Epilogue

EPILOGUE

INDI

"Listen, it's not my fault that I pack light." I smirked at Will as I shoved the last of my things into my duffel bag I'd come here with a month ago.

"It's really just a blow to my ego that I can travel the whole world and yet I have to pack way more than you just to come home." Will winked at me with a smirk. When I zipped the bag closed, he picked it up. "Did you have anything else that might be on the Island that you wanna take with us?"

I shrugged. "It's all in storage."

He shook his head and chuckled. "I guess we'll figure that out later."

"Knock, knock!" Torren gave two little knocks on the door before she opened it and walked in. But then she stopped when she saw my bag on Will's shoulder. Her teal eyes teared up. "Oh. You're ready to go then?"

"Come here." I opened my arms and Torren slammed into me. I wrapped her in a tight hug. "My Torrey-bear."

Torren pressed her face into my shoulder. "Don't take two years to come back this time."

I pulled back enough to look down at her. "Never again. I promise."

Torren turned to glare at Will.

"I'll make sure of it." He laughed.

Torren stepped back and beamed at me. "I think it's kind of cool. I'm now a Vauntero and kind of a Bow. That's like Island famous."

"Or notorious." I walked over to Will and tucked myself under his arm. This close, the moment felt so right. It was like I'd been missing this for so long and didn't even realize it.

Torren sighed. "Is there a difference?"She walked toward us and went up on her tiptoes to give both of us another hug. "I'm so happy for you both."

"I am too." I gave her a little squeeze, then let her go."Now, you and Nash go have an amazing honeymoon, all right?"

She blushed bright-red. Her fingers fidgeted with her necklace. "I can't wait. I'm nervous about shifting but Nash promises he's prepared."

"I have no doubts he is," Will said softly.

She peeked up at me beneath dark lashes. "You're still gonna meet up with us in two weeks, right?"

I grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Torren let out a sigh of relief. This was all a huge step for her. But she'd become quite the woman in the two years she was here, and I suspected a lot of that was thanks to her new husband. Knowing my wild, uncontrollable little sister was well taken care of meant I could breathe easier. I didn't have to worry about her. Nash had her.

Which meant I could maybe finally try living my own life for a change.

With Will. But I'd do it right this time and hang on to him. Just being around Will brought me peace. The loneliness that ate at me before I arrived on the Island was now gone. He filled in all the emptiness. I hadn't realized it was him I'd been missing the whole time, but once he was there, it was like the hole inside me vanished. We headed toward the door and out into the hall. Will chuckled as three Vauntero children sped around him, tripping him up.

Torren chuckled. "You get used to it."

"No." I giggled. "You really don't."

As grateful as I was to be able to stay in the castle with the Vaunteros, I was looking forward to finding a little peace. We made our way down the hall and toward the front door.

The Queen stood just in front of it, beaming at us. "I'm so happy for you both."

The King stood next to her wearing his double baby carrier. "For all four of you."

The Queen sighed wistfully and leaned into his side. "I think it's so important to find one's soulmate."

The King chuckled and shook his head. "Enough matchmaking, dear. They're already matched perfectly."

"You can come and stay with us anytime. We loved having you." She leaned forward and pulled me into a tight hug. "And if you have any friends, please do bring them by or send them our way."

"Stop matchmaking our children," the King muttered. "It'll happen when it happens."

She rolled her eyes. "I meant if they find any more jinns or others of our kind out in the human world. To send them home to us. See? I'm not the only one trying to play Cupid."

He hung his head and sighed.

Just then Constantine walked by and the Queen called out to him. "Don't you want to come say goodbye to Indi and Will?"

He paused and glared at all of us. "Why?"

"Because they're leaving." She motioned to the two of us.

He sighed. "Really, Mother, soulmates always return to the Island. They'll be back."

"You should only be so lucky."

He shook his head. "Hard pass."

Constantine turned from us and started walking away. The Queen gave us two quick hugs, then chased after Constantine.

The King gave a heavy sigh and shook his head. "I better get between that."

"Of course." Will gave him a little wave as he hurried away, then we both turned for the door and walked out front. Will slung my bag over his shoulder and took my hand. "I'm glad we don't have to worry about dating or matchmaking anymore."

"I don't know . . ." I looked up at him and wagged my eyebrows. "Three of your brothers are single. Perhaps it's time for a little payback?"

He threw his head back and laughed. "But we'll do it better, more strategic."

"Of course." I grinned. "They'll never see it coming."

Will leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. A little thrill shot through my body. I smiled against his lips, and when he pulled back, it was far too soon.

"Race you?"

"What?"

But he took off running down the street.I giggled and leapt up into the air and let the shift wash over my body until I was my favorite pink parrot. I soared high above the Island and hurried toward the Bow family home. I flapped my wings as I passed over the Island that was still clinging to Halloween like no one wanted it to be over. Though the spooky season was over, we were steadily moving toward Thanksgiving. I didn't know what the future would hold, but I finally felt free and hopeful, because no matter where I went or what I did, I'd always have Will.

I landed on the Bow's front porch and gasped—but it came out as a squawk. Will was leaning against the front door waiting for me.

He gave me a cocky sideways grin. "What took you so long?"

" Vampires, " I said and almost giggled at the way my voice vibrated my feathers. I shifted into my human form, then shook my head. "Vampire speed feels like cheating."

"And turning into a bird isn't?" He pulled me in for a tight hug, and I found myself leaning into him.

It'd been so long since I'd been close to anyone. The longer I was with Will, the more I couldn't get enough of his lingering touches, his hugs, and his kisses. They were like a drug to me, and I would never give it up. Peggy hurried from the back of the house with a wide smile on her face. She wore a frilly white apron and there was colorful powder covering half her face. Her strawberry blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a wild, tangled mess.

"Oh, you're here." She clapped her hands together."Come in, come in."

I loved Peggy. In less than a week, she was more of a mother to me than my own mother had been. I let go of Will and went up to Peggy and pulled her into a tight hug. Knowing this woman, and this family, was waiting for us on the Island was going to make being gone hard. I didn't know how Will did it all these years. I already knew I had to be back for Thanksgiving. And for all of December. I couldn't wait to learn what it was like to be part of a big family.

"Oh, dear, you're going to be a mess." She squeezed me back. "I'm covered in potions."

I took a small step back. "Totally worth it."

Her eyes glistened and her lips curled. "Did I ever mention how much I do enjoy having daughters. I'm very lucky with you, Ivy, and Collins. If only the rest of my sons would start to settle down."

"No meddling, Mother. It just makes things messy." Will turned his back to her and winked to me.

She waved his words away. "Now you two won't be gone long, will you?"

"No, absolutely not." I shook my head. "We'll be back by Thanksgiving at the latest."

"That's perfect." She motioned toward the back of the house. "Well, your room should be ready for you to pack up. Just let me know if you need anything else."

We walked through the house and past Betty the broom as she swept the colorful mess on the floor in the kitchen. When he closed the door of his room behind us, I smiled. I'd been in here since Halloween when we discovered we were soulmates, but I wasn't used to it yet. His room just looked so . . . lived in. His bed was covered in warm, worn-in blankets and pillows. His scent covered the room, and warm light filtered in through the window. It was so normal and so far from the way I grew up.

Brian walked into the room with a knock. "Oh. Hey, guys. What's up?"

"Nothing . . . What are you stealing now?" Will put his hands on his hips."Where's my bow and arrow?"

"Just borrowing a shirt." He walked over to a drawer and pulled a shirt out, then tossed it over his shoulder. "Thanks."

" Brian—"

"This girl I met at the zombie crawl has her own set, so we're gonna go shooting." He gave me two-thumbs up. "I promise to return it before you get back home."

The twins passed him on his way out. They walked in with a brown bag full of something baked that smelled like apples and cinnamon mixed together.

Connor sat down on the bed and handed Will the bag. "So, you're going?"

"Only for a few weeks," I tried to reassure them.

Caleb crossed his arms over his chest. "Where are you going?"

I shrugged. "We're not sure yet."

"When are you coming back?"

Will chuckled. "Also to be determined. but we won't miss Thanksgiving."

"But you guys do have a plan?"When we didn't answer, Connor sighed and jumped to his feet. "Well, when you do, you need to let us know."

"Connor." Will walked over and squeezed his shoulder. "Travel is what I do for a living. For a decade. Do you need a plan to work in your kitchen?"

He frowned. "No. Fair."

Caleb snapped his fingers. "No, no, Lemon Drop and Indiana, you're going to keep the family updated on where you're at and where you're going next."

Will nodded. "I will."

"And Indiana?" Caleb turned his pointed stare to me. "You're gonna have to make sure he drinks blood. He's the worst vampire ever. And your blood won't suffice, so talk to Nash or something."

I grinned. "I'm on it. Promise."

They both glared at us as they left the room.

Will ran his hand through his hair. " And that's just the tip of the iceberg with my family. Don't be fooled by the absence of Dad, Archer, and Jethro. They'll ambush us on the way out."

I giggled. "I can't wait."

"We'll stay at The Pemberley when we come to visit just so we can have some privacy."

I sat down on the edge of the bed and looked around the room. The Bow house was so cozy and just felt like a home. I couldn't think of a time when I actually felt at home or as though I had a home. "Or . . . maybe we could find our own place to call home?"

His face lit up. "Are you suggesting we make a home base here? One the island? Like get our own house?"

I nodded. It was a big step, but I was ready to make some changes, and I wanted to make them with Will. Home was Will. No matter where we went, I'd feel at home so long as I had him. But for the first time in my whole life, I wanted to have my own house. A place that never moved. And I wanted to build that with him. "I think I am. I don't want to be away from our families for long periods of time anymore."

Will sat down beside me and ran his hand over mine. "I think I like that idea a lot."

My heart fluttered with excitement. A place of our own would be perfect. "Guess we know what to do when we get home for Thanksgiving."

Will wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in closer. He pressed a kiss on the top of my head. "I think I want home ready before then. I'll make a call."

"Prefect." I hesitated and lowered my voice, "Do you think we should've told them we're going to look for my mom?"

"No, it's better if no one knows. First, we don't want her to find out we're looking and then for her to run. Second, I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. Especially Torren's."

I nodded against his shoulder. "I'm really happy we're doing this together."

"We'll do everything together from now on." He gave me a little squeeze. "We've got each other. For eternity."

I sighed at how right it all felt. I wasn't alone anymore, and to have someone to lean on was more of a relief than I ever thought it would be. "You know . . . I love the sound of that."