Epilogue

They traipsed into Griff's Chamber of Songs, all of them. Even Carty and the new cart, Cartlittle, and the five cats they'd adopted from the shelter.

"I want to climb on all the books," Benson said.

"No climbing on any books," Quinlan said sternly. "They will topple, and you will hurt yourself."

"These books are not for climbing on," Griff added. "They're full of songs! For your heart! We must respect them."

"I wanna read songs," Lily said, making grabby hands.

"Here. This one's for you, Lils." Griff handed her a thin book. "This one is full of science-y magic songs."

Lily beamed and promptly sat herself down to read. The youngest, Margie, sat with her, thumb stuck in her mouth.

The kids were all dressed in dragon hoodies—complete with fabric spikes that went from the tops of their heads down their backs—all for this year's Yuletide photo. Annie was eight now, Benson seven, and Lily was six. Margie was the youngest, at three years old, and most days, they all got along with each other, much to Quinlan's relief.

These days, the family spent a lot of time in Quinlan's garden in the forest, where they grew fruit and vegetables and raised chickens to feed everyone. Griff watched the children, and when they had too much produce, he took the kids to the farmer's market to sell off the excess.

"What's this?" Annie pulled out a photo from one of Griff's books.

Griff squinted at it. "Oh! That's from the time I was in Uncle Blade's police car," he said proudly.

"Uncle Blade arrested you?" Annie asked, her eyes wide.

"No," Quinlan said quickly. "Your Papa just wanted a picture in the car."

He elbowed Griff in the side and gave him a look that said, ‘Don't inspire them to do evil.'

Griff cackled.

"Oh, here's a book," Hex said, sweeping into the Chamber of Songs. He picked his way through the never-ending stacks of books and ring folders, waving a pink book.

Quinlan froze. He hissed at Griff.

Griff snatched the book out of Hex's hand. "This book is for thirty-year-olds," Griff said imperiously.

Quinlan thanked all the gods that he and Griff had come to that agreement. Their children, at eighteen, would probably still be too young for those pickup lines.

"Thirty?" Annie scrunched up her face.

"Awww," Hex said disappointedly.

"You can write your own songs in the meantime," Quinlan said, pulling out a blank leather notebook he'd planned on giving her later. "We'll all listen to your songs if you want to share!"

Annie beamed. She'd grown up to look like Quinlan. Bennie and Lils took after Griff, and Margie seemed to be a mix of both Quinlan and Griff.

"Can we make a band?" Annie asked. "Me and Bennie and Lils and Margie. We'll all play an instrument and sing together!"

"Of course!" Griff said proudly.

"But Margie might take a while to learn something," Quinlan said.

"We'll wait for her," Bennie said. "Right, Lils?"

Lily nodded eagerly. Margie banged her fist on a book and beamed.

Over their heads, Quinlan exchanged a look with Griff. Griff's smile was adoring and just as bright as it had been all those years ago. He took Quinlan to bed every night and curled up around him like he always did, and sometimes, the kids came in to cuddle with them in a big pile.

Their children were still young, but they truly cared about each other. And that was all Quinlan wanted, really—a family who looked out for each other and stuck together.

Life would contain ups and downs, but with all this love, they would always pull through to the other side, stronger than before.