Epilogue

Arit

B ecoming human was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, aside from meeting Nixon, of course. In the last six months I’ve done more, learned more, and felt more than I had in the last million years. I might be book-smart, but where the ways of the world are concerned, I’m still a newborn.

Nixon has been my constant strength. Where I once thought being human would be a piece of cake, it turns out there’s a lot more to it than I ever would have guessed. But together, we’ve tackled it all, from trying tuna fish sandwiches and apple pie, to enjoying relaxing baths and having sex so good it makes my toes curl. Nearly every single thing we do is new to me like the day I met Nixon’s family, and I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. Who knew humans could go through so many emotions in such a short amount of time?

And getting sick? Horrible and wonderful in equal measure.

But so much has changed for us.

I was able to stay with Nixon for about a month before the living conditions in his apartment became unbearable. Thankfully, when Ada created a new life for me, that life came complete with an identity and a decent little purse. We’ve since moved into a one-bedroom flat to the south of Columbia but closer to Central Park. Nixon still walks to work, and I’m currently working my way through a highly accelerated degree program while he works.

It makes me laugh every time I complete a knowledge exam in whatever subject my advisor hands me, and I get either a perfect score or perhaps I miss a question or two, and his eyes bug out and he asks me again where I went to school, how I haven’t earned three degrees already, and am I sure anthropology is where I want to focus? So far, college is turning out to be a piece of cake, so maybe I’ll stick around and get a degree in history or math, or linguistics as well.

I must say, however, that aside from the first night I spent with Nixon in Paris, and the night I became human, the most important thing to happen to me was the night Nixon proposed. There is definitely something to be said for the ability to cry because that night I cried like a baby, and Nixon held me through it all.

So now we’re planning a spring wedding, we’re talking about getting a dog but we might hold off if an invitation to attend my first archeological dig comes through, and Ada wants to stop by for a chat because she has an engagement-slash-wedding gift she wants to give us.

All in all, it’s been a crazy six months, but I wouldn’t change one single thing about it. I love Nixon more every moment I’m alive, every smile he sends me, and every touch we share. Our lives have blended together so seamlessly, I can’t even fathom how I managed alone for so long.

I startle, lost in thought as I was, as Nixon comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. His smile is my entire world. “Staring at your eyes again?” he teases, slipping his fingers just inside the top of the knotted towel around my hips.

I must admit, Nixon has caught me staring at my reflection more times in the last few months than is probably normal or healthy. But cosmos above, I cannot get over how fucking sexy it is to see that amber-brown ring outlining my ice-blue irises. Just thinking about how many times I’ve jumped Nixon’s bones, jacked off, or begged to be fucked in front of the mirror, so Nixon could claim me again and again, turning my eyes even darker for a few precious seconds has my blood heating and my cock thickening behind my towel. If we didn’t have company coming over soon, I’d happily drop to my knees right now.

“Not this time, sadly,” I reply. “Just thinking about you and our wedding and everything that’s happened. I just spaced out for a minute.”

Nixon’s smile turns warm and incredibly tender. He presses a kiss to my shoulder, his beard still tickling my skin. “It has been a busy few months.”

Reaching up, I nudge his chin so I can twist to kiss him properly. “I’ve loved every second.”

“Me too.” Nixon removes his fingers from behind the towel and tucks my damp hair behind my ear. “I just came to see what was taking you so long. Ada’s going to be here soon.”

Turning around, I lean my butt against the edge of the sink and pull Nixon close, letting him feel my arousal as our groins meet. I nuzzle his neck and trail a line of kisses from his ear to his shirt collar. “I know. Twelve minutes. More than enough time to get dressed and still suck you off.”

Through our mental link, I can tell Nixon would love to agree, sending me an image of us switching places against the sink with me kneeling at his feet, taking his cock like a champ. But despite his encouraging train of thought, he still laughs and nudges me in the ribs. “Not enough time. I like where that thought was headed, but we can be decent for an hour and keep our hands to ourselves.”

I send him an image of me keeping my hands to myself and my lips on him.

Nixon laughs again, but this time he presses up to kiss me instead of telling me to get dressed. I do my best to encourage him, opening easily and slipping a hand into his hair to hold him close. Our kiss only lasts about a minute before Nixon pulls away, already breathless and flushed. “Nice try, mister. Ten minutes. We can get back to what you started later. Though I think the addition of some rope and a blindfold could be fun.”

Before I manage to pick my jaw up off the floor, Nixon slips from my arms and winks on his way back out of the bathroom. The idea of getting kinky with my man later is not helping my current situation. Adjusting my cock, I call out, “Tease,” to which Nixon laughs, but I relent and head to our bedroom to get ready for our guest.

I still can’t believe that in less than six months I’m going to be married to the man of my dreams. I mean, I know Nixon is mine beyond any shadow of a doubt, but love and marriage were things I never thought about. I had no concept of what it meant to love. I was just going through my days, endlessly plodding along as duty demanded.

Now, my days are full of a different kind of purpose, one of my own choosing.

Throwing on some dark-wash jeans and a pale blue sweater with tiny reindeer on it—I love having an ever-changing wardrobe more than I probably should—I quickly finish getting ready, and meet Nixon in the living room, where he’s arranging and rearranging the couch pillows.

I can’t help laughing. “Babe, I don’t think Ada is going to care what our cushions look like.”

Nixon looks up, his furrowed brow melting into a smile when he sees me. “You look good.” Coming over, pillows forgotten, Nixon wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me. “And I know, but she’s your Fate Mother. It’s her first time visiting. I just want her to see that our life is good. That we’re happy with our choice.”

“And you think rearranging the pillows will show her that?” I tease.

Nixon swats my ass. “Don’t be mean. I’m nervous. We haven’t seen her since everything happened. I just don’t want her to think—”

I shut Nixon up with a kiss, encouraging him to join when he initially resists. I only pull back when there’s a knock on the door. Nixon startles away from me with wide eyes, and I can’t help a smirk. “Time’s up. Don’t worry, Nix. She’s Fate. She knows what she’s doing. She knows we’re happy.”

Despite looking like he wants to argue, Nixon takes a deep breath and blows it out, nodding as he comes to take my hand. “I know. Sorry for freaking out.”

I pull his hand up to press a kiss to the back, and together we go open the door.

Ada beams at us, looking like she just stepped off a tropical island and not like it’s winter in New York City. “My boys! How are you?” She steps inside and hugs us both, pulling back to look at me with her hand on my shoulder. “Arit. You look so good. Like you were always meant to be.”

Wrapping my arm behind Nixon’s back, I say, “Thank you. I am good. We are good. Best decision I’ve ever made, becoming human.”

She smiles warmly. “Indeed.” She reaches behind her to close the door and then turns her attention our way again, a mysterious smile teasing her lips. “Congratulations on the engagement. It was lovely to receive your announcement.”

I can feel Nixon’s happiness like it’s my own. “Thanks,” he responds. “I’d marry him tomorrow if he’d let me, but he wants to wait and make a whole big deal about it.”

I huff, knowing he’s secretly thrilled to be having a more traditional wedding with both our families there. “Like you’re not more into the wedding planning than I am. I believe it’s you who is still undecided on venue—”

Nixon slaps a hand over my mouth with a laugh. “All right, fine.” Ada and I join him. “We’re only getting married once.” He looks at me like I hung the freaking moon. “I want it to be the best day of our lives.”

I can’t help leaning in to kiss him softly. “The best day of my life was the day you allowed me into your heart. Every other day I get to spend with you is icing on the cake.”

Ada sighs happily while Nixon shakes his head in amusement, swatting my stomach to keep things light. “You’re too much.” He turns back to Ada, holding out his arm in greeting. “Come inside, Ada. How have you been? How are things at Bells Two?”

We spend the next few minutes catching up, listening as Ada mentions things are busier than ever. But while she hasn’t created any new Fates or reapers in the last few months, an outpost in Ireland has created two of each. I can tell Nixon is bubbling with curiosity about how that process happens, but he reigns himself in when talk turns to when we might visit Bells Two again.

“On that note,” Ada says. “This is a good segue into why I’m here.”

Nixon squeezes my hand, glancing at me with a giddy smile before he turns back to Ada. “Your gift. It’s going to be our first wedding present!”

Ada smiles indulgently over Nixon’s enthusiasm. “Precisely so. I hope you’ll use it often and think of me when you do. Perhaps you can use it to come visit more frequently as well.” She sends me a wink, and my heart suddenly takes up a gallop in my chest.

“What did you do?” I ask, scooting forward in anticipation, an anxious energy filling my veins.

“Just a little something to make your new life together that much more enjoyable.” She glances at Nixon, who looks ready to combust, and then back to me before producing a small, golden band from inside her skirt pocket. Handing it to me, I gasp the second I feel the cool metal against my skin, and I know my eyes have gone wide.

A gentle hum, like a low-level buzz of energy, radiates into my palm and travels up my arm toward my chest. But I know from experience, this is no ordinary hum.

“What is it?” Nixon asks, probably sensing something from our bond but obviously not knowing the full extent of what this gift means. “What is that ring for?”

I look at Nixon, the man who is my future in every way while tears gather in my eyes. “It’s a portal,” I whisper shakily, glancing quickly at Ada, who beams and nods toward Nixon. I look back at the love of my life and say, “She’s just given us a key to the world.”

“What?” Nixon gasps, his head on a swivel as he looks at Ada, the band in my hand, and then back at me.

“It’s an energy portal. Or at least a way to channel energy to create a portal.”

“Holy. Shitballs.” Nixon’s eyes are huge, but a massive grin spreads across his face. “A portal? Like when you had your chariot?”

“My chariot was just a means of transportation. The portal was all me, using cosmic energy to dip through time and space.”

“That’s right,” Ada confirms. “Just because you’re human now doesn’t mean you don’t know how to channel that energy still. You only need a conduit. Put it on, Arit,” she urges, looking between us eagerly. I do and once the ring is on my finger, I feel an instant and comfortably familiar buzz surging through me. “Now,” she says, a peculiar twinkle in her eye. “Where would you like to go first?”

And I can’t contain my laugh as I launch myself at a giddy Nixon, more than ready to explore the world anew with him at my side.