Epilogue
Eighteen Months Later
Joseph took the parcel from Jimmy, closed the library door, and walked over to where Meadow was pacing in front of the large window. As he approached, she whirled around, nearly barreling into Laurie. The latter steadied Meadow as she blurted, “Is that it?”
He held out the brown paper-wrapped package. “Either that, or someone wants to add to your library.”
She took the book, and it was a sign of her nervousness that she didn’t tease him back. As she unwrapped it, Laurie massaged her neck, and Joseph wrapped an arm about her waist.
In her hands was a leather-bound book emblazoned with gold letters that read, Discover the Dawn by E. Meadows.
Which was the pen name she’d chosen to use.
She traced the letters. “I still can’t believe it’s real.”
Laurie laid his head atop hers. “You worked hard on this book, Emmy. And it’s good, damn good, to the point I couldn’t put it down. Everyone will want a copy, just wait and see.”
A tear trailed down her cheek, and Joseph rubbed it away with his thumb. “Laurie’s still standing and isn’t in crippling pain, so you know it’s the truth.”
“I know. But it’s just so hard to believe. Once I got my powers and my father made plans, I never thought I’d get the chance.”
He took the book, placed it on a side table, and wrapped his arms around both Meadow and Laurie. “Between this and how in-demand you are at Nyx’s Kingdom, you’ve accomplished so much, love. I wonder what’s next. The Fae Witch Council?”
She scrunched her nose. “No way. Besides, my pen name is a loosely kept secret, and this story alone will disqualify me, especially since I want to write another one. Although…”
He leaned back and asked, “Although, what?”
She glanced at Laurie and then at him. “Maybe it’s time to try and give Eloise a cousin.”
Eloise was River and Nora’s daughter. She was beloved by all, and even had her vampire Dark Lord uncle wrapped around her little finger.
For a second, joy shot through Joseph at the thought of being a father. But then he remembered the last time they’d discussed this, and it hadn’t gone well. “Have you changed your mind?”
She gently pushed against them and stood back so she could look at both him and Laurie. “No. I understand where you’re coming from, but I want fate to decide the father of our child.”
Joseph had argued it would be easier if Laurie fathered their children, and then they wouldn’t have to face discrimination and abuse from any humans they encountered. However, Meadow didn’t want to give the small-minded bastards such power over their future family.
Laurie walked up to him, placed a hand on his jaw, and gently turned his head to look at him.
He caressed Joseph’s face as he said, “I understand where you’re coming from, but you know I agree with Meadow.
No matter whether you or I father the child, they will be our child.
All of ours. And who knows, maybe we’ll both father children and then that’ll really get the human prudes talking. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Laurie winked, and Joseph’s lips twitched. “I’m sure we get them talking already. Between our pleasure house expansions into the shifter and fae witch territories, and our triad marriage, we’re not exactly conforming with Victorian human expectations.”
Meadow joined them and touched his upper arm.
“So why stop there? They’ll probably just be jealous.
I mean, it’s like a baby surprise, isn’t it?
Without DNA testing and all that future stuff, we won’t know until the birth itself.
And by that point, I’ll just be happy to not be pregnant any longer, given what I saw with Nora.
And once he or she arrives, will you act differently if you or Laurie are the sperm donor? ”
“Of course not.”
She smiled. “There you go.” She moved to stand between Laurie and Joseph, and they instantly wrapped their arms around each other. “Maybe we should get started right now. If we conceive while celebrating the release of my book, then that would be an amazing story to tell one day.”
He snorted. “You’re not going to write our child’s conception story into a book.”
Laurie grinned. “I rather like the idea. Especially if we end up with twins or triplets. Babies from both of us? Now, wouldn’t that be something?”
“Don’t even joke about that, Laurie Yates. You’re going to tempt fate, and I’ll end up the size of a small barge.”
Laurie kissed her gently. “A beautiful barge.”
She playfully hit his chest, and Joseph laughed.
As Laurie and Meadow continued bantering, he merely held his wife and husband and pictured them together in the future, except then Meadow was holding their baby.
And in that moment, he didn’t care who ended up the father. If Meadow and Laurie wanted fate to decide, then he would, too.
Because Meadow was right—his suggesting otherwise gave the small-minded arseholes the win.
In the middle of their bantering, he scooped Meadow into his arms, and she squeaked as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Joseph glanced at Laurie and asked, “Ready to celebrate and start that conception story?”
Laurie grinned, took off the ring that prevented him from getting anyone pregnant, and then did the same with Joseph’s. “Now we are.”
He carried Meadow into the bedroom, with Laurie at his side, and then proceeded to cherish both his husband and wife.
And as they laughed and moaned and held each other close, Joseph reveled in his life full of love and belonging, and looked forward to growing old with Meadow, Laurie, and any children they might have.
Thanks for reading! Turn the page for an Author’s Note and learn what’s next for this series. :)