Epilogue
“Look at you all tanned and smiling. Did you have a good honeymoon?” Mason passed Jordan a beer and sat on his new sofa. He and Vlash had made sure it was comfortable for snuggling up last night. It was.
“I did. We did. It was nice to be away from everything. But I’m glad to be back, as it seems like I missed out on quite a lot being away for three weeks. Did you know Sean is building a house with Troy?”
“Yeah. He seems really happy.” And Mason was happy for him.
“You also seem happier. He said you might be seeing someone.” Jordan gave him a pointed look.
Mason needed to take the chance and tell Jordan. It wasn’t a secret. They’d gone out a few times now. “I am. It’s been going on since your wedding.”
“You picked up at my wedding? Sean said you did, but I didn’t believe him.”
“I did.” It sounded tawdry now, and he was sure his liver was not ready for mead, even though it had been two months. “And I’m still seeing him.”
“Does he have a name?”
Two, actually, but only one that he was going to tell Jordan. “Vlash.”
Jordan choked on his beer. “As in head archer, Vlash. Snarly blonde guy who likes cute T-shirts, but who’ll bite your hand off if you look at him the wrong way?”
“That’s him.” Mason nodded.
Jordan blinked and took a drink of his beer. “You’re still alive, so he must really like you.”
“And I really like him.” He wasn’t ready to call it love yet.
He didn’t think either of them were. Those words had power and should be spoken wisely.
But it felt like love. And when Vlash looked at him and smiled, he didn’t need to hear the words because he could see it in his eyes as well as in the curve of his lips.
“I can tell.”
“But you’re worried.” He could see the concern in Jordan’s eye.
“My only dealings with Vlash have been as a cop or as a knight, neither of which are good places to begin a friendship. He hasn’t used his word-binding magic, has he?”
Mason laughed and sipped his beer. “No.” And he couldn’t say why. “Is your work relationship with him going to be an issue?”
Jordan shook his head. “As long as he’s treating you right, I don’t have a problem.”
“He is. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“I’m guessing Vlash being at your place is the reason why Katie’s been going to see Lekso…” Jordan nodded and smiled. “And you’re the reason why that relationship is no longer an issue.”
“He’s worried about the lifespan lineup.”
“As am I. You’re not?”
Mason shook his head. “He’s two hundred and sixty-six, and we don’t know the consequences of the collapse on Elvish lifespans.
It’s a chance we’re taking.” And if they were still together in twenty years’ time, it was going to look as though he had a hot young thing on his arm, although Vlash had taken great pains to point out the creases at the corners of his eyes and other small wrinkles that he claimed shouldn’t be there at his age.
Mason had introduced him to the wonders of moisturizer.
“What are you going to do with this place?”
Mason looked around the living room at the place he rented. “I never wanted to rent. I wanted to buy, so I think that’s what I’m going to do.”
“You’re not about to take on a pittance lease with Vlash, are you?”
Mason laughed. “No, neither of us has the time or skills for that. But I have started looking at places that are closer to Creature Hollow.”
And not only because the houses were more affordable. He wanted to be closer to his friends. And to Vlash.
Because a little part of him suspected Vlash was the one, but five years ago, Vlash hadn’t been ready, and neither had he, if he was being honest. He was glad the magic at the wedding had brought them together for one night.
Noah and Pan get their story in Magic and other Mishaps.