Epilogue
8 months later, 2 weeks to All Souls.
Petra walked through the bottom level of the massive house, Niobe on her shoulder, chattering on about weird parrot things. Since coming back to the States, she had been spending a lot of time with both Brutus and Niobe, and these days they were both like her shadows. Brutus would normally be at her side but he was with Carter as they were overseeing the final touches of the sanctuary they had set up on the east side of the property, Barks and Scales Sanctuary. They were holding the dedication ceremony in a few days and Carter was obsessed with making sure it was perfect.
He had kept his promise, and they were already housing thirty dogs from tense situations in the makeshift indoor kennels there, safe because of her love, and many more would be, too. Their sanctuary would be able to house over one hundred dogs, and there were houses being built for cats, and one for the more exotics like reptiles and birds.
Niobe cooed in her ear, rubbing her head against hers. She reached up and stroked her breast, smiling. She did that when she heard Easton’s voice, and they were coming up to him and Emerson now.
“Ah, there she is. How’s your list?” Emerson said as he went to her and kissed her. Niobe flew over to Easton and cooed at him.
“Kitchen is being unpacked, I think Leo and Jack are still up in their bedrooms unpacking, and my amazing suite is all in place.” She grinned. Her bedroom was the largest, with the largest bed, of course, big enough to sleep at least five of them together. So much nicer than her apartment, which she had vacated, though Emerson had told her he purchased the building, so if she wanted to use the space she could.
Emerson picked her up and spun her around. “I love this house,” she said with a bright smile. The place had been finished completely only five days before, everything to their specs thanks to Damon. “He did an amazing job.”
“Didn’t I?” Damon said as he walked into the room. “It does my heart good to know our priestess approves.”
“Brown noser,” Emerson said dryly. “Why are you here?”
“Giving the pool guy the plans for the pool, grotto and hot tub,” he offered. “You guys still on for coming next week, right?”
She nodded. Damon and his crew had taken a shine to Fiona at Petra’s birthday party. She of course had made them work for it, but it seemed they were working out. Halloween was coming up, which meant Petra wouldn’t be the only one doing time as a devotion. Of course Damon and the guys were probably nothing like her seven, but she had no doubt Fi could handle it.
Next week was their ‘coming out’ party, so to speak, where Fiona would decide, in front of the whole Order, if she would commit to being a devotion. None of them were going to miss it.
Victoria and Carlee were both playing the field as well, though Carlee was close to accepting a devotion spot as well. Petra knew it was going to be an on the fly situation, considering the courtship with the guys she was with was a lot shorter than Fiona and Damon’s crew.
"You'll have to come and see the studio now that it's mostly set up." Easton was going from strength to strength. He was almost unrecognizable as the man she'd first met—a distant, cold, untouchable killer. His art had changed, too. His pieces were still edgy and heart-rending, but there was a sacred element to them too now. They'd discussed it as a group once but none of them could quite put their finger on what was different. Just that the art seemed...holy somehow. They'd been going for four or five times the price of his earlier works and since he'd also massively increased his output, Lorne was talking about opening a new gallery just for him and artists he wanted to support.
Seeing his studio was one of the things she had been waiting for. Before they moved she had spent a lot of time at his loft, but knowing he could work from home, in a studio built to his specs...she couldn’t wait.
“I can’t wait,” she told him. “I’m yours any time you want me. Emerson? Did Finn get back from seeing his sister yet?” She had been dying to meet Jessica, but was giving Finn his time to connect with her. It was the same with Leo and his mother, Cynthia, though Leo was already planning on having her come for the holidays.
"He's on his way," Easton said when Emerson shrugged. "He texted to say he was leaving about five minutes ago. It's in the family chat."
Well, that explained it. She had no idea where her phone was. “Ah. Well Niobe has hidden my phone once again, so maybe you could get her to show me where it is?”
Damon laughed, shaking his head. “Mischievous little thing.”
“You ready for Fiona?”
“Born ready,” he growled. “Though we do have you to thank for that vixen. Expect a fruit basket.”
“Better than the sex toys Xander and Hollis sent me for introducing them to Carlee.”
"You'd think they'd have twigged that sex toys are kind of obsolete when you have seven partners," Easton said, shaking his head with disbelief. "It's not like we ever leave you wanting for orgasms."
“They are both deviants, I’m sure it was the first thing that came to mind,” Damon said. “I mean Xander owns a swingers club for fuck’s sake.”
And that was one of the reasons Carlee was right up their alley. She liked both Hollis and Xander and what was better was they were not against adding to their burgeoning group to lock Carlee down. “True. So you staying for dinner? Carter promised pizza and beers.”
“Would that I could. I have a date with Fiona tonight.” He grinned. “But you guys have fun. I’ll be back next week, give you guys time to break this beast in.”
She laughed. “Well then go.” They said goodbye to Damon as Jack walked in carrying her phone. “Vic is on the line.”
Where did you find it?” she asked with a grin.
“In my room,” he said and kissed her, handing the phone off.
“Hey, Vic...” she said.
"Hey! I just wanted to check in and see how the grand move in is going?" She sounded cheerful and upbeat.
“Just about done,” she said brightly. “You are coming to the devotional dedication for Fiona, right?”
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Victoria sighed happily. "I wish she'd tell us what the God said to her. She's really changed." Easton had refused to tell Petra, too, although in his case she thought it was maybe because he didn't know. All he'd said was that it was between Fiona and He Who Sleeps, and it was no one else's business what had passed between them.
“She might...one day,” she said with a wistful smile. “And you? Make any decisions yet?” she asked as she walked away from the guys and out onto the back courtyard area. “I know Brad...”
"Brad is a very good boy," Victoria said affectionately and Petra heard something in the background that might have been 'thank you, Mistress' but she wasn't sure.
“I bet.” She sighed. “You got a bet on Carls? I know Xander and Hollis are all up in her mac and cheese but there’s also Leland, Reece and Ulmer...” She was expecting Carlee would keep them all, considering there was no rule stating she couldn’t. It really was her dream come true.
"I think she'll just keep adding men until someone tells her to stop," Vic laughed.
"And if they're all cool with it, I don't suppose it matters."
"Yeah. My thesis got approved so I officially have my Master’s now. I'm trying to decide if I should stop there or go for a doctorate," Vic replied. "You know how much I love studying, but I also kinda want to feel useful to the family somehow."
The family. God, she loved hearing that. “I mean, you could do both? Why not? Leo has been suggesting I get my art history doctorate...though it would just be for me, unless I wanted to focus on mythology.” Which she actually could do, but...she sighed and looked down at her stomach. Putting her hand on it, she sighed again. She wanted to tell her guys, but they hadn’t been all together since she found out. With Finn coming home, she could finally do it, and that would change all their lives once again. In the wake of that, would going back to school be worth it?
"Well that's the thing, isn't it?" Viv said thoughtfully. "Finding a doctorate in a field of study that would be related and useful. I'll think about it. Anyway, I have to go. I really just wanted to make sure you were okay and not stressing out too much."
“I’m okay. Finn should be home soon...” she said with a small smile. Vic, Fi and Carlee all knew, as they had been with her when she found out, but like the good sisters they were, they pretended like they didn’t.
"Well give the guys my love and I'll speak to you soon," she said. They exchanged goodbyes and hung up, just in time for her to see Finn parking his car and walking across the driveway toward them.
“Speak of my Devil,” she said as she rose and went to him. “How was it?”
"Wonderful. She's coming over for dinner next week to meet you guys. She wanted to come today, but we weren't sure the house and everything would be ready in time." He stretched, easing out the driving kinks in his muscles. "How is everything going here?"
“Good, I think everything is handled here, though I don’t know if Carter is back from the sanctuary yet. I hope he is...it’s been a while since we were all together. I have something to tell you guys.”
Carter came jogging around the massive house, his cheeks ruddy from the fresh air and the way he was smiling. "I thought I heard your car," he said to Finn. "Welcome back, brother. I hope it went well."
"It did." Finn grinned, clapping Carter on the back. "You came just in time. Apparently, Petra has something to tell us."
She nodded to them. “Come on, let’s go find the guys.”
Ten minutes later they were all wrangled into the living room, and she was standing with her back to them, fidgeting with her hands.
“Baby girl, what’s going on?” Jack asked.
“Yeah,” Emerson said from his seat in the new wingback chair he had been going on and on about sitting in, with a pipe reading books about war in. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m comfortable as fuck...”
"Well tell them then," Carter said. "Don't keep everyone in suspense."
“You act like you know,” Rix said as he sat his tablet down.
Taking a deep breath, she bit her lip and then spoke. “We have been blessed.”
“No shit,” Jack said.
"Well I had guessed." Carter shrugged. "She hasn't had wine at dinner the last three nights running and she keeps touching her stomach. It was either digestive issues or a baby, and she keeps smiling, so of the two it wasn't hard to figure it out. What?" He threw up his hands when everyone turned to stare at him. "Not my fault you're a bunch of unobservant apes."
“Way to steal my thunder.” She laughed and shook her head, turning around, her hand on her stomach.
"I didn't say anything!" he protested. "I let you tell them! That was what you meant by being blessed, yes?"
“I was working up to it,” she said and shook her head again, mirth in her eyes. “Big old meanie. I thought East would be the one to know.”
“Hold on...you’re pregnant?” Emerson said, his eyes wide as he looked at her.
"I was starting to suspect, but I haven't seen you as much as Carter has," Easton laughed. "You're not very good at hiding it. But I'm happy. Really happy."
"Same!" Finn said, breaking out of his shocked stillness and grabbing her up in a hug. "This is awesome news!"
“When exactly did this happen?” Rix said as he kissed her on the head, his smile broad.
“I think Leo’s birthday,” she offered. That had been a wild weekend. Emerson had surprised them and took them all to Bali for four days, and it had gotten really naughty.
"Well, I guess we need to start booking appointments and classes and figuring out which of these empty rooms the nursery is going into," Carter said, ever practical, nudging Leo who was still sitting there with his jaw hanging.
“But we are close to All Souls...” Jack said. “This is great news but...can we...can you work as a devotion?”
She nodded to him. “It’s only been about three months,” she offered. “No problems playing with my boys in our new playground this year.”
“Fuck yes,” he said and pulled her into a hug, kissing her sweetly.
"He will protect her," Easton reassured them. "He is pleased. And I'm sure the rest of The Order will be, too, when we announce it."
“The first of a new generation.” Emerson went to his knees and kissed her still mostly flat belly. “Hello, you special, perfect child,” he whispered to it. “We all can’t wait to meet you.”
She sighed and ran her fingers through his hair and then looked up. “I didn’t expect this to happen so quickly but...by His will...” The guys all nodded.
“We should celebrate,” Rix said, the look in his eye pure possession. “We really do have much to be thankful for.”
“I got first...since you know...it’s my baby...” Jack said and they erupted into arguments on whose kid it was. She went to Leo, who was still clearly astonished and smiled at him. “This okay?” she asked softly.
"I'm gonna be a daddy," he whispered, tears in his eyes. "I can't believe it."
“You’re going to be a daddy,” she agreed. “And the best daddy.” Her lips found his with a sweet kiss.
"I can't believe it," he said again, a tear seeping from the corner of his eye, but at least now she knew they were tears of joy.
She grinned. “The first of at least seven. I love you.”
“God...pregnancy kink is really going to be a thing,” Jack said. “The five of you are a mess right now.”
She looked over from where she stood in Leo’s arms to see the six of them standing there, desire and need in their eyes.
“How can a girl say no to a scene like that?” Standing, she slipped her flats off and grinned. “You want your devotion? Well, your Devotion wants you. Hope you got your masks handy...” She looked at each of them, as Emerson handed them their masks, seemingly from out of nowhere, feral grins gracing their faces. “Whoever catches me first wins...”
She whooped as the guys tore out of the living room after her as she raced through the massive house. She knew someone would catch her, and quickly, though it didn’t matter who. They would all celebrate the gift He had given them, and much like she wanted when all this began, nothing would ever tear them apart.