Epilogue

Eight months later

“Fillmore! Fillmore, get back here!”

Luna sighed as Fillmore bounded through the front door of Sylvie’s Sweets and Bakery – probably less because he wanted to see Sylvie herself, and more because he knew that Sylvie would bring him a treat. He had grown used to the people of Girdwood Springs, but he still didn’t really like anyone except for Luna herself… and, of course, Henry.

It’s nice to know that he likes Henry for Henry’s sake, and not just because a curse told him to.

She followed him through the door, Henry close behind, and watched as Sylvie came out from the back room bearing a small bag of doggy treats. Fillmore happily bounced around Sylvie’s ankles as she crouched down, telling him things that were objectively untrue like Who’s a very well-behaved little man, hey? and You’re just cute as a button, aren’t you? before filling her palm with treats and presenting them to him. Fillmore, delirious with joy, gobbled them up from her hand, then flopped onto the ground, satiated.

“Sorry, now that that’s dealt with, I can tell you both how great it is to see you again!” Sylvie laughed as she stood, going to the sink to wash her hands. “Where was it this time? India? Kenya? Scotland?”

“South America,” Luna replied. “A whole bunch of it. A month wasn’t nearly enough!”

And it hadn’t been. There was so much of the world to see, and so little time. Doubly so, when she also felt the pull of Girdwood Springs.

This town had become her home base over the past eight months – hers, and Henry’s. Her article about the festival had been so well-received that she’d been offered a promotion to a role that involved actual proper travel writing, not just numbered lists with catchy titles, and it was a dream come true.

It was even better than a dream, because somehow – perhaps, she thought, through a certain dragon’s luck – her editor had been willing to hire her a bodyguard, so that she could safely go to locations that might otherwise be considered too risky. Traveling with Henry was the most amazing experience, especially since he had never really been anywhere before – his sense of wonder had renewed the joy of travel for her as well, reminding her of just why she had gone into this line of work in the first place.

The two of them had gotten back last night, but they’d taken their time, heading back to their little cottage for the evening to rest, recuperate, and… other things… before picking up Fillmore from Kieran and Natasha this morning.

Sylvie pulled her in for a hug. “It’s so good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back,” she said truthfully.

“Likewise,” said Henry. “All of this travel is amazing, but it’s good to know that there’s somewhere you belong.”

It had been cautious going at first, but Girdwood Springs had embraced Henry as one of their own, despite his hellhound aura. It seemed like it could be overcome after all, once people got used to it – and it helped, Luna supposed, that beloved town residents like Sylvie and Gale, Caleb and Kira, and Kieran and Natasha had been the ones to introduce him around.

And, not to toot my own horn, but people really liked that article I wrote about the festival, so that helped too!

And then there was the fact that Henry himself was just so unwaveringly kind, helpful, and good – no amount of hellhound aura could wash away the obvious fact he was a great guy, and once people got to know him, that was all they saw.

Not that I ever really understood the whole ‘scary hellhound’ thing to begin with,Luna thought, her heart swelling as she watched Sylvie and Henry chatting as Henry looked over the newest offerings from the bakery, smiles on both their faces. He’s obviously just a big puppy!

Seeing him so happy really did make Luna’s own life complete. She had thought in the past that she had everything she wanted – but now, things were just on a whole different level.

Finding your fated mate really does change your life…

“So how long are you back this time?” Sylvie asked.

“About three weeks,” replied Henry. “Enough time for me to do a few shifts at Eula’s, and help Kieran build that gazebo.”

“So you’ve been bitten by the hospitality bug as well, then?” Sylvie said with a grin. “Once it’s got you, there’s no turning back.”

Henry laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t say I have quite the same amount of passion for it as you, and I’m never going to be a master chef. But I do like making fried breakfasts, and Eula’s being showing me the ropes with the other stuff, so it works for now. It’s nice to do something that doesn’t revolve around being intimidating, and you can use your hands for something other than breaking up fights. And people aren’t too scared to talk to you.”

Luna smiled proudly. She knew that Henry was still figuring things out, but that was okay – these things took time, and he’d never had a chance to work out what he really wanted to do before. And maybe there wasn’t something to figure out. If he was happy doing what he was doing, then that was all that really mattered.

She had a feeling that no matter what, things would work out.

“Oh, hang on,” she said, suddenly remembering something. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a postcard, handing it over to Sylvie so she could have a look. “This arrived at our hotel while we were in Paramaribo. I’m not sure how it found us – one might almost be tempted to say it happened by magic.”

Sylvie examined the postcard, which had a series of pictures on one side – a hotel shaped like a pyramid; a giant fountain; an Elvis impersonator – and the words: HELLO FROM LAS VEGAS!

Flipping the card over, Sylvie read out loud, her voice echoing in the for-once-empty shop: “GREETINGS, INHABITANTS OF GIRDWOOD SPRINGS! WE WISH TO INFORM YOU OF OUR IMPENDING NUPTIALS. WE SHALL BE WED AT THE WAXING OF NEXT MONTH’S FULL MOON. BE THERE OR BE AN EQUIANGULAR QUADRILATERAL.” She stared down at the postcard as if in disbelief for a moment or two. “Let me guess,” she finally said. “Our lovebirds of last year – the ones who got you all mixed up in their cursed love lives?”

Henry nodded. “It seems so.” He laughed softly. “I guess it’s a good thing? If only because no one else will have to risk getting caught up in their ridiculousness now. Better they keep each other occupied than have them causing trouble for anyone else.”

“That’s a good way of looking at it,” Sylvie said thoughtfully. “So. Are you going?”

“I think we might give that one a pass,” Luna said, wincing. She wasn’t sure she could take any more of Dorian’s pronouncements – she couldn’t imagine the results if he’d decided to write his own vows.

Henry nodded. “I have to wash my hair that day.”

“What a shame,” Sylvie said, tacking the postcard up on the board behind the counter. “I think it sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll send them a gift box of cake and cookies, just so they know Girdwood Springs remembers them, even if it was a bit of a mixed experience.”

“You and I have different definitions of fun, I think,” Luna said, shaking her head. “But that sounds like a great idea. I’ll definitely send them a card, no matter what we do. I just think I’d rather have them all the way over in Las Vegas than anywhere around here.”

“Probably fair enough,” Sylvie laughed.

The bell at the front door jingled, and Luna thought that probably she should let Sylvie run her business, rather than distracting her with wedding invites from dubious individuals.

“Well, Sylvie, we’d better let you get back to work,” Luna said, picking up a grumbling Fillmore off the floor and tucking him into her coat. “We’re going to drop in and see Caleb – apparently he’s planning this year’s festival, and he wants our opinion on a few ideas he’s had. Something about turning the town hall into a temporary indoor cinema?”

“Sounds fun – just don’t let him rope you into a discussion of obscure films that you’ve never even heard of,” Sylvie laughed. “The number of times I’ve had to nod along and pretend to know what he’s talking about! But wait –” Sylvie pulled out two cakes from the display and slid them into a box. “I’ve brought it in permanently now, and you have to have some. Lemon cake: with a twist!”

Luna knew by now to not even try to bother arguing with Sylvie when she offered free cake, and she accepted it gratefully. She had a feeling she definitely wouldn’t regret it.

Saying their thank yous and goodbyes, she and Henry walked out into the frosty air, tramping through the snow.

“It’s good to be home,” Henry said, and Luna had to acknowledge the truth of it.

Home. This is home.

Something occurred to her, and she smiled, stopping on the sidewalk.

“Hey… do you know where we are?”

Henry blinked in confusion. “Uh… Main Street?”

She laughed. “No, not that. This is the spot where we first met. Where, uh,” she blushed a bit at the memory, “Fillmore crashed into you and destroyed all your cake.”

“How could I forget?” Henry smiled down at her, tiny snowflakes catching on his absurdly long lashes – and even after all this time, the sight of him took her breath away. Luna didn’t think she’d ever get sick of gazing into his eyes. “Well, we do have some lemon cake – with a twist – so maybe we should right the wrongs of the past?”

“Sounds perfect,” she breathed. Reaching into the box, she pulled out a slice of cake, doing her best not to get her fingerless gloves covered in cream, and held it out for Henry to take a bite.

He closed his eyes, sighing in happiness. “That… is really, really good.”

“I guess I’ll have to find out for myself,” Luna murmured, and she stood up on her tiptoes, guiding his head downward for a kiss. It was sweet, gentle, and perfect… and he was right, the sweet, tangy lemon flavor really was good.

They stood there together like that for a long moment – and another one, and another one – just enjoying each other’s company, in their own little cocoon of warmth among the drifting snow. Just her and her favorite person – and her favorite dog – with all their lives together ahead of them.

Tucking herself in under the protective warmth of his arm, she started moving forward once more.

I never could have imagined how wonderful life can be.

But she knew from now on, that’s exactly what it would be: wonderful.

Thank you so much for reading!