39. Epilogue
Epilogue
Manchester, England
Three Months Later
Izzy sat in the underground library at her cottage. She glanced at Simon before looking down at the book on her desk. Simon’s recounting of his story for Daxton captivated her more than the words she needed to read.
“Like a pack of wolves sensing danger, they all turned at the sound of the fighter jet.” Simon loaded a box onto the rear of one of the golf carts in the hallway. “Just seconds later, they shifted and ripped it apart to get to the pilot.”
Luckily, no one was hurt, and they’d rehabilitated the pilot from Fotios’s Influence.
“I mean…” Simon continued. “I still don’t get how an Archfiend has that much power over someone that they’d be willing to drop a missile on civilian land.”
“They still surprise me,” Daxton said.
Izzy swallowed the burning sensation at the back of her throat. Fotios’s parting from this world was still a wound in her chest. But her delusions had stopped now that she had accepted the truth.
Daxton lifted three boxes and loaded them onto the other cart. She watched, shaking her head. He moved with alacrity to pack her books, as if at any second, she might change her mind about moving to Dyamur Territory.
Simon huffed while sliding into the full golf cart. “I don’t know about you, but with all this packing, I’m ready for tea.”
“I would like some,” Izzy yelled out to the hall.
“No thanks.” Daxton waved him away.
Simon drove off on quiet wheels. Before Daxton caught her watching him, she gazed down.
“You look stunning.” His voice filled the room.
Izzy peered over the rim of her glasses.
He stood at the entrance, his hand over his chest. Heat rose to her cheeks.
“Stop distracting me.” She pushed the glasses up her nose.
He rested his arm against the pile of boxes stacked chest-high near the door and with a heavy voice said, “Do you think you’ll find more information?”
She rubbed her temples, trying to push down the worry that climbed up her throat. “I don’t know.”
Daxton crossed the room and sat on the edge of the desk to grab her hand. “What’s wrong?”
She swallowed hard. “I lost another feather this morning.”
That made two feathers she’d mysteriously lost. It had to stem from the link, but why would she gain the ability to retrieve her feathers, only for her to lose them?
Daxton cupped her face and lifted her head until their eyes met. “We’ll figure this out.”
She gave him a soft smile. “I just need the codices. Thea never takes too long, but you and I know I’m too impatient to wait.” It had been a few weeks since she’d sent the message out along the private server. Izzy turned the page of the dragon text she’d taken from Keiran’s Archives.
“Why do you think she can get the codex when the dragons can’t?”
“Because hidden treasure is what she’s good at. There hasn’t been a puzzle she can’t solve.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
She couldn’t help but gawk at him. A bead of moisture on his brow from his excursion tantalized her. She blamed it on the way he looked at her. Lifetimes couldn’t have prepared her for the way his stare enveloped her in belonging.
Ever since he’d asked her to move in, she’d been wanting to bring up the conversation about their next step. Her fear of rejection coursed through her veins, heart rate racing, palms sweaty. But Daxton was worth the nerves.
“What else is on your mind?” he asked.
“How should I phrase this?” She twisted her hands in her lap.
He peered at them and offered her a smile.
She blew out a deep breath. “What kind of relationship will we have, Daxton? At some point, would you want to give me a surname?”
His gaze twinkled. “You mean marry you?”
She fidgeted with her glasses. “We’ve known each other for only four months, but this link makes me feel like I’m a part of you.
I desire something concrete between us. But you need to understand what I expect in a relationship with you.
I want the full commitment binding in marriage.
I’m not asking for marriage right now, but that’s the relationship I want.
Since this will be for a lengthy period, I don’t want you to make a promise you cannot—”
He stopped her with his lips. She leaned into him until he pulled back, staring into her eyes.
“I wouldn’t take any less,” he said. “I’ve wanted this but thought you needed time.”
She shook her head, feeling a silly grin take over her features. “I’m convinced you’ve performed cardiac surgery on me and placed yourself in my heart. And I know I’m late in saying this, but I love you.”
Daxton’s smile shot lightning straight through her, and he teased, “Did Simon put you up to that?”
“Hey.” She feebly smacked his chest.
He laughed and grabbed her face again. “I’m joking. I knew waiting to hear you say it would be worth it. I love you, too.”
Tears pricked at her eyes as the swelling emotions threatened to break her control. She leaned forward, and he met her for a kiss. The emotions she had for him were her strength, and she let them in.