Epilogue

ASA

6 years later

“ A nd then?” Celestite asks.

I chuckle.

“Cel, you know what happens then.”

“But I love it when you say it.” She shrugs and I turn to Jasper who’s nodding along in equal excitement.

How did we end up with two such innocent, precious souls as our kids?

“And then Mommy chose Daddy and she came back for him so they could live out the rest of their days…”

“Happily ever after,” they sing in unison.

“Exactly. Now go to sleep.” I lean over Celestite and kiss her forehead.

“Goodnight, Daddy,” she says before I turn to Jasper.

“What if the bogeyman comes back?” he asks and I sit down so I can tuck him in.

“Then Mommy and I will protect you. And don’t forget. You’re…”

“Part gargoyle, part witch,” he says.

“Exactly. And no bogeyman would ever dare mess with a gargoyle witch. Isn’t that right?”

“Damn right,” Celestite says.

I raise an eyebrow at my daughter. “What did we say about using that word, Cel?”

“But Mommy uses it, all. The. Time!”

“Yes, but you’re forgetting something. Mommy is the boss. Okay, you two. Sleep tight and don’t let the critters of the night bite.”

I walk up to their door and take one more look at them, at the little parts of my soul before I turn off the light.

So much time may have passed but I still can’t believe my luck, can’t believe any of this is real. That this is my life, here, in Beastly Falls, shared with Sapphire and our beautiful children and unlimited, ever-growing love.

But then again, happily ever afters tend to feel that way.

I walk into the kitchen and find Sapphire over the sink, washing dishes and moving her hips from side to side to the tune of a modern pop song. We have those now. Since the curse broke and our town became free.

It happened at some point in the past, after more outsiders waded through the borders and found their matches. Found true love. Like Roosevelt, the werewolf, or Rooke the vampire, and even Xavier, the other gargoyle.

“What did I say about chores in your condition?” I say as I wrap my hands around my wife’s waist and rest them on her belly which has started showing.

Sapphire rolls her eyes.

“I’m not a weakling.”

“Never said you were.” I kiss her cheek and push her gently to the side so I can take over the task of washing up after dinner.

“Are they out?” she asks as she starts taking dishes from me and drying them.

“Of course they are. Which means…” I hand her another plate but this time I drag her back to me, back into my arms. “The coast is clear.”

Sapphie laughs.

“Do we have to?” she groans.

“Please!”

She sighs and gives me a gentle nod and I twirl her around, dancing to the beat of the song—badly, as Sapphie has informed me on numerous occasions. But it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care if I have two left feet. As long as I’m with her, I’m in perfect harmony. We both are.

“I was thinking we should visit home,” she says after a few more twirls and booty shakes.

“The kids will love to see their aunts and uncle. And they’ll love to see Celestite and Jasper.”

“And perhaps we can tell them about Opal,” she says, rubbing her belly.

Sometimes I get jealous of her ability. Of the way she can see every course of action we could ever take, of every future we could have.

But other times, most times, I’m just glad to be a part of her past and present.

Of sharing a home, a family with her. Of having the privilege to call myself her husband.

And after everything we’ve been through, that’s more than enough.