Epilogue
Reece
One Month Later
“I look like a fucking college professor,” I huffed, checking my outfit in the mirror.
Tonight was Cyrus’s art show, and I’d made the mistake of letting him dress me for the event.
He’d chosen a burnt orange sweater layered over a gingham button-down, dark wash jeans, and some sort of blazer-jacket hybrid.
It was out of my comfort zone, that was for sure.
Cyrus came up behind me in the mirror, rested his head on my shoulder, and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I think you look quite handsome. You can’t wear gray sweatpants everywhere.
” He turned his head, his soft lips grazing the shell of my ear as he whispered, “Even if your cock looks fab in them.”
I curved my arm upward, rubbing my fingertips over the delicate fins along Cyrus’s neck as I stared at the two of us in the mirror. “I love you so much, you know that?”
A wide smile spread over his face. “I love you, darling. But we’ll see if you still feel that way when we’re in a room full of people eyeballing a painting of your ass.”
I let out a deep sigh as he pulled away, knowing exactly which painting he meant. The one he’d painted the day we met, the one of me and the merman.
I wasn’t sighing because of my ass being on display, though. I was sighing because it killed me that Cy didn’t see his beauty the way I did.
“Did you confirm your therapy appointment?” he called out from his bedroom.
“Yes,” I yelled back as I straightened a few out-of-place hairs. “Confirmed for Thursday at five.”
It was a long time coming, but I was finally committed to resolving the issues from my childhood with the help of a trained professional.
“Reece, we’re going to be late.”
“Are we still staying at my place tonight?” I asked as I followed Cyrus out into the hall.
Over the past month, we’d been spending most of our free time together, alternating between Cyrus’s place and mine. I was hoping to change that soon.
“Yes, yes. Why do you keep asking that?” He tilted his head, raising the bumpy protrusions above his eyes that served as eyebrows. “Are you up to something?”
Motherfucker.
I was gods awful when it came to surprises.
“You’re just gonna have to wait and see.” I turned away from Cyrus to hide my smile and grabbed my keys from the console table. “Let’s roll.”
We held hands as we walked across the parking lot to my car. It was one of the perks of being open about our relationship. I could touch Cyrus anytime I wanted.
I slid into the driver’s seat with Cyrus sitting beside me in the passenger seat. “You’re going to have to navigate once we get to Rock Harbor because I have no idea how to get to the gallery.”
Cyrus snorted. “Reece, you just helped me take paintings there the other day. You really don’t remember how to get there?”
“Nope. You know I space out when I’m in the car.”
“That’s comforting, considering you drive around Briar Glenn for work. I’ll navigate, but can you put some music on?” Cy asked, one of his tentacles tapping impatiently.
I connected my phone to Bluetooth and started the music. The sound of Robert Smith’s voice filtered out of the speakers and filled the car.
“What’s this?” Cyrus asked. He reached over the center console and grabbed my hand. “I thought you didn’t like my sad boy shit.”
I shrugged and pulled out of the parking lot. “Guess your taste in music is rubbing off on me.”
The forty-minute drive to Rock Harbor passed quickly, with Cyrus telling me stories about his time in England and what it was like when he met Atlas and Fallon for the first time.
Compared to humans, he’d lived so many lifetimes. I tried not to think about what that meant for us in the grand scheme of things, but I needed to know what to expect.
“Cy,” I said, pulling the car into a parking spot and shutting off the engine.
“Yes, darling?”
“I, uh, I wanted to ask you. Now that we’re mated, what happens to you when I die? You know, because your lifespan is so long.”
His grip on my hand tightened. “Well, I don’t have a lot of information to go on, but I’d assume our life forces are tied together in some way.
You’ll live slightly longer, and I’ll live a much shorter lifespan as your mate.
But I don’t think we’ll ever have to experience life without each other. When you go, I go.”
As sad as it was that Cyrus’s lifespan would be drastically shorter because I was his mate, it also brought me comfort in a way. I’d never have to worry about how he’d cope without me.
I leaned over the center console and ran my hand along his jaw, then pulled him in for a kiss.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.
“I love you, too. Now, let’s hurry inside before Eduardo loses his shit.”
As we walked through the gallery doors, Eduardo huffed, “About time.”
The bright white space was filled to the brim with humans and monsters, all admiring Cyrus’s artwork.
“Sorry we’re late. There was traffic.” Cyrus hugged Eduardo, then kissed both of his cheeks.
“Mm-hmm, I’m sure there was.” Eduardo looked me up and down. “Well, don’t you look handsome. He cleans up nicely, Cyrus.”
I tugged at my collar awkwardly and Cyrus grabbed my arm to ease some of my discomfort. “He certainly does. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to show Reece around. We’ll catch up with you later.”
With that, Cyrus put his hand on the small of my back and led me away from Eduardo.
“What is it with that guy?” I mumbled when we were far enough away.
“He’s jealous of you. He tried to pursue me in the past, but I shot him down. It probably kills him that you’re my mate.”
“You never told me Eduardo was into you.”
“I thought it was obvious, and you’re my mate. It isn’t like it matters. Come here, I want to show you something.”
Cyrus led me through a sea of people, occasionally stopping to introduce me or to chitchat, until we arrived at an alcove in the back of the gallery.
“Come on.” Cyrus unclipped the velvet rope partition securing the area and ushered me inside.
“What is this?” I asked as we walked down a bright hallway.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered, and grabbed my hand.
I followed his instructions, walking blindly alongside him until he pulled me to a stop.
“I wanted you to be the first one to see this piece, so I had Eduardo set it up back here. Open your eyes.”
My eyes fluttered open and took in the painting in front of me.
It was the one Cyrus had painted the first time we’d met. The one of me underwater, my bare ass on full display, but this time it was different.
Instead of a merman embracing me, it was Cyrus. Sunlight filtered through the water, catching on the delicate fins lining his neck and reflecting off his wide blue eyes. A soft smile tipped up his lips as he embraced me, the one I’d grown to love over the past few months.
He looked beautiful.
“It’s you,” I said quietly, my fingers tracing over his blue-green stripes and billowing tentacles.
“It is. I painted over it the night of the triathlon. Am I handsome enough for you?”
I turned to face him, wrapped my hands around his waist, and held him tight. “You’ll always be handsome enough for me.”