He said, “In less than five minutes, you little vixen, you’ll be begging me to finish what I’m about to start.”
The plateau was everything Madalina thought it would be: flat and broad, flanked at the back by the cliffs where the dragons had been hidden so long, overlooking the outskirts of a small village where Walcot had spent a small portion of his life. This part of Tibet was hilly and green, the peaks and valleys stunning in the early-afternoon sunlight. There was a certain peace about the place, an indescribable serenity that made her think of her grandfather and his friend. About the hours they had spent here together, meditating on life. Tilting her face into the gentle breeze, she drew in scents of new grass, old stone, and wildflowers.
“I can see why he liked spending time here,” Cole said. He stood at her side, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“Me, too,” she admitted. “In his letters, you could tell that he loved this plateau, loved the view and the companionship of his friend. I’m glad to bring him back. To bring him home.” She looked down at the sturdy wooden box in her hands. This had been Walcot’s last wish, his last request.
“You ready to set him free?” Cole asked.
“Yes. I’m ready.” Madalina pried the lid off the tall, square container. Gripped with a sudden fit of nostalgia, she tipped the box and walked along the plateau as her grandfather’s ashes scattered on the wind. A few ashes scuttled across the ground, as if Walcot was exploring the plateau anew.
Returning to Cole’s side, she secured the lid on the box and leaned against his body when he wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“It’s fitting that we’ve come full circle,” Cole said in a quiet voice.
“Back to where it started. I wish he could have met you,” she replied. “I think he would love to have known that he was responsible for bringing us together.”
“He knows, Madalina. He knows.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to thank the Montlake team and Maria especially for their kindness and generosity during my publishing adventure. You’ve made this an experience I’ll never forget!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danielle Bourdon is the author of twenty-three novels and nine short stories. Her bestselling series, the Latvala Royals, has sold more than 350,000 copies worldwide. Born in Corona, California, she now resides in Texas with her husband, two sons, and a black cat named Sheba. Besides writing, she loves traveling, photography, football, and strawberry margaritas.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR