Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
The room was already crowded with people. All the different clans had chosen to come to this celebration, and it made for quite the array. Just from this viewpoint, Gregori saw Nikki in a stunningly sleek red dress, Warin and North near the buffet table, Cassie—who looked six months pregnant, at least, and when did that happen?!—plus Karl, Ranulf, and oh! There was Thiago and Evora. Everyone seemed to have gotten ready and made it on time.
He couldn’t wait to talk to everyone and catch up. It had been months since he’d seen them, after all.
King Alric raised a hand to gain everyone’s attention, still perfectly comfortable making a speech with his daughter on his hip.
“Everyone, thank you for coming. Tonight is the first celebration where we have every clan represented here.”
Holy shit, really? No wonder the room was packed!
“All of you traveled a great distance to be here, and I truly appreciate it. I’ll let you get to the festivities in a moment, but first, I want to propose something. For many centuries, we lived in a period of darkness. We kept referring to the war as if it was the only time marker we had. As if time stopped then for us. But since we found Cameron”—he shot his spouse a warm smile, getting one in return—“many wonderful things have happened. We reconnected with the Sodalicium. We were able to revive the Sousa and Lightning Clans. Whole families of mages came out of hiding. We, ourselves, came out of hiding and properly into the world once more. Friends, I do not think it right to keep referring to the Dragon War as if it’s our time marker. Let us leave the tragedy properly in the past. Let us step fully into this present and embrace our future, as it is so much brighter.
“This is my proposition to you. I would like to refer to our new beginning as the Age of Mages. What say you?”
A raucous roar tore through the room, many punching the air in support. Gregori was right there with them. Hell yeah! Alric was right, that was exactly what this was now. The Age of Mages. An age of hope and growth, while shedding the pain of the past.
King Alric beamed and punched the air himself. “Then the Age of Mages it shall be. Celebrate with me!”
Another roar crashed through the room like a tidal wave. A few mages even set off fireworks that boomed against the tall, vaulted ceiling. Gregori wasn’t sure if it was planned, but it made him laugh. Salem clapped right along, caught up in the euphoria. Gregori looked down at his happy face and fell in love all over again. Because of this man at his side, he wasn’t alone. He had a whole future to look forward to. Including children, which he never thought would happen. King Alric was right; this was an era of hope and prosperity.
It was time for them to soar.
To all interested parties, we invite you to come and see if you’re a mage! Or possibly a dragon, I don’t want to limit people. Do you think you have magical blood in your ancestry? Why not try and see if you’re magical yourself?
We have a website so that you can test the theory. Just click the link below and discover more about you – and us! Bios for the Burkhards are up on the site as well.
Come, my pretties, into our lair of dragons and magic.
AreYouAMage.com
Cam: Cassie, that wasn’t at all professional sounding.
Cassie: Pfft, who wants professional. We’re mages. Not a PR firm.
Cam: Why did anyone agree to put you in charge of this?
Cassie: Because I know how to build a website. And I called dibs.