Epilogue #2
“His name is Ashkael and he’s actually really lovely once you get to know him. We worked it out.”
“You worked it out. With a DRAGON.”
“He’s mostly just lonely, but he seemed to think I’d prefer to spend my time with Moerrven.”
I sprung up, then helped Sky to his feet.
He brushed off his trousers, drawing attention to them.
I realized Sky’s outfit didn’t match my twink lore at all.
How would I justify the shorts if they weren’t my cultural identity?
Hopefully, no one would notice. “How do you feel about switching to shorts?”
“Bit chilly for shorts here, don’t you think?” He studied my culottes. “Those are kinda fun though, where did you get them? Moerrven keeps buying things that are brown and more brown.”
“Is Moerrven your husband?”
“What? No, why would he be my husband? We only met a few weeks ago.” His eyes darted to a big troll sitting at a table sipping a very small cup of tea. “Oh, but don’t tell his sisters that, they think we’re engaged. As does Ashkael.”
“What?” I asked.
“Long story. Really, telling people I’m engaged has been my entire life lately. What about you? How have you been? Where have you been?”
“I’ve been—”
Sky interrupted me, laying a hand on my shoulder. “Pip, who is the seven-foot demigod walking up behind you, and why is he looking at me like he’s deciding whether to be polite or stab me with his sword?”
I looked behind me. Aeldryc had crossed the square at a measured pace, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword in the way I had learned was a habit and not a threat, and he stopped a respectful three feet from where Sky and I stood in a small gathering of best-friend chaos.
“Oh! That’s my husband.”
Sky’s mouth fell open.
“Your what?”
“My husband, Aeldryc,” I said, eyes skimming over the way Aeldryc’s shoulder muscles flexed as he walked closer. “Hot as fuck, isn’t he?”
Vaelith and Ilyndra walked up behind him, and Aeldryc shifted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Pip, stop objectifying me.”
“He sounds like he’s admonishing you, but looks rather pleased. Interesting.” Sky was not wrong. Aeldryc had shifted his arms in a way that looked almost like he was flexing his muscles for me. Couldn’t be, though, could it?
Craving my husband, I reached out a hand, and Aeldryc took another step forward, twining his fingers through mine.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Sky,” Aeldryc said with a formal bow. “Aeldryc the Ironstorm, Lord High Commander of the Queen’s Grey Guard, and Pippin’s husband, at your service.”
Sky blushed and gave Aeldryc a little wave. “Sky Liang.” Then he turned back to me. “Dude. We’ve only been here for like, three weeks max. How did you find the hottest man in existence and marry him in under three weeks?”
“Three weeks?” I frowned, trying to do the math in my head.
“I’m sure it’s been quite a bit longer than that.
Still a quick engagement, but when you know, you know, and there’s this thing called a resonant bond—“ I stopped, realizing that Sky looked very very confused.
“What? I mean, you can see him. Would you say no to that?”
“Pip’s husband, I presume you have a better sense of time than Pip. Tell him it’s only been three weeks since we fell through the mirror thingy.”
Aeldryc’s brow furrowed. “We found Pip in Clovermere just over six weeks ago. Are you saying you came through at the same time as him? Reports of your presence didn’t surface until Pip had been with us for a few weeks.”
“But that’s impossible! I only searched for Pip for a few hours after he disappeared.
” He turned to me, clasping my free hand in his.
“Please believe me, Pip, I didn’t take your disappearance lightly.
I was so sure you went out to the cages, and when I didn’t find you there, I was frantic, but of course Wade made us dance.
I spent the rest of the night looking for you every chance I got! ”
I smiled at my friend and let go of Aeldryc’s hand to give Sky a hard hug, tears pricking at the back of my eyes. “I didn’t think anyone would notice I was gone.”
“Of course we noticed you missing, silly! You’re my best friend! And we were goofing off seconds before you vanished. But I know for certain I followed you through the same evening.”
“Could you have been unconscious or something?” Aeldryc asked.
A large, grey troll with big curling ram horns cleared his throat. “Sky landed at my feet twenty-five days ago, after being kidnapped by highwaymen. Judging by his condition, I do not think he was with them for long.”
Vaelith folded her arms over her chest. “You’ve been kidnapped TWICE since you got here? No sense of self preservation?”
“I prefer to think of it as a great sense of adventure,” Sky said.
Vaelith burst out laughing, clapping Sky on the back so hard he stumbled forward. “I think I like this one.”
Ilyndra cleared her throat. “What of the timeline discrepancy?”
“There’s a distinct possibility that time moves differently in our two realms,” Moerrven suggested. “Perhaps we should sit down at the cafe, have a nice bowl of soup, and I’ll tell you all where my research has led me thus far.”