Epilogue
Dax
Dax carried his last box into the house he now shared with Everett.
They’d waited only one week to officially move in together but spent all their nights at one or the other’s home in the meantime.
He could hear his mother in the kitchen, laughing with Everett and his heart warmed. Those two had clicked instantly.
When his phone rang, he set down his box and fished it out, smiling when Emory’s name showed on the screen.
“Dax, you are not going to believe what’s happening here.”
Dax waited for his friend to elaborate, frowning when Emory didn’t go on for several moments. “Are you going to tell me?”
“It’s Ivor. I’ve never seen him like this—completely gone over someone I never would have pictured for him. This guy is nothing like his usual type.”
He couldn’t help but grin over the thought of his incubus friend actually gone over someone. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll have to fill you in when I have time, but I really called to just wish you a happy housewarming. I expect a dinner invite when I get home.”
“Most definitely. Have you caught the draugr?”
His sigh was loud. “No, but we know for sure it’s here. And it’s bad. Shit, I have to go, so I’ll call back when I can. Just congrats on your new home and partner. I’m really happy for you, Dax.”
“Thank you.”
They said their goodbyes, and Dax left the box where he’d set it. He walked into the kitchen to find both his parents laughing now as Everett told them about some of his weirder reviews. He talked as he was putting the finishing touches on their dinner.
The beef bourguignon filled the room with heavenly smells but it was the laughter that really got to Dax.
His parents had taken to Everett, and he returned their affection.
Dax felt like his family was complete. For now.
He knew both he and Everett did want children eventually.
Just the thought sent a wave of joy through him.
Everett already talked about filling this big house with little running feet.
“And that’s why I stopped reading my reviews.”
“That’s probably best,” Angala said as she set a loaf of bread on a cutting board and started slicing it. She winked at Dax. “That was the last of your things, right?”
“I’m officially moved in.”
Everett set down a bowl of softened butter next to the bread and came over to Dax. He stood on his toes and wrapped his arms around Dax’s neck, squeezing hard.
Dax hadn’t known it was possible to feel this much joy.
He picked Everett up to hug him back, not worried about hurting him at all.
Dax’s research turned out to be more than conjecture, Everett changing to complement Dax’s ogre power.
He was tougher, his bones stronger. The soulmate bond had melded them to be perfectly compatible.
And fuck if they didn’t take advantage of that.
All. The. Time.
He buried his face in Everett’s neck, breathing him in, so damn thankful Everett had possessed enough magic for the spell to work. Everett belonged to Dax, and Dax belonged to Everett.
Then he set him back on his feet, only to find his parents beaming at them.
“Thank you, Everett,” Angala said softly, a hitch in her voice.
Everett spun around to face her. “For what?”
“For taking that chance with the spell. For wanting our son enough to take the risk.”
“There was never a question.” Everett looked back at Dax and the affection in his eyes made them shine. “I knew right away he was mine. Just as I knew there was something different about him.”
It had only been a week, but so far, Xavier’s concerns about Everett’s sanity didn’t seem to be an issue.
Though Everett was occasionally startled when he saw a preternatural, he was learning to keep his expression from showing it.
But he had so many questions—ones Dax was always happy to answer.
He’d adjusted to his new reality and in fact, had plans to use this newfound ability in his writing.
They stared at each other until Dax realized he was about to be truly embarrassed in front of his parents. He cleared his throat, his neck and cheeks hot.
His mother chuckled. “How about we go ahead and eat so we can leave you two alone? Everett, we just want you to know how happy we are to have you in our family.”
Dax watched him walk over to hug both of them, knowing that Everett had wanted a family more than anything.
And he’d gotten one.
Dax felt good knowing that he’d given him that—his own family to love Everett as much as he did. And they’d make good on their plan to expand that family. Just not yet. They had many, many years together, and Dax wanted Everett to himself for a while yet.
He watched the man he loved bonding with his parents as they ate, and the whole time, he felt a deep contentment.
He’d searched for love before and lost it, but now all those years of searching for his true soulmate were finally over.
And Everett, who hadn’t even known about soulmates, was so happy and fulfilled, Dax constantly felt it.
It was like having a beam of soothing sunlight living in his chest.
They’d been brought together because of someone seeking treasure, but they’d found the real treasure. The true one.
Everett glanced at him, their gazes locking, and he knew this beautiful human being was feeling exactly what he was in that moment.
They were two halves of a whole and they had a long lifetime to just be.
Together.
The End
Thank you so much for reading Ogre!