Epilogue

EPILOGUE

T he band was loud enough that the saucepans in the kitchen rattled on their hooks. Rosa stirred a fresh batch of seafood paella before squeezing more lemon juice over it.

"This should be ready in ten, Lou," she called out to the waiter.

"Sure thing, sweet," he replied before disappearing out of the swinging doors.

Rosa took a moment to stick her head out and check on Merlin. Arthur, Blue Jay, Chayton, and Honaw were playing cards. Merlin had a besotted grin on his face as he watched Nimue dancing to the jazz music that she couldn't get enough of.

They had arrived in New Orleans two weeks beforehand and been enfolded into the supernatural community with enthusiasm. It didn't surprise her to learn that Merlin knew the Queen of New Orleans, Harley Barthélémy. Not only did Harley help maintain the peace of the supernatural community, but she also ran a motorcycle shop as well as a bar and hotel in the French Quarter.

"The Queen's Cards are the spoils of war," Harley had said and winked at her.

They had been more than happy to establish Rosa in the kitchens as a guest chef. None of the kitchen staff seemed to mind how she tossed about knives when she was bored, or how she sometimes reflexively touched her left hip as if she expected a sword to be there.

Rosa liked New Orleans, and the fact that she was Gwaed Teulu didn't matter in a place full of supernaturals, shapeshifters, magic users, and gods like Chayton and Honaw.

"About time we had some vampires in New Orleans," Blue Jay said happily. Harley and Blue Jay had welcomed them, treating them like extended family and making sure they enjoyed their stay.

Rosa's phone buzzed, and she pulled off a glove to check the message.

It was from Cecily, a photo with her and Dominque on the Vane estates. Rosa had to explain to her mother that Dominque was trying to court her, and she seemed to have finally taken Rosa's advice to let him. It made her happy that Cecily had a love life again. Another picture message came through from Bleddyn of Eirianwen and Saul, drinking with the Unseelie, and she felt a pang of homesickness.

"Urgh, I swear, sometimes tourists are arrogant A-holes," Lou complained as he walked in the kitchen two hours later.

The crowds had moved on with only a few lingering patrons dancing to the quieter brand of jazz. The card game was still ongoing, and everyone was cheerfully drunk. As soon as the kitchen closed, Rosa would join them, as she had every night since they arrived.

"You know, kitchen staff all over the world complain about Americans for the same reason," Rosa said, turning on a dishwasher. "Who's gone and ruffled your feathers?"

"Some fancy Eurotrash askin' for something off the menu like he freaking owns the place. What in Sweet Baby Jesus's name is fru-menty anyway? I said, 'Sir, I dunno what that is. You gotta order off the menu.' He says, 'Every good chef knows how to make it. Just ask. They'll know.' I told him that even if you did, you weren't gonna make it just for him." Lou picked up two plates of food and headed back to the swinging doors. "You okay, girl? You look like someone has just trod over your grave."

"I'll be fine. I just need a drink," Rosa whispered.

"Don't we all," he said and disappeared out the doors.

Rosa turned and gripped the edge of the sink, trying to stop the nauseous anxiety that flooded her. It's only a coincidence. Just breathe .

"What kind of dive bar is this that they don't serve frumenty?" a voice asked behind her. She hadn't heard the doors swing open which was next to impossible with her hearing.

"I'll have you know this is a very respectable establishment," she said defensively, turning around, hands on hips.

"Tell that to the rabble out there playing cards. They all look like very disreputable characters."

"Takes one to know one, I suppose," she retorted. "Don't worry, sir, I intend on having violent words with all of them."

Balthasar's face broke into a wide smile. He was too thin, with fresh scars peeking out of the collar of his pristine suit jacket, and his hand rested on the silver handle of an elegant black cane.

They stared at each other in silence, taking in the changes, knowing that they weren't the same people they had been two months ago, and that whatever horrors they had endured no longer mattered.

"How long have you been…" Rosa gestured at him, her hand shaking.

"A few weeks."

" Weeks . You bastard…"

"I wasn't well enough to travel."

"You forget how to use a phone?"

Balthasar smiled wider as he always did when she tried to tell him off. "You hate surprises that much?"

"If I knew you were coming, I might have made sure I wasn't covered in kitchen splatter and sweat after a night shift," Rosa complained even as her heart pounded.

"You are still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said, heat flaring in his eyes.

"You still wait far too long to kiss me." Rosa closed the five steps that separated them. His cane clattered to the floor as he took her face in his rough hands and kissed her. He didn't feel as solid in her arms as she remembered, but his lips still knew how to make her come alight.

"I'm sorry I made you wait," he said against her lips.

There was a loud whistle from the bar, and she spotted Merlin and the others watching them through the gap in the door. She stuck her middle finger at them, closing her eyes and deepening the kiss.

"Let the man breathe, Wylt!" Merlin shouted loudly.

"They aren't going to stop until we go out there, you know," Balthasar said, his fingers twisting around one of her loose curls. "Merlin has done plenty of yelling at me, and he still managed to keep his huge mouth shut."

"You mean he knew about this?" She narrowed her eyes. She was going to give him the kicking of his life.

"Easy, tesoro . I asked him to let it be a surprise."

"Using your Italian on me is cheating," Rosa said, kissing his laughing lips.

"You want to get out of here?"

"So badly." She passed him his cane. "We need some privacy so I can yell at you for making me worry about you so much."

"How about making me worry about you! I get kidnapped for five minutes, and you go off and make dodgy deals with gods and wake up Arthur Pendragon," Balthasar growled.

"Then don't get kidnapped, and I won't!" Rosa's replied, before burying her face into the groove of his chest and breathing him in. "Seriously, never get kidnapped again, or I swear I'll leave you to rot and marry Arthur."

Balthasar gently lifted her face and kissed the tears from her cheeks. "I love you. Don't you even think of marrying Arthur Pendragon."

"I love you too, so it's lucky you didn't wait much longer. We had a trip to Vegas already planned. An Elvis was going to be involved," she couldn't resist teasing. Balthasar only kissed her again, reminding her exactly why she could never marry Arthur.

"Rosa Wylt, I swear I will never get kidnapped again if you swear never to become the Queen of the Seelies and summon the Lord of the Hunt."

Rosa's eyes were filled with love and mischief as she gave him a crooked grin. "No promises."

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