Epilogue
Landon
Dashiel and I stood outside of this cottage. When I looked up at him, he smiled, asking, “Are you ready”
I nodded, leaning into him. I went onto my toes and kissed his jaw. “As I’ll ever be. But you promise we can come back here after?”
His eyes softened. “You do not wish to go to your house?”
“No. I like it here.”
“We could pack up your things and move them here.”
Smirking, I asked, “Dashiel, are you asking me to move in with you?”
He turned to me and cupped my cheek. “I think, since we have bonded, that we are past asking, and I can simply collect your things and demand you live here with me.”
Laughter burst out of me. I hugged him tightly. “Yeah, love, I’m okay with that. Not that you’d probably ask.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. Eventually.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. He made me so freaking happy. “Come on. Let’s get this done so we can come back.”
“Deal.” Dashiel faced forward and waved a hand in front of himself. A shimmering portal split open right in front of us, and together, we crossed into the Fury compound.
Dashiel and I shared a look with a smile.
“No trouble?” he asked.
“I’m good,” I said, grateful I didn’t feel woozy.
I shifted my attention to the common room and noticed that Monkey hadn’t been exaggerating when he said that only the people who already knew about the supernatural world were there.
Ruth sat comfortably on one of the couches with Rio and Kieran, while Riker somehow managed to occupy an entire armchair despite his small size by sitting sideways across it.
Razor leaned against the bar with Deacon, Nox, Soren, Spade, and Coms. They were all talking quietly among themselves.
Though, the moment the portal closed behind us, every conversation stopped, and then every head turned. For half a heartbeat, complete silence settled over the room, but then Riker squealed.
“Oh my God!” The fox shifter launched himself out of the chair and rushed our way before he wrapped both Dashiel and me in an enthusiastic hug. “Congratulations!”
I blinked. “On what?”
Riker bounced on the spot. “You completed the bond.”
I looked at Dashiel, who was smugly staring down at Riker, before I asked the shifter, “How do you know?”
Riker grinned so widely, I thought his face might split. He tapped the end of his nose proudly. “Shifters can smell it.” He pointed dramatically between us. “You two absolutely reek of each other.”
Heat immediately climbed into my cheeks. “Oh.”
Riker nodded enthusiastically before clapping. “This is awesome. Our family is getting so big.”
Razor wandered over, slipping an arm around his mate’s waist. “He told me he’d be able to smell the bond, but I did tell him to wait to announce it.”
“I did wait.”
“All of five seconds.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “It’s fine.”
Monkey stopped directly in front of me with a smile, but he was also studying my face. “It’s true, then?”
“Yeah. Dashiel and I completed the bond.”
Monkey’s smile grew. “Congrats, old man.” He pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, “You look so fuckin’ happy, Pops. It’s good to see.”
My heart thumped, and I hugged him tighter. “Love you, kid.”
“You too.” His voice sounded thick with emotion, but he pushed me back, patted my shoulder, and turned to Dashiel. “Take care of him.”
Dashiel didn’t hesitate—he tipped his chin down and replied, “I shall.”
The certainty in his voice left no room for doubt.
Monkey nodded once. “I know you will.”
The others began gathering around us.
Rio hugged me first. “I’m so happy for you.”
Then Kieran added, “Welcome to the weird club.”
Laughing, I grinned. “Glad to be a part of it.”
Spade moved up, grinning, before saying to Dashiel, “You’ve got yourself a good one.”
My elf beamed and nodded. “I know.”
Soren smiled softly beside his mate. “We’re pleased everything worked out.”
I nodded. “Thanks. Me too.”
Deacon tipped his chin up at me and then shook Dashiel’s hand, telling him something. Nox did the same. Neither of them wanted to touch me out of respect for Dashiel.
Coms and Ruth were last to give us a hug and congratulations before Riker stepped up close to me and tugged on my wrist. “Come on. I want to know everything.”
Dashiel lay a hand over Riker’s, and the shifter let go instantly. “You can question Landon another day, and that is only if he wishes to.”
Riker straightened, snapped his heels together like he was in the Army, and saluted Dashiel. “Yes, sir.” But he was grinning wildly too.
Razor gripped the back of Riker’s neck and said, “It’s time for a drink.”
We made our way over to the bar, and Coms slipped behind the counter to serve everyone while I told everyone about Dashiel’s “small” cottage.
Dashiel snorted. “It is small to me.”
Riker snorted. “Yeah, because you come from royalty.” He gasped. “One day, can we all go to the kingdom to check it out?”
I looked up at Dashiel as he nodded once. “One day. But first I take my mate home.”
Riker spun to Razor. “We get to see a castle.”
Razor smirked and pulled him close to kiss his temple.
Eventually, we all moved over to the couches. When Ruth stayed standing, all eyes focused on her. She smiled warmly at Dashiel and me. “I am very pleased for both of you.”
“Thank you,” I said, pressing into Dashiel’s side on the couch. He smiled down at me while placing his arm around my shoulders. He really did make me feel small.
Ruth inclined her head, then turned toward Monkey and Coms. “Now. We have one final matter.”
Monkey immediately straightened while Coms folded his arms.
Ruth glanced briefly toward Soren before she said, “As agreed previously, the choice now belongs to the two of you. If Landon had rejected the bond, your memories would’ve been altered.” She smiled softly. “But he did not.”
Monkey nodded.
“The two of you may still choose to keep your knowledge of our world and be granted an amulet, which will age you at the same rate as our kind, or have those memories removed.”
Dashiel had told me about the amulet. But apparently the bond between Dashiel and I held magic within it, so I would automatically age slower like he did.
Monkey didn’t even hesitate. “I want to remember.”
Ruth smiled. “I had guessed you would, but I still have to ask: Why do you want to keep this knowledge? You understand what will eventually happen? You’ll leave the club, your friends, and start over elsewhere.”
Monkey looked at me, then at Dashiel before his grin slowly spread. “I get it, but it’s simple. My pops linked his life to an elf prince.”
Laughter rippled around the room. Even Dashiel chuckled quietly beside me.
Monkey shrugged as his expression softened while looking at me. “I want to stay part of your life.” He looked at Dashiel again. “Both your lives.”
The bond warmed immediately. I reached over and squeezed Dashiel’s thigh
Monkey continued quietly. “So yeah, I don’t want to forget them, and it’s just lucky I get to keep remembering everyone in here too.”
“Awww, he loves us,” Riker cooed. “But you can’t have me. I’m all Daddy’s.”
Monkey snorted, shaking his head. “No offense, but I don’t think I could keep up with you.”
As Razor looked at Riker with pride, Riker nodded solemnly. “It does take a special someone.” He hugged Razor to him, since he was sitting on his mate’s lap.
Ruth inclined her head. “Then your memories remain.”
Monkey grinned. “Wicked. What about you, brother?” he asked Coms.
Coms scratched the back of his neck as his gaze traveled around the room. Finally, he shrugged. “Well…” A crooked grin appeared. “I ain’t being left out. Besides, I’d miss these fuckers too much.” He thumbed at Razor, Spade, and Monkey.
Riker cheered. “I knew you’d say that!”
Coms rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. But if anyone starts turning into dragons, I’m out.”
We all noticed the shifters look at each other.
“Wait…” Coms stood. “There’s dragons out there?”
“Only a few,” Dashiel said.
Coms gaped. “Are you for real?”
Riker cackled. “We have another friend who’s a dragon shifter.”
Coms sat back down with a thump. “Not sure I’m ready for this new world, but I wanna give it a try.”
“We’re glad to keep you guys with us,” Riker said, and there were a few nods. Mine included as I met my son’s gaze.
This was our new family. It was a wild one, and there’d no doubt be a lot of learning and exploring. But I wouldn’t change this for anything.
Thank you, Fate, for putting me in the path of Dashiel.
I glanced up at him, smiling softly as he listened to something Soren was saying. I ignored everyone while I admired the man who had my whole heart.
As if he could feel me staring, Dashiel looked down at me. His soft gaze scanned my face with the same look he’d given me the first night we’d met.
Like I was the most important thing to him.
I smiled up at him, which he quickly returned.
A few weeks ago, I’d have thought he was insane when he was talking about otherworldly things and the fated mates’ business. After all, he’d just been an impossibly handsome elf claiming Fate had made us soulmates.
But now, and in such a short amount of time, I’d fallen completely in love with him.
With an elf prince.
Life was strange, but now it was also beautiful and peaceful each day I woke up with him.
“Love you,” I whispered, and his gaze warmed.
He leaned down and kissed my temple. He didn’t say it back, but I could feel it through the special bond only he and I had. I rested my cheek against his shoulder. My life had taken a huge turn, but there was no way I was getting off this ride.