a long and happy life."

We returned to Annadale and life went back to normal. Father continued to manage more than he should. Langston returned to overseeing father's local operations. I spent more time with my aunt and the other ladies of the area. It was not the same as before, though I did not entirely understand why. A burden had been lifted, I suppose. Everyone could be happier now. Dragons became a common sight and people I had known for months, such as father's tailor, revealed themselves as well. A few incidents of violence occurred, but in each one the community rallied around the victim and drove away the bigoted attackers. Trade with the Roost and other large settlements of dragons increased, driving up the markets for food and crafted goods, and brought new prosperity to the whole region. Marie met another of Ryontha's healers and fell in love. They were also married. Father and Langston agreed and gave them the former Maxwell estate as a wedding gift. Marie and I grew very close.

Langston and I lived at Annandale. We held regular events for both humans and dragons. We spent hours together dancing in the great ballroom just as I had always dreamed of. We dined together, no longer the stiff meals of nobility, but happy and joyous like when I was a young girl. We made love almost every night. Langston was insatiable and his vitality was contagious. I longed for him during the day and pulled him close to me at night. After a year, I had our first child. We named him Stewart. It was a bit of a shock the first time the small babe changed into a scaled little whelp, but I have never seen Langston happier.

Our lives are not without sadness or strife, but we are happy. Each night, Langston tells me he loves me. Each day, I play with our son and read him stories. My father and my husband spend hours in friendly arguments. My aunt bounces young Stewart on her knee with joy. I sneak down to the servants quarters to have tea with Elsa. I visit Marie and her two twin boys. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for my good fortune. And not a night passes that I don't feel the loving warmth of my husband.

The End