Epilogue
The following spring…
The sun was setting on another beautiful day, making their stream sparkle as the sky turned pink and purple.
Soon, there would be more stars than any man could count but Tighe would try as he drifted off to sleep under the skylight.
They had to wait until the snow had melted and the trails were clear and dry enough to carry all the supplies up to their part of the mountain, but Silas had built their beautiful tiny home in days.
And Silas picked the perfect spot! They had their own stream and Tighe could see and smell it from their bed, especially when Silas opened the French doors.
Most of their days were spent outside and Silas cooked most foods over the fire or the grill, but there was a small stove where Tighe could make tea.
The back deck was their living room and there were plenty of shelves for books under the stairs.
With Silas’s help, Tighe spent the day clearing out a small plot and turning over the earth. Nox had come by with seeds the week before, one of many housewarming gifts. All of Tighe’s favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs would be planted in the morning.
Their bathroom wasn’t as fancy as the ones in Nox’s townhouse but Silas added a large outdoor shower with high walls for privacy. They tumbled into it, sweaty and filthy after a day of work in their future garden.
Nox had also brought a bottle of his whiskey and Silas liked to have a few sips before bedtime. His breath smelled and tasted like whiskey as he backed Tighe into the shower and under the water. Tighe was beginning to develop a fondness himself, purring as he sucked on Silas’s tongue and lips.
“Sweet and smokey,” he noted, making Silas hum as he pecked.
“But not as sweet as you.”
Strong, soapy hands wandered over Tighe’s body, kneading and teasing until he was hard and impatient.
“My turn!” Tighe snatched the bar and covered his hands in lather before spreading them over Silas’s chest. But Tighe forgot about the soap when he lowered to his knees and opened his mouth wide.
He caught the water dripping from the end of Silas’s cock, then lapped at his sac.
For a few moments, Tighe worshipped Silas’s shaft, taking it deep in his throat and sucking hard.
He gloried in Silas’s strained swears and moans and the way his toes curled on the wet wooden planks.
But Silas’s patience snapped and Tighe laughed as he was hauled to his feet and thrown against the shower wall.
“Now.” Silas swiped the bottle of lube off the top of the wall above their heads and quickly coated his cock.
“Now,” Tighe agreed breathlessly, gasping as he was lifted, his legs locked around Silas’s waist.
The head of Silas’s cock pressed into Tighe’s hole, slick and hot as it stretched him. Silas supported Tighe’s ass as he rolled his hips, setting a steady, driving pace.
“That’s so good!” Tighe held onto the wall and Silas’s shoulders, drunk on the incredible pleasure coiling in his core.
Silas was so deep and his hands were strong and hard, fingertips digging into Tighe’s ass.
There would be bruises later, prizes that Tighe would show off when he bathed in the stream. “Please! Give it to me!”
He was nearly there but Tighe needed to feel Silas come, craving the moment when his mate’s soul ignited, when they could burn together. The rush of wet heat and the wild pounding of their hearts never failed to move Tighe and he never took their connection for granted.
“Oh fuck, Tighe! Fuck!” Silas bit into Tighe’s shoulder, sobbing as his body trembled and bucked.
“Yes!” The hot burst in Tighe’s ass was like a trigger, setting off an implosion and filling the world with light. He came with the stars in his eyes, blinking up at the sky as he clung to Silas and panted.
“Love you so much,” Silas whispered and kissed his way up Tighe’s neck and over his chin. They shared a tender, lingering kiss, then Silas groaned as he slid out and set Tighe down on his feet.
“I love you too.”
This time, Tighe did a better job washing Silas before they rinsed and dried each other off. The doors were still open so Tighe pulled on a pair of jeans and went to the end of the deck to watch the fireflies.
“One more cup of tea?” Silas asked from the stove, reading Tighe’s mind.
“Yes, please!”
A short time later, Silas padded over with a quilt and draped it around Tighe’s shoulders. “It’s getting chilly.”
He returned with Silas’s teacup. “Thank you!” Tighe offered his lips and received a kiss, then Silas went to tidy up the tiny kitchen.
Tighe couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening and was utterly content as he traced the faded gold rim around the teacup’s handle.
It had come from the set at Nox’s townhouse.
He insisted that Tighe keep it as a reminder of his stay there and that he was part of a family now and would always be welcome there.
He was happily sipping his tea when he saw a dark shape between the trees, moving towards them.
Tighe rose and pointed, backing away. “Something’s here,” he said, then frowned when it took on the shape of a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard. “I think it’s Smoak.”
“Smoak?” Silas came out, drying his hands. He spotted Smoak, now striding briskly through the stream, and frowned. “What are you doing here?” he called.
“I mean you no harm,” Smoak answered and stopped just short of their deck. Both the house and the deck had been warded to keep Dùbhghlas and other dark creatures out, including demons. “MacIlwraith was attacked. You’re to come at once, if you wish to help.”
“Attacked?” Tighe ran to get his shoes and a T-shirt.
“What happened?” Silas asked and was turning off the stove and flipping switches so he could close up the house and lock it.
Smoak pushed out a sound that was half growl and half cackle of disbelief. “Fomorians! A dozen fucking Fomorians, if you can believe it.” He was furious.
“Possibly,” Silas said. “I don’t know what a Fomorian is.”
“Giants!” Tighe gasped and went to get Silas’s boots.
“Giants?” Silas verified, earning a grim nod from Smoak.
“The great foe of the Tuatha Dé Danann, but of the undead variety because they were wiped out by the Dagda’s army in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.”
Tighe hurried to the end of the deck, hugging the boots. “Is Nox going to be alright? What about Nelson?”
“The sun god will recover eventually, and Nelson was barely touched. They were in the country, hiding for the spring solstice with Oglethorpe and Darrach Clancy. Dùbhghlas attacked because he knew they would take him there without his hellhounds and changeling for protection. It wasn’t much of a fight, fortunately.
The sun god is strongest during the solstice and Clancy is a cunning old warrior.
He had his Valkyrie wife and daughters with him as well, but MacIlwraith took the brunt of the attack.
They moved him back to Georgetown and sent me to summon anyone who isn’t answering their phone. ” He gave Silas a peeved look.
“Sorry. I barely look at it these days,” Silas said as he slid his keys in his pocket and bent to pull on his boots. “I’m surprised you’re not sitting this one out. I thought you didn’t care.”
Smoak’s lip curled. “I don’t but Niall would never forgive me if Dùbhghlas won and I did nothing. And I’ll be Dùbhghlas’s next target. That’s hardly a concern with MacIlwraith. He’d rather bore me to death than fight.”
“That is true,” Silas said, nodding.
“Dùbhghlas must answer for the Fomorians as well. There is a natural order and death must always be the end. If not, I begin to lose power because what would humans barter for if death can be bypassed? Fame is all but worthless and can be achieved with a meme or on TikTok these days.”
“What’s a meme?” Tighe whispered out of the side of his mouth but Silas held up his hands.
“No clue, I’m not even sure what a TikTok is but it’s something to do with social media.”
Smoak grinned, his eyes glowing bright blue. “My favorite playground, but we’re losing focus. If I allow Dùbhghlas to defy death and pervert what is already damned and forsaken, then what does that make me? How do I show my face and expect my dark children to kneel before me?”
“Alright, settle down,” Silas told him. “Are we driving or are you going to…poof us to Georgetown?”
“Why the hell would I drive anywhere?” Smoak said and held out his hands. “You may if you wish, or you can come with me.”
Tighe and Silas traded questioning looks. “It’s your call,” Silas said with a lift of his brows. “Go to Georgetown in my Subaru or travel by demon.”
“I hate your Subaru!” Tighe said, then offered them a shy smile. “And I wouldn’t mind giving this a try. Eoin did it and I can’t let him have all the fun.”
“That settles it,” Silas said and they each took one of Smoak’s hands. “Time for another adventure.”