Epilogue
Alanna
Satisfied no one is watching, I give a tiny flex of my fingers. A shimmer of iridescent light, barely visible against the firelight, nudges a stray lantern back into place. My magic hums under my skin like a second heartbeat, familiar and mine.
Around me, the clearing in the forest behind the den is filled with warmth and laughter.
Kade’s hundred-and-thirty-fourth birthday party spills across the packed earth, a cheerful sprawl in the cool spring twilight.
The smell of the bonfire mixes with the aroma of Mom’s signature lasagna, and fairy lights twinkle between the trees, casting a soft glow on the improbable mix of faces.
Sensing my attention on him, he raises his head. His eyes find mine instantly. The intensity is still there, that unwavering focus, but now it’s secure in the knowledge that we belong to each other. Mine. His smile breaks, slow and devastating, meant only for me, and my breath catches.
Around us, the party continues. Lizzy’s laugh rings out near the drinks table—she’s talking to a Warden I vaguely recognize.
Jen is chatting with Seb nearby—and I can tell from afar that she’s grilling him while he attempts to flirt with her.
God, he’s shameless. Even Dad is here, obliviously introducing himself to some of Kade’s contacts (dare I say, friends?) from the Lycan Conclave.
He’s currently cornering a shifter who I know for a fact once tracked a rogue pack across three states on foot.
Dad, totally unaware of the lethal predator looming over him, is enthusiastically explaining the nuances of variable interest rates.
To his credit, the wolf looks genuinely terrified.
My two worlds, tangled together.
Near the edge of the clearing sits a shimmering, intricately carved box—a gift from the Fae, apparently. Kade says that under no circumstances should we open it, so it just sits there, exuding a faint mischievous energy. Another casual reminder of how wonderfully strange my life has become.
Kade prowls toward me, weaving through the scattered groups.
As he reaches me, the ambient chatter of the party fades into a dull buzz, irrelevant compared to the gravity of him standing this close.
I instinctively lean in, the rest of the world blurring at the edges until he is the only thing I see.
“So, how does it feel to be thirty-four?”
The world snaps back into focus. Mom has materialized beside me with a bright smile—the same one that greets me in the mirror.
Obviously, we couldn’t tell everyone how old Kade actually is.
She turns to me and gives my arm a gentle squeeze, surveying the clearing with twinkling eyes (unaware that the massive “dog” sleeping by the fire is really a Conclave Elder taking a nap).
“It’s a lovely party, sweetie. And don’t think I didn’t notice that everything is in groups of thirty-four.
Thirty-four lanterns, thirty-four cheese puffs on that tray. You really outdid yourself.”
Kade lets out a mock-weary sigh. “Don’t encourage her.” His expression is the picture of long-suffering patience, but the corner of his mouth twitches. “This party was already too much fuss. No need for specific quantities of cheese puffs.”
Hearing those words come out of big, serious Kade’s mouth has me stifling a laugh behind my hand. “To the contrary. It is absolutely essential. You know, they say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through rigorous adherence to thematic numerology.”
“They do not say that.” He looks more in love with me than ever. I rest my case.
“Ah, the lengths we go for love,” Mom says, the corners of her eyes softening as she takes in the adoration on his face. “It’s wonderful seeing you so happy. This feels pretty serious, between you two. More than just counting cheese puffs, I think.”
Joy blooms in my chest. “It is serious, Mom.” My hand drifts to the smooth silver scar on my neck—Kade’s mark, a promise deeper than any human vow. I turn the caress into a subtle scratch, careful not to draw attention to it.
Kade’s hand settles possessively on the small of my back. “Very serious.”
“Yeah, yeah, serious.” Em wanders over with a glint in her eye, having been abandoned by Kade earlier. “Seriously boring now that Alanna quit her cool downtown job to go work at some dusty old super-secret library in the middle of nowhere. Do they even have decent Wi-Fi?”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the affection rising. “The Wi-Fi is perfectly adequate, thank you very much. And it’s not dusty.”
She’s referring to my new position at the Warden mansion.
Honestly, it’s a dream come true. I get to spend my days in the most magnificent library I’ve ever seen, researching to my heart’s content, managing the vast collection, and preserving fading magical history alongside Seb.
We’ve become fast friends—much to Kade’s ongoing chagrin.
Sometimes I miss the simplicity of my old life, but the hardest part is that I have to keep the best parts of my day a secret from the people standing right in front of me.
Mom, seeing Em has successfully commandeered our attention, gives me one last pat. “Well, enjoy the rest of the party, you two. And Em, please don’t recruit Kade’s friends for any of your schemes. Take it easy on them.” She gives us a warm smile before heading back toward the food table.
Em launches into a dramatic retelling of her latest school crisis—involving a stolen parking spot and accusations of glitter-bombing—loudly enough to draw glances from nearby Wardens.
Kade listens, asking the occasional clarifying question that only encourages her further.
Em has, without a doubt, wormed her way into his affections.
I lean against him, content to be near, watching my chaotic sister hold court.
After Em finally exhausts her tale and darts off in search of more dessert, Kade turns to me. “Looks like Lizzy wants you.” He nods toward her, and she is indeed waving me over.
“I should probably intervene before she asks that Warden if she can do a tarot reading,” I agree. Kade presses a quick kiss to my temple before releasing me.
I spend the next hour mingling, catching up properly with Lizzy and Jen, making somewhat awkward but earnest conversation with Dad, and even managing a brief, surprisingly normal chat with one of Kade’s old pack mates about rare book preservation techniques.
Later, needing a moment’s quiet, I drift to the edge of the clearing, watching the firelight dance on the trees. A familiar warmth approaches from behind, and Kade’s arms slide around my waist, pulling me back against his solid chest.
He leans down, his lips brushing my temple, the scent of pine and woodsmoke chasing away everything else. “Happy?”
I tilt my head back, meeting his gaze. The gold in his eyes seems to dance in the firelight too. “More than I ever thought possible. Happy birthday.”
He traces a lazy circle on my hip, his thumb dipping just inside the waistband of my skirt.
“Good. Me too, aine.” His voice drops to a low, rough murmur against my ear.
“But I’m strictly tolerating the party. I’m really just counting down the minutes until I can take you inside and unwrap my real gift. ”
We stand in comfortable silence, simply watching the party swirl through the clearing, the promise of later simmering between us.
Then, a figure detaches itself from the mingling crowd, heading purposefully toward us. Kade straightens slightly, his arms remaining firmly around me. The peaceful spell breaks.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Seb calls out as he approaches, looking very much not sorry. He’s holding up a distinctly ancient, leather-bound book with metal clasps like it’s a trophy. His usual charm is replaced with geeky excitement.
“I know, I know—I promised no shop talk,” he whispers, glancing over his shoulder to ensure the regular humans are out of earshot. “And I was going to leave it at the mansion. I swear. But then I thought, you’d never forgive me if I made you wait until Monday. So here it is.”
A jolt of researcher’s adrenaline spikes through me. “It’s here?”
Pulling away from Kade, I inspect the tome Seb is holding out. It looks even older than the descriptions hinted. This could hold the answers I’ve been searching for about the origins of my powers.
Kade lets me go, but his presence remains solid and watchful at my back.
“Thanks, Seb.” I take the book reverently. It is heavy with dormant energy. “I can’t wait to see what’s inside.”
Ignoring Seb’s knowing grin, I step further away from the main party, dragging Kade with me. “Okay, let’s see what secrets you’re hiding,” I mutter to the volume.
I let my Cognitive Resonance flow, seeking out the information I need, the connection between my shard and the “Great Core”.
The air around the book shimmers subtly, and Kade positions his body to block the view of any potential onlookers.
The ornate metal clasps click open with audible snaps, releasing the scent of dust and time.
The thick pages begin to turn carefully, driven by my magic seeking the single most relevant piece of information within.
They stop.
It’s another diagram. It depicts a crystalline, heart-like structure, visibly fractured. Beneath it, archaic script labels it clearly: The Aether Heart.
I follow the lines gingerly with my finger. The Heart is composed of multiple distinct pieces. And one of those fractured pieces, depicted slightly apart from the main structure, is an exact match to the shape embedded in my forearm.
I gasp. Then my forearm thrums—in recognition.
Kade’s hand lands instantly on my shoulder, his voice low and urgent. “What is it?”
The book becomes impossibly heavy now, the weight of revelation pressing down. “Kade,” I whisper, my voice trembling slightly. “My shard . . . it’s not just a shard. It’s a piece of this. This ‘Aether Heart’.”
I point to the diagram, to the piece that matches mine. “And according to this—it’s only one of six.”
His eyes follow my finger, then snap back to my face, his expression darkening.
Five more pieces. Five more shards of unimaginable power, scattered somewhere in the world.
Waiting for someone to find them.