53. EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

Wren

“Jayce,stopthrowingGarren into the pillow fort with your shadows!” I planted my hands on my hips as my gaze narrowed in on my sons.

“Sorry, mommy.” Jayce pouted, blinking his gray eyes up at me.

Jayce was the spitting image of Damien, and he’d inherited being a shadow demon as well. His hair was the same obsidian black as his dad’s.

Garren looked just like Alister with his black hair and red eyes, plus he was a vampire. Those two were constantly fighting each other, but it was always playful.

“Again!” Garren giggled, speeding back to Jayce with his vampire speed.

I rolled my eyes with a small huff before my ears and tail sprouted out. “Not again! Haelynn and Poppy are trying to rebuild it because you two destroyed it. Why don’t you go help your sisters?”

“Okay, mommy!” Garren and Jayce squealed before rushing toward the pillow fort made of our insanely large custom-built couch pillows to help their sisters.

Haelynn was a perfect mixture of Kian and me. She had his brown curls, but she had my blue eyes and build. She was a necromancer undoubtedly, but she thrived on life just like Kian—something that relieved us all.

Poppy was a clone of Thorn with long blue hair and pretty blue eyes, and she was an ice fae.

“We’ll watch them,” Alfred, Rhett’s father, offered, making his way through the front door with Rebeka, Alister’s mom.

They had apparently known each other before, and they were friends. It helped with them gaining Alister and Rhett’s trust again. But they had proved themselves during my pregnancy and when we had the litter.

Before the door could shut all the way, another figure slipped in with a wide smile on his face. Lance, Lachlan’s dad, came here more than anyone else since we’d moved in. Since our litter was born, it was like new life was breathed into him, and he’s the happiest he’s ever been. Lachlan and him had grown close, and I could tell it was healing for both of them after what happened to Lachlan’s mom and sister.

Relief swept through me as I smiled at them. “That would be great, thanks!”

“Mawmaw, pawpaw!” The four toddlers screeched, abandoning their fort to attack their grandparents.

Turning on my heels, I stepped through the toys scattered in the living room and made my way into the kitchen, where Winnie, Rome, Dad, and Faith were baking cupcakes with Emerson and Elliot.

Emerson and Elliot were both Lachlan’s, but they couldn’t be more different.

Emerson looked like Lachlan and was a werewolf, and Elliot looked like me and was an arctic fox shifter. His ears and tail were out as he mixed a bowl with my dad and Faith, tail wagging as he did. Emerson was helping Winnie and Rome decorate the cupcakes.

“Need any help in here?” I offered, but Winnie waved me on.

“No, darling, we have it covered in here. I think I heard Damien cursing upstairs with Thorn, though.”

A giggle escaped me as I nodded, but before I could leave, Emerson held up a cupcake from her perch on the counter.

“Mommy! Look! Colors!”

My gaze widened as I noticed each of the babies’ favorite colors decorating different cupcakes, and Emerson held up her favorite one with baby blue. “Wow! That’s amazing! Good job, Emmy!”

She puffed her chest out as she set down the cupcake and got to work with her grandma.

Elliot whisked away at the bowl, staring up at me with his expectant look.

Smiling, I gave two thumbs up. “Wow, Elliot, you’re so strong! Doing such a good job too!”

“Thanks, Mommy!” He gave me a big grin before turning to Dad. “See, gampaw, I’m strong!”

Giggling, I took the opportunity to sneak up the wooden staircase.

I loved the cabin. It was huge with eight bedrooms and four bathrooms. I’d thought it was excessive at first, but after finding out I was pregnant with eight babies, I was grateful for the space.

The inside was decked out with beautiful wooden floors and walls. The only places with carpet were the bedrooms. I loved everything about it, and we had truly made it our home.

I made my way into our bedroom and into the master bath with a custom-built tub to hold at least six of us at a time, but we could fit all eight of us if we tried.

My teeth sunk into my bottom lip as I watched Damien and Thorn struggle with getting Athena and Verity out of the tub.

Athena’s red hair that was the same shade as Rowan’s still has soap in it as she used her flames to keep the bath water heated. “No, bath! Bath still warm, Daddies!”

“Yes!” Verity mimicked her sister’s argument, but her horns and tail were out as she stared daggers with her pretty violet eyes at Damien and Thorn. “Still warm!”

Athena was Rowan’s, and she was a firedrake that shared his mesmerizing flaming irises.

Verity was Rhett’s in every way, except she was a succubus. Something that her daddies were not very happy about.

“Kit’s gonna kill us if they aren’t dressed before everyone gets here.” Thorn ran a hand down his face with a sigh.

“I’ll distract her,” Damien offered with a familiar purr in his tone.

“Oh, daisies!”

“Daddy! Bad word!”Verity scolded him.

“Sorry, Verity.” Thorn frowned as he turned back to Damien. “You always distract her. Why can’t I?”

“Or how about nobody distracts me because the birthday party is already happening.” I huffed as I crossed my arms.

Damien and Thorn’s heads snapped to me, and Damien purred as his gaze slipped down my body. Thorn blasted a wave of ice magic over me until my ears and tail slipped back in, and I let out a breath of relief.

“You look beautiful, little bird.” Damien tongued his lip rings.

“Stunning as always, Kit.” Thorn smirked before shooting his magic into the girl’s bath, making them squeal and reach for their daddies.

I giggled, flattening out my blue sundress. “Girls, listen to your daddies. You have presents to open later,” I bribed them with a teasing tone, which they loved.

“Presents!” Athena squealed.

“Yay!” Verity cheered, and they both seemed much more reasonable to listen to the guys.

I blew them both kisses and sent back the longing I could feel from their bonds.

Having kids was bound to change our dynamic, but having eight at once was not something any of us expected. I’d expected at most four. I didn’t know how my body carried eight supernaturals, but I was grateful for it. They were a handful, but I loved them all and so did their daddies.

I slipped out of the bathroom and into the hall before making my way toward the attic, where I could feel three of my bonds hiding out.

Pushing a bit of my magical energy toward the opening in the ceiling, a small ladder slipped down as the ceiling opened up.

The rest of my mates and Damien ended up compromising. Damien begged for a torture chamber downstairs, which he got, but the attic was the adult hang out where we came for sanctuary from our little terrors every now and then.

I climbed up the metal ladder and the door slipped shut behind me as I stepped onto the floor. “Really?”

Kian, Lachlan, and Alister’s eyes went wide as they took me in. They were each sitting on the large bed, relaxing, while everyone else was busting their butts on the birthday party preparations.

“Sweet ruby, it’s not what it looks like!” Alister was in front of me, cupping my face with his hands as he jutted his bottom lip out.

“Alister,” I growled, moving forward and nipping that lip before pushing him away. “Kian and Lachlan. What are you three doing?”

“Jayce tied me upside down until Garren could rescue me,” Kian squeaked his answer and jumped to his feet. “Sweetheart, I passed out!”

“Garren didn’t rescue him,” Alister whispered. “But also, Haelynn kept zapping me with her magic, pretending I was a criminal!”

Crossing my arms, I narrowed my eyes at Lachlan. “What’s your excuse?”

“Poppy froze my feet to the ground and made me play dress up with your clothes,” he grumbled.

I cracked a smile at that. “Okay, well, you left Damien and Thorn with Athena and Verity to get ready for the party alone. They were struggling.”

“So were we, tiny fox! You don’t get tortured by them because you’re mommy.” Lachlan got to his feet as well.

“I can sense Rhett and Rowan are back,” I mused, turning on my heels as Alister opened the door for me.

I climbed down first with my three traumatized mates behind me just as Damien, Thorn, and our daughters came out of the bedroom in their birthday dresses.

“Mommy! Pretty!” Verity said as she ran over and twirled for me.

“You both are beautiful!” I crouched down, and both girls launched themselves at me.

“Pretty!” Athena squealed, planting a heated kiss on my cheek.

They both pulled away before bolting down the stairs.

Thorn held out his hand, and I grabbed it before Damien’s shadow slipped around my throat and jerked me toward him. His lips landed on mine without any hesitation, and I melted into it.

Damien’s lips, and the others, felt like home.

He pulled back with a smirk as his shadow slipped away, and I found myself missing the way he choked me.

We didn’t have nearly as much time to lose ourselves in each other the way we used to.

Thorn’s lips fell on mine softly before I was being spun around in a kiss fest. Lachlan’s mouth devoured mine before Kian swooped in with his gentle kisses, and Alister grabbed me and his fang sliced along my bottom lip before he sucked it.

I wanted to just be alone with them for ten minutes.

“Fledgling,” Rowan rumbled from behind us at the top of the stairs, and his heat simmered from his body as I moved toward him and pressed up on my toes before pushing my lips to his.

“Come on, baby, don’t leave me out,” Rhett pouted, and I giggled as I pulled back from Rowan and flew into Rhett’s arms and kissed him deeply.

“Did you get it?” Kian asked.

“Of course we did.” Rowan grunted.

Rowan and Rhett went to the market up in Apex Capital to buy a magical play house for the kids. It cost a lot, but the kids would be able to play any game they wanted with each other through it without actually leaving the playhouse.

It had been three years since the war ended and Kalista entered peace time. Not long after, I stopped my birth control potion. Rowan, Thorn, and Kian were over the moon when I told them I was pregnant. Alister and Rhett were in shock with how fast it happened, and Lachlan and Damien actually cried. It was the best feeling I’d experienced with them, and our bonds had solidified even further—even if they were relentlessly overprotective.

Rowan was still an overworked headmaster at Fate Hollow Academy and part of the Supernatural Council, but I’ve made him promise to take weekends off.

Alister still taught his classes at the academy as well, and Rhett continued to be the counselor—however, without the immediate stress of war, things were finally slowing down, and he didn’t have to teach any classes, which he was thrilled about.

Thorn went back and forth from the Ice Kingdom to train their army, and Lachlan had taken a faculty position for teaching offense training at the academy, which lowered Simmons’ workload, much to his excitement.

Kian decided to stay home with me and help wrangle the kids, but once they’re older, we planned on taking over Jan’s shop together since she offered to transfer it to us.

Damien mostly stayed home with Kian and me, but he would get called in from the Supernatural Council when they needed help ‘breaking’ a criminal.

“They’re going to love it,” Kian gushed. “I’ve seen so much about it lately. They’re going to be able to do anything they want from the safety of that playhouse. It’ll definitely give us a small break.”

“Where is my best friend?” Trixie exclaimed from downstairs. “Does she know Poppy has frozen her couch cushions?”

My mouth fell open as I pushed through my mates and rushed down stairs. “Poppy Clearwater!”

“Sorry, Mommy…” Her sweet little voice claimed as she un-iced the cushions with a wave of her hand.

My heart melted as she stared up at me with innocent eyes, and I groaned. “Well, it’s your birthday… so… it’s fine.”

Thorn’s parents threw their heads back in laughter at Poppy using her cuteness to get out of trouble.

My cheeks flamed with heat as I patted Poppy’s head and made my way over to them. “Hi, Iris and Alder. I’m glad you could make it!”

“We would never miss our grandchildren’s second birthday.” Iris smiled softly.

“Forrest ran off with Haelynn and Garren,” Alder told me. “Birch and Adele send their love.”

“Hey, Mom and Dad,” Thorn came over, using his ice to swirl around Poppy’s hair as she giggled, and he planted a quick kiss on my head.

Thorn’s parents had relaxed immensely after handing the kingdom over to their son, and they were enjoying the grandparent role to both Thorn and Birch’s kids.

Since Birch and Adele were king and queen of the Ice and Fire Kingdom, they were tied to the fae realm and couldn’t attend, understandably. They did have another child, a little girl named Daisy that was five months old. Adler and Iris would’ve brought Daisy along too, but Daisy was breastfed and didn’t take bottles. She was also a huge momma’s girl, much to Adele’s pleasure.

Frayla stepped inside and winked at me while she held on tight to the eight-present tower in her arms. “Hey, Wren! Where do I put these?”

“Over on the table by the stairs.” I grinned at her and pointed to the table with all the presents, and she made her way toward it.

“Don’t think you can ignore me, babe!” Trixie’s arms wrapped around me tightly, and her mushroom scent filled my nose as I giggled.

“Trixie!” I turned and wrapped my arms around her, careful not to hit her swollen belly. “I’ve missed you!”

“I know! But Norman drags me along for his research.” She rolled her eyes at her mate dramatically.

Once Trixie got over Norman’s mate mark being placed on her without her permission, she had insisted on marking him with her family crest on his inner cheek the same way Kian had marked me. They were each other’s everything, even if they weren’t fated mates. Blair and Kian were able to confirm that neither of them would have a fated mate in the future long ago, and that was enough for them. Shortly after she marked him, she found out she was pregnant with a little boy. She should give birth any day now.

They never stayed in one place long with Norman’s research, and Trixie had actually taken to helping him with his research by using magic. They made a great team.

“I’m so happy you’ve found your calling,” I told her as we pulled away.

“Ditto, babe, ditto. Seven mates was insane, but eight kids. Eight two year olds! I don’t know how you do it.” She shook her head, and Norman chuckled before breaking away and going toward Rowan, standing at the end of the stairs.

“I don’t know either sometimes.” My lips quirked up as I scanned the room.

Jan and Matt, her mate, stepped into the cabin, and Jan made her way toward us as Matt went to drop the presents off at the table.

“Good grief. I don’t know how you handle eight!” She chuckled, and Trixie joined her.

“We were just talking about that!”

Our living room and kitchen were open, and I could see all eight of my babies off with their grandparents or playing amongst each other.

My heart swelled. Everyone was so supportive, and we’d built a strong family unit.

“Let’s get this party started!” Damien shouted, poking everyone to gain their attention with his shadow tendrils. “Time for cupcakes!”

“Yay!” Emerson and Elliot cheered as they bounced up and down by the cupcakes.

Jayce, Athena, Poppy, Haelynn, Garren, and Verity came running into the kitchen with Forrest running back to Iris and Alder.

Kian and Lachlan stepped beside me as Rhett wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back into his chest. Alister went over to Damien, who was passing out the cupcakes, and Rowan went over to light the candles on the cupcakes.

“Kids will be worn out by tonight.” Rhett’s breath tickled my ear.

“He’s got a point,” Lachlan murmured.

“I won’t argue if that’s what you want, sweetheart,” Kian whispered beside me, and I smiled.

There weren’t many nights we got to ourselves. Usually, Jayce and Haelynn crawled into bed with us. But it rotated out with the kids. I was suspecting they were starting to make a schedule on who could sneak to our room.

“Let’s see how we feel after the party.” I chuckled, gathering my hair and pushing it back behind me.

“Happy Birthday…” Damien and Alister started, and we all joined in before the kids blew out their candles.

Thepartywasabsolute chaos, but they loved their presents and the time they spent with family and friends.

Damien tossed me onto the large bed in our attic, and I bounced a bit. He fell on top of me and wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me close. “Fuck, little bird.”

I groaned, wiggling underneath him. “Damien, I need to take this off.”

Kian snapped his fingers as he walked over and sat on the bed with a yawn, and all eight of us were naked. “Better?”

“Much,” Rhett purred as he laid down in the spot next to me, pheromones dancing lightly over my body as mine did the same to them. “You’re a super-mom, baby.”

Rowan stretched his arms over his head and yawned before claiming the spot on the other side of me. “Fledgling, why are our kids so chaotic?”

I giggled, and Damien nuzzled his face between my breasts. “We have eight of them. That’s why.”

“Can’t argue there,” Lachlan grumbled, planting himself on the other side of Rhett.

“They’re a handful, but they’re worth it,” Kian supplied as he laid down by Rowan.

Alister slinked down beside Lachlan with a groan. “Sweet ruby, you’re a beautiful mother, and as much as I’d love to bury my fangs and cock inside you—”

“Oh, Fates, no.” I gasped out, pushing my exhaustion through each bond.

They all sent an equal amount back as well as the desire for sex that all of us had, but none of us had the energy.

We didn’t sleep in the attic much, but my dad and Faith and Winnie and Rome insisted on staying the night to watch over the kids so we could have alone time to rest.

We’d all been excited over the time alone to be able to explore each other, but running around chasing eight kids proved to be more work than we thought.

My mates chuckled, and our magic wrapped tightly around each others in the room, love filling the bond.

“Don’t worry, Kit. We’ve got a long time ahead of us for alone time,” Thorn reminded me as he plopped down beside Kian.

“We’ll fill you with our cocks for the rest of our lives,” Damien mumbled around a yawn.

“But while the kids are young,” Alister added with a chuckle.

“We’re going to enjoy the small moments and claim all the rest we can,” Rhett finished.

Our magic thrummed in the air as a calm sensation washed over us. We were complete, in love, and happy, and it was everything I’d ever hoped for.

The Fates had blessed us.