She reached back to pull her hair out of the way. The pastel colors shone in the light that fell down on them, and she marveled once more at the person she’d become.
She’d thought she’d become someone new. Someone completely different.
But that wasn’t right. She was still herself, the same person she’d always been. Just happier. Just braver. No longer afraid of what was out there.
When Jared fastened the amulet around her neck, the gold suddenly lit up.
She drew in a deep breath. When she closed her fingers around it, she could feel the gentle thrum of energy against her skin. Light was shining out from between her fingers.
All around her, light filled the garden with sudden brilliance.
When she looked over to where their parents and guests had gathered, she saw that they’d stopped admiring tiny, sleepy Jayden to look around in awe.
And then Chiara saw where the light was coming from.
Golden lights were dancing through the garden. They swayed, soaring here and there, like fireflies that had appeared during the bright day.
Curiously, Chiara tightened her fingers around the amulet a little. In response, the dancing flecks of light dimmed.
When she
looked up, Jared was watching her, curious and surprised.
“I didn’t know it would do that,” he said. “Do you mind?”
“Do I mind?” She smiled at him, feeling the warmth of the light in her hand increase. “I love it!”
And I love you, she whispered through the mate bond.
Then she released the amulet and spread her fingers.
All through the garden, the lights suddenly gained in intensity, dancing on invisible currents of air as their guests broke out into delighted cheers.
A moment later, the tiny lights began to settle on branches, leaves and flowers, until it looked like the garden was covered all over in fairy lights.
She laughed, feeling joy stream through her as the golden light of the mate bond mixed with the brilliance of the light that was contained within Jared’s soul.
I love you, he silently whispered back.
And then his arms wrapped around her and he lifted her, twirling her around.
All around them, the lights came dancing and whirling, as if the element of light itself wanted to join in their joy.
Chiara could see the lights clinging to Jared’s hair like tiny butterflies. And when she leaned in to kiss him at last, they took flight once more, fluttering all around them in a trail of golden light while inside her heart, the mate bond blazed brightly.
They’d truly come home at last.
***
A note from Zoe Chant
Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release the final book in this series, Mated to the Chimera, please click here to be added to my mailing list. You can also visit my webpage, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter. You are also invited to join my VIP Readers Group on Facebook!
Please consider reviewing Mated to the Griffin, even if you only write a line or two. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.
And keep paging through to read a special sneak preview of The Christmas Dragon’s Mate.
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