Epilogue

Nine months later

SHAY

“ S hit, sorry,” I say after turning quickly causes my giant belly to bump a customer’s cappuccino out of Dela’s hand. Third time this week—and it’s only Monday afternoon. “I’ll make another one.” I send an apologetic smile to the hulking rhino man at the counter. “Sorry about the wait, Cornelius.” I rub one hand over my watermelon-sized protrusion. “The baby will pick up the bill for this one.”

“At this rate, the baby will need a job here.” Dela’s giggle morphs into a dreamy sigh when her eight-foot-tall—not including horns—hell demon boyfriend walks through the door.

Fate makes some interesting matches, but hasn’t gotten one wrong yet. Not around here, anyway.

Constantine and Natalie, another of fate’s love matches, come in next. My Minotaur boss usually gets Natalie settled at a table, kisses her, then either joins Dela and I behind the counter, or heads into the back office. Not today. Today, Constantine and Natalie hover in the customer area.

Which makes sense when Natalie’s cousin Rosetta rolls in with her giant orc husband and their adorable little orcling son. Except… the five of them don’t grab a table. And they don’t leave. Just more hovering.

My nemesis turned friend struts through the door next. Dressed in one of her flowing all-black outfits, this one complete with a pointy hat, Lexi looks every bit the kickass witch she is. It’s the right time of day for her daily caffeine fix, but she doesn’t come to the counter.

Something’s up.

When I turn to ask Dela if she knows what’s going on, she’s gone. But not for long, and when she comes out from the back office, she’s grinning ear to ear and carrying a cake on a large, silver, rectangular platter. The kind that comes from Amazra’s bakery.

If the sight of sugary carbs wasn’t enough to make my mouth water, the man who follows Dela out sure is. My man. My savior. My baby’s daddy. The love of my life.

A nearly synchronized “Surprise!” comes from the group surrounding me. Surrounding us —me, Kohl, and our goddess-isn’t-it-time-for-you-to-come-out-yet baby.

“You all know I didn’t want to be fussed over,” I say, wagging my finger at each person in turn. “When I can move faster than an old turtle carrying a watermelon, you’re all in big trouble.” While everyone laughs, I grab Kohl by the collar of his shirt and tug him as close as the belly allows. “You especially.”

The twinkle in his chocolatey eyes matches his smile. “I look forward to you chasing me again.”

“Again? The memory part of your human brain seems to be malfunctioning. You’re the one who chased me, borderline-stalkery reaper man.”

“And I would do so again, in any realm, in any form, for the rest of time.”

I could blame pregnancy hormones for the tears that slip down my cheeks, but I’d rather give credit where credit is due. I place one hand over the steady thump of his beating heart. “I love you now and forever,” I say loud enough for Kohl’s ears only.

“And I you, my soulmate.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and presses a soft kiss to my folded fingers, his dark-brown eyebrows pulling together at the bridge of his perfect nose when I grimace and hold my belly. “Perhaps we should put some cake in a takeout box and get you home.”

“It’s just some baby acrobatics, it’ll pass. My shift’s not over until five.”

“Actually, it’s over now,” Constantine says, leaning over the counter to grab a stack of plates. “Extended maternity leave with full pay. A gift from me and Natalie. Go home and put your feet up. Get some rest before the baby comes, because if she’s anything like you—” His dark lips clamp shut, his amber eyes shooting me an unspoken apology. The big Minotaur looks more sheepish than bullish right now.

“She?” Kohl asks, gently stroking my belly.

“Yes.” Fresh tears follow the tracks of their predecessors as I nod. “I would’ve told you, but you said you didn’t want to know details of your human future; that you just wanted to experience it, moment by moment. A little spoiler alert, though—Winterlock witches always have daughters. So, if we have more kids, they’ll all be girls.”

“You said ‘if.’ Does that mean you haven’t seen that part of our future?”

“I’ve seen it all, Kohl, and it’s beautiful. It’s so incredibly beautiful.”

Human Kohl no longer has reaper magic, but he still has the strength to scoop me off my feet, into his arms. And that’s no small feat with forty pounds of baby belly on board.

“Not going to warn me against throwing my back out like you did last time?” he asks while carting me off to the chorus of well-wishes and applause from our friends.

“Nah. It’s going to be a lot of years before you throw your back out from strenuous activity, and when you do, you’re going to tell me it was worth it.”

“You saw that in a vision of my future?”

“No, I just made it up. Gotta keep you on your toes.”

The rumble in his chest vibrates through me. “Naughty witch.”

“Ooh, on that subject—now that you know we’re having a girl, how do you feel about naming her Minerva, in honor of the witch who brought you back into my life?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” comes Minerva’s voice from a place somewhere far beyond. Or maybe not so far.

If I’ve learned one thing in the past nine months, it’s that anything is possible.