14. Epilogue

epilogue

. . .

Valek : Five Months Later

Today, as I stand beneath the whispering trees of Mystic Grove, surrounded by our friends and family, and citizens of the many realms of the otherworld, I feel an unfamiliar flutter of hope stirring within me. The twilight air is alive with enchantment, a vivid tapestry of magic that even we demons seldom witness. Today, I am not the dark entity everyone knows; today, I am merely Valek, a being profoundly in love and on the brink of a new beginning.

Odette, radiant and ethereal in her gown woven from the silken threads of starlight, glides toward me. Her belly, slightly round with our unborn child, makes her even more beautiful, if such a thing were possible. Her smile is a beacon in the dim forest light, reaching through the shadows cast by towering oaks and weaving through the gathered crowd. I'm the luckiest demon who ever walked the earth.

Our guests form a curious ensemble. My brother and his mate, Selene, greet me at the front of the pews. Ageless vampires, clad in dark sunglasses to protect their eyes from the setting sun, sit in the second row, protecting their queen, Odette's cherished niece, Amara. Beside her sits her husband, King Attila of Ravenwood. Behind them, wolf shifters are cloaked in their best human forms, yet still wild beneath their skins. Toward the back, faeries flitter about with mischievous grins, and nymphs sing melodies of love commissioned by my beloved.

Even Isolde, my soon-to-be sister-in-law and high queen to these mystical beings, stands among them. Her regal presence underscores the gravity of this union. After determining her sister was carrying my child, she reluctantly ceded to Odette's wishes, marking a new era of peace between our families.

As Odette reaches my side, her hand finds mine. With one delicate touch, she burns away centuries of solitude, wrapping my soul in comfort that I never dreamed existed.

The ceremony is simple yet profoundly sacred. The elder elf, Aeloris, a figure revered across all mystical factions for his wisdom and fairness, steps forward. His voice booms softly throughout the grove as he begins the rites that will bind me to Odette.

"Dearly beloved," Aeloris starts, the tone resonant with the ancient power of nature that surrounds us. "We are gathered here in the sight of these old woods and under the watchful gaze of the cosmos to join these two souls in eternal companionship." As he speaks, spells old as time itself, vines creep forward to form an arch above us while flowers bloom instantly on their tendrils.

The elf's words weave around us like threads, binding not just our hands but also our spirits in a tapestry of fate and choice intermingled. "Do you, Valek," he turns his ageless gaze upon me, "embrace Odette as your bonded mate through all eternity? Will you share her joys and sorrows as if they were your own?"

I feel each word resonate deep within my bones—a sensation unknown to my demon nature—and I respond without hesitation. "I will."

"And do you, Odette," Alerois shifts toward my mate with an equally solemn expression, "choose Valek to be your bonded mate? To live together, carrying forward life into this world?"

Her voice is a melody that matches perfectly with the hum of the forest. "I do."

"With these vows spoken before witnesses both earthly and celestial," says the elder elf as he lifts his hands toward the sky now turning from twilight to dusk's purple mantle. A gentle wind rises, swirling flower petals around us like a blessing from nature itself. "I now pronounce you bound for all eternity."

A cheer erupts from our assembled guests—a sound as rich and varied as the creatures themselves. The Minotaur bellows joyously, his voice echoing off the twisted trunks, while faeries dart into the air, their laughter tinkling like tiny bells. The shifters howl, and vampires applaud with a dignified clap that resonates with their centuries of quiet strength.

Queen Isolde steps forward, her expression softening as she approaches us. She places a crown woven from the grove's most sacred plants atop Odette's head. "With this crown," she announces, "I acknowledge the unity not only of Valek and Odette, but also of our realms under their guidance." Her eyes meet mine, and there's an unspoken promise of support and camaraderie.

I could have lived without her approval, but I'm joyful that Odette will not have to part ways with her sister.

As twilight deepens into night, lanterns ignite magically around us, casting a warm glow that mimics the stars now peeking through the canopy above. Music begins, and Odette pulls me to the dance floor. Her laughter is more intoxicating than any potion or brew. We dance beneath the trees, our movements in sync as if we've been dancing together for lifetimes rather than mere months. Around us, our guests join in, each step and turn, a celebration of our union and a defiance of old feuds.

As the festivities continue, I can't help but feel overcome by a sense of completeness. Odette's presence beside me, her hand in mine as we navigate through our guests—faeries pulling us into dances, vampires sharing tales of ancient days—it all feels like a vivid dream from which I never want to awaken.

As the moon reaches its peak in the ink-black sky, a peaceful silence settles over Mystic Grove. Our guests gather around as we prepare for one final ceremony—an ancient tradition meant to ensure good fortune and strong health for our unborn child.

Aeloris reappears with a small crystal bowl filled with dew collected under the full moon. He chants softly, his voice barely above a whisper, but every word clear in the crisp night air. He invites me to dip my hands into the bowl, followed by Odette. Together, we sprinkle the dew onto her belly, each droplet shimmering in the moonlight like a star.

"By water and moon," intones the elf, "let this child be blessed by all elements and all realms."

As we conclude the ritual, I look at Odette—her face aglow with love—and I know that no matter what challenges we may face, this night will forever remain etched in our hearts.

With a warm smile, she leans against me, tired yet blissful. "Today has been perfect," she murmurs softly enough only for me to hear.

I kiss her forehead gently. "With you by my side, every day will be perfect. You've shown me that even those cursed to darkness can once again step into the light. I am finally home."

THE END

Inca-Bliss is part of the Mated to the Monster : Season Two multi-author series. Each book is a standalone story and you can read them in any order.

Get all the books:

MATED TO THE MONSTER: Season 2

a monster romance series

PROMISED TO THE SATYR

by Andie Fenichel

PROTECTED BY THE WOLVEN

by Alana Khan

FALLING FOR THE YETI

by Karla Doyle

FATED TO THE GARGOYLE

by Lisa Carlisle

THE PIXIES' CHOSEN

by SJ Sanders

BONDED BEYOND REGRET

by Ember Davis

BIDDING ON HER ORC BOSS

by Evangeline Priest

INCU-BLISS

by Matilda Martel

FATED TO THE GRIZZLY

by Debra Elise

ECHOES OF ETERNITY

by YD La Mar

SASQUATCH'S CLAIMING

by AC Ruttan

THE GOBLIN'S MINE

by Vivienne Hart