Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Ethan shouldered open his apartment door, breathing in the familiar scent of home: a blend of old books, the vanilla candles Mal had become oddly obsessed with, and whatever he was cooking tonight. Something that had tomatoes and garlic in it.
"Welcome home!" Mal's voice carried from the kitchen, putting a smile on Ethan's face.
He'd never take for granted how nice it was to have a domesticated demon at home whose new favorite hobby was cooking. Though he should not refer to Mal as a demon anymore. Hell had no hold on them now, and wasn't that the best part?
Lost in his thoughts, Ethan dropped his bag and sorted through the day's mail. Bill, advertisement, another bill, and then his fingers stilled on a thick cream envelope addressed in his brother's familiar handwriting.
Was that…?
An invitation to his brother's wedding.
It was beautiful, all flowing script and embossed flowers. But it was the RSVP card that made Ethan's chest squeeze. That simple checkbox beside "plus one" brought him back to the day James had announced his engagement. Ethan had been hiding in his favorite secluded spot at the library, aching with a loneliness so deep he'd been desperate enough to attempt summoning Cupid with filtered tap water and dried coriander.
It had all been so ridiculous.
But boy was he glad he'd done it.
Now he knew exactly who he'd bring to the wedding.
He set the mail aside and followed the smell of garlic and herbs to the kitchen. Mal stood at the stove, stirring sauce.
Just last night he'd told Ethan that he loved cooking because he loved learning how best to take care of Ethan.
Now Ethan grinned at the thought of showing Mal off to his family.
It was going to be wonderful.
He wrapped his arms around Mal's waist from behind and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck, breathing in that hint of smoke that still clung to him, even months after losing his demonic status.
"That's an enthusiastic greeting." Mal leaned back into the embrace, his free hand covering Ethan's where they rested on his stomach.
"I just can't wait for the wedding."
Something clattered against the stove top. The wooden spoon Mal had been using. "Shit, you found it?"
"Found what?"
Mal turned in his arms, eyes wide with a familiar mix of panic and tenderness that took Ethan back to their first kiss by the river. "The ring?"
"What ring?" Ethan's heart skipped, then started racing. "Wait. You have a ring for me?"
The look on Mal's face gave him away, even as he tried to say, "No?"
Ethan's breath caught. "You were going to propose?"
"Not like this!" Mal ran his hands through his hair in that adorably flustered way that made Ethan want to kiss him. "I had a whole plan. There was going to be a special dinner, and candles, and—" He glanced at the bubbling pot on the stove. "Well, not this dinner. A fancier one."
"Where is it?" Ethan couldn't stop the giddy feeling that took over him. "Show me. Show me now ."
"Not like this." Mal sighed. "I can't believe I ruined this."
"Nothing's ruined."
"Yes it is." Mal reached behind him to turn off the burner, then pressed his forehead against Ethan's. "You weren't supposed to know yet. I wanted it to be perfect."
"This is perfect." Ethan brushed his lips against Mal's. "It's perfect because it's you." He smiled brightly. "I can't believe you went out and bought a ring."
"Isn't that what you do when you love someone?"
"Yes." Ethan couldn't argue with that, couldn't argue with the fast beating of his heart either. "Now where's my ring?"
Mal seemed mollified—and a little hopeful too. "You really want it?"
"Yes!"
"Okay." Mal's expression softened into that look of pure adoration that still made Ethan's knees weak. "Wait."
He disappeared into their bedroom while Ethan bounced on his toes, unable to contain his excitement. When Mal returned, he held a small black velvet box.
"I had this whole speech prepared." Mal fidgeted with the box. "About how you brought light back into my life. About how you helped me remember who I really was."
"Tell me anyway." Ethan stepped closer.
Mal glanced down at the box, then his gaze fixed on Ethan. "I love you. I love how you see the best in everyone, even incompetent demons who mess up your life in unpredictable ways. I love how you'd rather read romance novels than literary fiction because you believe in happy endings. I love that you chose love over safety, over and over, until you helped me remember how to choose it too. In all my centuries of existance, you are the very best person I've ever met, and I never want to go another day without you."
Ethan blinked back tears. "You practiced that speech, didn't you?"
"Every morning in the mirror while you were at work." Mal opened the box. Inside sat a white gold band with a single shining diamond. "I wanted it to be bright like you."
Ethan couldn't find the words or the breath to respond as Mal slid the ring onto his finger, cool metal warming quickly against his skin. It fit perfectly.
"Do you like it?" Mal sounded apprehensive.
"I love it! I love you. " Ethan slung his arms around Mal's neck and pulled his reformed demon—his fiance—into a kiss. He felt like his whole body was filled with warmth and light and fizzy water, joy that bubbled inside his veins.
He hadn't known it was possible to be this happy.
"I can't wait to introduce you to everyone at my brother's wedding."
"Wait." Mal blinked at him. "That's what you were talking about? Your brother's wedding?"
"The invitation came in the mail today."
"Oh. Wow. I'm an idiot."
"No! I'm glad I made you panic and propose early. Now I get to wear this ring to the wedding." Ethan stretched out his hand to look at it again.
"And you want to take me to that wedding?"
"Of course I do!"
"How are you going to explain me to your family?"
"I'll tell them the truth." Ethan grinned at Mal's alarmed expression. "That I tried to summon Cupid but got you instead, and it turned out to be the best mistake of my life."
"You can't tell them that."
"Why not? My brother would love that story. He's always saying I read too many romance novels." Ethan pressed closer, breathing in that hint of smoke that still clung to Mal. "Now I can tell him sometimes they come true."
"Your family will think you're crazy."
"No, they'll think I'm telling a cute story about how we met." Ethan kissed the worry line between Mal's brows. "Nobody believes in demons, anyway. They'll just think I'm trying to be funny."
"You're impossible." Mal shook his head, but his eyes shone with affection.
"But you love me."
"I do." Mal's voice went soft. "I'm so glad you said yes."
"I didn't, actually." Ethan smirked. "You never asked the question."
Mal took both of Ethan's hands in his. "Ethan, will you?—"
"Yes." Ethan cut him off with a kiss. "Always yes."
He had everything he wanted, and he didn't care what his family might think about how they met. Their story might be a bit hard to believe, but after all…
What good love story wasn't?