Epilogue
Fionn
Since he began this little history, it seems only right that I should close this account of my first days with Braden Wander—part Faery, part mortal and part demon—and wholly and entirely the love of my life.
For a long time after finding Braden after he was stolen from me by infernal creatures, I feared letting him out of my sight.
His uncle was dead, and his so-called “grandfather” would, I believed, think a long time before he ever came back around to bother us again, if he ever did.
Demons were basically cowards who liked to have the odds firmly in their favor, and he knew now what waited for him if he showed his face anywhere near Braden or me again.
As for Braden’s uncle, there wasn’t much left of him to send back to his family.
We burned what little there was. I did make inquiries about his wife and children in the weeks following his death, strictly for Braden, because I knew he worried about such things.
After a few months, I sent Darragh to them to see how they were faring.
Again, it was all for Braden’s sake, because I knew he was worried and unable to settle.
He hadn’t been himself since he’d returned, and I was concerned about him.
I’d have done anything to help him settle down.
I was surprised to learn that Leofric’s widow had already remarried.
The new husband was running the shop, and they all seemed to be thriving.
Even the children, which was perhaps not quite as surprising when Darragh told me that none of the brood had been demonic in the least as far as he could tell.
We can usually sense demonic spirits, especially if we’re looking for them, and even someone as strong as a quarter-demonic mortal, like Leofric’s children were supposed to be, wouldn’t have been able to hide his true nature from my captain.
Braden’s mixture of Faery and mortal ancestry must have helped disguise him from me, along with his naturally sweet, uncorrupt nature.
The mystery was solved by the fact that all of Leofric’s children strongly resembled their new stepfather, a man that Darragh learned at the local pub had been Leofric’s “best friend” for years.
I told Braden about it one night over dinner but barely got a smile out of him. It had been well over three months now since he’d been taken away by his uncle, and he seemed to be getting sadder and more morose by the day.
Yet for all accounts and purposes, things were looking up.
His little horse, the unfortunately named Crow, had been only slightly injured by the demon, and he had recovered nicely.
I was the king of both Murias and Gorias now, and I had already taken charge of the council on Finias.
As for Farlias, I was making great inroads, and they looked at me not only as an advisor but as an invaluable ally. It was only a matter of time.
Braden was safely home here with me. Even my mother had settled down and was beginning to be beguiled and charmed by Braden’s handsome face and his good nature. Everything was fine with us both, and there was no reason for all this continued moping. I decided that enough was enough.
That very evening, I called him into my bedchamber and sat him down in front of the fire. The nights were beginning to get cold, and though most nights we ate downstairs with the family, I needed privacy for what I wanted to say and do to him tonight.
When he arrived, I had a glass of our favorite nectar wine waiting for him. No cream for him tonight. I wanted him to have a clear head. He smiled wanly and took a sip.
“What’s wrong, Braden?”
He looked up at me, startled and a little guilty looking.
“N-nothing. Nothing’s wrong. Why do you ask me that?”
“Because of how you’ve been acting, mo chroi. This has to stop.”
He began to toy with a tassel on his tunic and lowered his gaze, so he didn’t have to look directly into my eyes. I could see he was working himself up to something.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” he said. “And you know how you told me that you had other residences? And that you were thinking of asking your mother to move into one of them?”
“Is that what you want me to do? Has she been bothering you?”
“Oh no, nothing like that,” he said, flushing a pretty shade of pink. “This is not about her—it’s about…me.”
“Ah. And what about you?”
“Well, like I said, I know you only married me out of a need to help my father and to consolidate your claim on Gorias. That’s all done now, and I-I know you haven’t been happy in our-our current situation.”
“Do you, now?”
He leaned forward and gazed earnestly at me. “I know that you have concerns about me being a demonic creature. And with good reason, considering recent events.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head. “Please, my lord, let me get it out before I—before I lose my nerve.”
I waved a hand at him to continue.
“You said once that I seemed to attract infernal things, like the ogres and the nixie and even my own grandfather and uncle. I know it’s true now, and I…
I can’t in good conscience keep drawing this to you and your people.
My own mother told me I was evil and tried to kill me.
And she was right. That woodsman shouldn’t have stopped her.
People like my uncle and me, we can’t help ourselves.
Despite our best intentions, bad things happen around us.
I have to remove myself from your home and your life.
It’s the right thing to do, don’t you see? ”
“Yes, I do see.”
He seemed taken aback, like he expected to get more of an argument from me.
“Oh. You do? Then you’ll let me go?”
“Let you go? Allow me to explain something to you, Braden. And please listen carefully. As you know, I’m a jealous being by nature, though I never realized just how much until I met you.
To suddenly have a mate that every man and woman desires…
the most beautiful creature any of us have ever seen, even among Faeries, who are known for their beauty.
It’s maddening. Frustrating. It makes me do and say things I’m having a hard time controlling.
But I will control it. Because you’re too important for me not to.
I followed you into hell to get you back, and I’d do it again, a thousand times if I had to.
You’re not going anywhere, so get that idea right out of your head. ”
“But…you don’t love me.”
“Who said I don’t?” I ignored the fact that I had often implied it, because I’d fought that losing battle so hard for so long.
“I admit I used to think it weakened me, but then in those awful moments when I knew you had been stolen from me, I could only promise the gods that if they returned you to me, I’d do everything in my power to let you know how much I loved you every day.
Apparently, I haven’t succeeded. But make no mistake about how much I love you, Braden.
You’re absolutely necessary to my being.
And if I haven’t shown you that, then I haven’t done what I need to do for you.
I’ll have to redeem myself in your eyes.
Tell me what to do, and I’ll spend the rest of my life doing it. ”
His sweet mouth dropped open in surprise, and I was shocked at how badly I’d failed to let him see how much I loved him.
I put a finger under his chin and gently closed his pretty mouth for him before I drew him in my arms and kissed that mouth with all the passion I felt for him.
A long time later, when I’d thoroughly demonstrated to him in various ways how much I wanted him and loved him, I drew back and looked down into those beautiful eyes.
“Do you understand now how much I love you?”
“I think so,” he said, a little smile curving his lips. “But I might need a little more convincing. Could you maybe show me again?”
He was laughing as I pounced on him and carried him to bed.
The End