Epilogue
GILLIA
The air has a distinct chill, one that tells me a blizzard is on the way. Apparently, they’ve become an annual event.
This year, I have big plans to help celebrate the incoming storm. At least I hope I do.
“Come back to bed.” Sadie rolls over and pats the space next to her, encouraging me to return.
I’ve never been able to say no to her. That hasn’t changed.
If anything, it’s gotten worse. Or maybe it’s gotten better.
Whatever my love desires, I’m happy to find it for her.
In fact, the whole forest is delighted to give her whatever she wants.
They’re almost as enamored with her as I am.
She’s more than proven herself to them over the last year, going above and beyond to get to know the area.
I offered to let her spend time lounging inside, resting up.
It was selfish, mostly because I wanted her all to myself.
She disagreed, spending her days traipsing through the woods, exploring every nook and cranny of my territory.
As soon as she could speak to the various flora and fauna, she put the skill to good use.
She might not be good at small talk with humans, but she excels at it with woodland creatures.
The resulting offerings from forest inhabitants have been plentiful, keeping Sadie well satiated. We’re spoiling her, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“In a minute,” I reply, wanting another second to think about what I want to say.
When I’m ready, I crawl back into bed, pulling Sadie toward me and snuggling against her. She’s smaller than me, making her the perfect size to wrap myself around. I’ll never grow tired of the way her skin feels against mine.
“I have something to ask you,” I start. She hums against me, a simple acknowledgment that I should continue. “I wonder if you’d want to mate with me.”
She tilts her head back so she can look into my eyes. “I’m pretty sure we’ve already done plenty of that.”
She’s right, the sex between us has been passionate and plentiful over the last year. “I mean producing offspring.” It’s not as big an ask as it might be if we were human, but it’s still a consideration.
“I’m not sure I understand.” She rolls away from me and props her head up on her hand. “Explain it to me?”
That one is going to be tough. It’s one of those things that’s hard to explain to someone without waving my hand and proclaiming it to be magic.
For Sadie, I’m willing to try. “It’s a little different with a dryad.
” She chuckles, lightening my mood. “If we choose to, I’ll produce a seed that we will plant in the woods.
Eventually, that will grow into a dryad who will become a protector of this forest.”
Sadie stares at me with amazement. My heart beats out of my chest, waiting for her to respond.
I never thought about reproducing before her, at least not with any seriousness.
It’s not like a baby dryad will be screaming in our home.
She’ll spend her time as a tree until she’s older, with us helping her to thrive throughout that time.
If Sadie says yes.
“Gillia,” she starts, “my love, of course. I would love to make a baby dryad with you.” I can’t help but laugh at her phrasing. “When should we start?”
I grab hold of her, pulling her on top of me so I can kiss her.
What starts slow, turns heated quickly, our tongues fighting for dominance.
I’ll let her win, I always do, but I enjoy the process.
After a year, I thought kissing might turn stale.
Instead, it’s become one of my favorite things.
I never knew it could be this good or fulfilling until I met her.
She pulls away and grins at me. “This weekend? Our anniversary?”
My face heats as I nod. That was my intention. It’s a little cheesy, but I can’t help it. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Sadie kisses me again, this time not making any attempt to deepen it. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to end up here, but I’m thankful for that snowstorm.”
I hold her close to me, unable to find the words I want to say. I decide not to worry about it, instead focusing on making sure I show her and our future offspring how grateful I am each and every day that the forest brought her to me.
“Me too, my love.” Snow must be lucky for us. First, it was the reason we got together in the first place. Now it’s going to be the backdrop to the start of our family. “This time, you are staying right here, in bed with me.”
“Happily,” she nearly purrs as she crawls on top of me, sprawling out like she loves to do.
Outside, the wind picks up as the storm rolls over the forest. It doesn’t stop any of the gossiping.
I tried to keep it from everyone else for as long as possible, but I didn’t succeed.
Lucky for me, Sadie can’t quite hear them through the thick trunk of the tree.
They’re all happy for us, but she’s still a bit skeptical of the trees knowing the more intimate details of our life together.
“So, we’re doing this?” I ask. “Becoming parents together?”
Sadie leans in close, running her hands through the vines in my hair. “Together.”