Epilogue
If Thurl could share spleens with me, he would. I knew it would be a while before he let me out of his sight again, but it was getting ridiculous. I couldn’t go to the bathroom without leaving the door open. Showering alone was a thing of the past.
You’d think I would be used to that, since the cats never let me pee in peace either, but it’s different when you’re talking about a seven-foot-tall monster.
“I think I’ll be okay in the living room by myself, Thurl.”
His ears drooped, but I stood my ground. The constant hovering chafed.
“Officer Phillips—“
“Would be an idiot to step foot inside the compound and would be dead before he got to the common.”
He looked around the living room as if he worried the man hid under the couch.
“Seriously, Thurl. I’m going to get cranky if you don’t give me some space.”
He finally retreated into the kitchen with Nanna, who hadn’t been much better than him, but at least she smothered me with food instead of literally smothering me.
I’d moved in with him days after my ordeal with Vale. Neither of us wanted to be apart. We’d melded our households seamlessly and my house was going on the market in a week. I’d taken a leave of absence from teaching. I wasn’t sure I’d go back. I wasn’t sure what I’d do at that point, but I didn’t want to be where Thurl couldn’t go for most of the day. We’d figure something out. In the meantime, I would let him take care of me. Turns out, the nest egg Society had given each of the ‘fangs was more than enough to sustain me, him, and my dozen cats for life.
Nanna visited every week. She said it was to check on me, but I think it was more because she got a massive ego boost from the ‘fangs enthusiastic enjoyment of her food. And Roul, who remained her favorite to fuss over.
There was a debate raging between the ‘fangs, Supe Sec, and the Society council over how to handle Officer Phillips. At that point, I didn’t care. There was no way he’d get to me again, and if he tried, he’d take himself out of the council’s protection. He didn’t have a clue that's all that was keeping him alive.
I scooched into the corner of our plush leather sectional and stretched my legs out. Pawssonova was the first to claim his spot on my lap, leaving Whisker to assume the role as bookend to my left thigh and Catticus Finch on the right. Cameow curled up on my shins. I’d be screaming to move after about twenty minutes, but for now, I sank back and enjoyed the warmth.
I woke up my Kindle and queued the latest book club read. Not two pages in, someone knocked on the door.
“Are we expecting company?” I asked Nanna as she shuffled past to answer it.
She just shrugged.
The cacophony that erupted when she opened the door sent the four cats who’d been happily dozing on me, plus another few stationed in various places around the room, skittering across the floor and into hiding places.
“The cavalry has arrived!”
I craned my neck over the back of the sofa and watched as people spilled into the house, clown car style. River carried the largest bowl of popcorn I’d ever laid eyes on. Luna, fully recovered, but with the smallest scar she showed off like a trophy, followed her.
“More like the marshmallow army,” Kendal said as she made her way in.
River nodded. “Yep! I marshmallow’d the troops!” She cackled with delight at her own joke.
Two more women followed Kendal. One of them practically vibrated with excitement as she made a beeline for me. She shoved a wad of fabric at me, her eyes sparkling.
“Hi! I’m Virginia! Welcome to the SMC. Here’s your official shirt.”
Her grin was ear to ear and infectious. I shook the fabric into a jersey. “Thank you, I love it.”
She nodded like that was a forgone conclusion. I supposed to her, it was.
River was behind Thurl, pushing him to the door and yelling, “Shoo!” at him. “This is girls only! Go to Roul’s.”
She was surprisingly strong for being so little. If I tried that, I would just push myself across the floor. She was actually making headway. Not much, but he was moving.
I laughed. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”
He twisted and contorted his neck to keep his eyes on me until the last possible second, when River shut the door. Around me the others were getting comfortable, finding space on the sectional or the floor. The other woman I hadn’t met yet held out her hand.
“I’m Gaelynn.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said automatically as we shook.
She laughed. “It’s overwhelming but you’ll learn that when Virginia gets an idea, it’s best just to roll with it.”
When everyone was snug in what I could tell would be their designated spots in my house, River turned on the television and started a Seductflix movie. Wolf whistles and catcalls ensued as soon as the hero entered the frame.
He was handsome enough, but he wasn’t a monster.
Luna bumped my shoulder like she’d read my thoughts. “They’re adapting a paranormal romance next. We’ll be back to watch the first episode as soon as it’s out.” She paused. “I hope you don’t mind. You have the biggest couch. And Nanna.”
I laughed. “I don’t mind.”
She grinned and for the next few hours I laughed so hard my sides hurt while the ladies joked and snarked about the movie.
A month ago, I would have told you to get professional help if you’d said I’d witness a murder, much less be bonded to a beast with horns and claws who made my heart (and, let’s face it, my pussy) sigh with contentment. As I sat there, surrounded by women fast becoming friends, I thanked the universe I was wearing my glasses that night.