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I touch his short locs. I hop up and throw my arms around him. Dominic stiffens before he laughs and hugs me back.

I hug each dragon who comes after that. Even Sam and Tyrion get in line. Tyrion kneels in front of me with his eyes shining. Lauren and Claude never leave my side. Kenya and Hazel beam at me from off past the fire. Nova stands with them, along with Kenna and Tobin.

Ezra comes back to stand at my shoulder. If hugging isn’t how a luna is supposed to do it, they can take it up with me later.

When the last dragon returns to the line, I sink down into the throne again. Ezra kisses my temple and heads back to the pit. He holds his hand out over it, and the blue flames climb into his grip. Sparks float off his raised fist into the night sky.

“My father taught me that every star is a fire someone trusted to burn,” Ezra says. “To carry one is the greatest honor there is.” Behind me, Tyrion makes a choked sound. Claude rubs his back. The flames drop back into the pit as Ezra lowers his arm.

Valek gives his last command. “Ash Clan, honor your new alpha!”

Ezra turns to him. Valek presses his fist over his heart like the rest of them and bows his head before he chants along. “Alpha Ezra!”

The dragons roar back. “Ash Clan! Ash Clan! Ash Clan!”

When it’s over and everyone breaks apart to celebrate, I finally stand. Ezra pulls me straight into his arms. He crashes his lips to mine. His mouth is still hot from the Flame, and he kisses me until my knees wobble.

I press my hands to his chest. “Ezra.”

He pulls back with a grin. “I just got everything I ever wanted. You better slap my face off if you want me to stop.” He takes me in from my pinned-up braid down to the gold gown. “I’m not even stopping to compare this moment to the stars.”

I laugh and tip my face up for more. This time he kisses me slow. He sweeps his tongue past my lips and takes whatever he wants. I curl my fingers into his shirt and give him all of it. He slides his hand down my back to grab my ass, with his mother somewhere behind us. I can’t make myself care. I moan, and he swallows the sound.

Eventually he breaks the kiss. He scoops me up and swings around in a circle. I wrap my arms around his neck and giggle against his cheek. I’ve never seen him this happy.

Over by the blue fire, Ezra is laughing with his father and Sam. Near the throne, Claude and Lauren are cracking up with Hazel. Dragons dance around the pit to the music while platters of roasted meat go from hand to hand.

It weighs on me that I’m the luna of Ash Clan now. My stomach flips whenever I think about it. I need a break before I throw up in front of all of them.

No one notices when I slip off into the forest. I gather my gown up in my fists and keep going. Twigs snag the hem while I climb over fallen logs and duck under low branches on my way out to the border. The lake is dark and quiet, with the bridge lights glowing across the surface. I can finally breathe with nothing but wet rocks and pine in my nose.

Bubbles rise out past the shallows. When I kneel at the edge to see who it is, Sirena comes up with her hair streaming down her back. The light catches the scales on her shoulders.

“You are so beautiful,” I breathe. I can’t stop staring at her.

Sirena bows to me in the water. “Luna of Ash Clan.”

I sit back. “You heard that, huh?”

“I can hear everything,” she says. “Even under the waters.”

I huff out a laugh. Of course she can. Sirena glides closer to the rocks. “May I show you the waters?”

I glance back at the trees. “Isn’t the water too cold for me?”

She lifts her hand out of the lake. “I can keep you warm, Luna.”

“I don’t want Ezra to be mad at me,” I tell her.

I push up to my feet and face the forest with a sigh. The Mer won’t stay on Wintermoon forever. What if I never see her again? I unhook Lauren’s cloak and drop it on the rocks. I turn back to Sirena, and, screw it, I jump.

She catches me fast. The cold stings everywhere, and my teeth chatter until she pulls me in close. Once her skin touches mine, I quit shaking.

“Hurry up,” I gasp. “I’ll take the punishment. I just want to bond with you.”

Sirena presses her lips to mine and pulls me under. I clutch her shoulder. Cool air pushes into my lungs the same way it did the first time she dragged me into the lake. Show-off, I think at her.

Her lips never move. Her voice comes from inside my own mind. You are welcome, Luna.