Epilogue

Ronan

R onan's Home in the Bayou

The first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the bayou. The water shimmered with hues of orange and pink, the peaceful stillness a stark contrast to the chaos and battle that had consumed the last few days. Ronan stood on the wrap-around porch of his cabin, the wood beneath his bare feet warm from the rising sun, his body still humming with the aftermath of their battle in the fae realm and several days spent in seclusion with his mate… Lilith.

But it wasn't just the adrenaline from battle or the lingering lust he had for her that made his pulse quicken.

Lilith joined him on the porch, hugging him from behind before moving to his side. Her presence was a constant pull that he could no longer resist—even if he'd wanted to, which he didn't. She leaned against the wooden railing, her pale hair catching the early light, her violet eyes watching the sun rise over the misty water. The soft breeze carried the scent of the bayou— earth, water, and the faint fragrance of wildflowers. But beneath it all, he could smell her, that intoxicating mixture of magic and danger that had drawn him in from the very start.

They had returned to his home in the bayou, seeking refuge from the madness of the fae realm, seeking a moment of quiet before the storm that still loomed on the horizon. The corruption in the High Council had been weakened and wounded, but not defeated. Their enemies still lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike. But for now, in the soft light of dawn, none of that mattered.

Ronan's gaze flicked to Lilith, his chest tightening at the sight of her. She was beautiful—fierce and unbroken, even after everything they had endured. The battles, the betrayals, the impossible choices—they had survived it all. And now, as the warmth of the new day washed over them, he realized just how much she meant to him.

He stepped closer, the floorboards creaking softly beneath his feet. She turned to look at him, her violet eyes meeting his, and for a moment, they stood there in silence, the air between them charged with everything they hadn't yet said.

"I never thought," Ronan began, his voice rough with emotion, "that I'd find someone like you. Someone who could make me forget what it means to be alone."

Lilith's gaze softened, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features—something so rare for her, something he cherished. She stood up straighter, her lips parting as if to speak, but for once, words seemed to elude her.

He reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, his touch gentle despite the intensity of the emotions that burned between them. "Lilith," he whispered, his thumb grazing her soft skin, "you changed everything."

Lilith's breath hitched, her hand coming up to rest over his, her fingers curling around his palm. "I've spent my whole life following orders," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Living for duty, for the Council. And now… none of that seems to matter anymore. Not like what I have with you."

Ronan's heart pounded in his chest, the truth of her words hitting him with the force of a tidal wave. They had both been bound by duty, by the expectations of their worlds, but here, now, none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was the connection between them—something deeper, something stronger than anything they had ever known.

"Everything I thought I knew," Lilith continued, her voice wavering, "it all changed when I met you."

Her words were like a spark, igniting the fire that had been simmering between them for far too long. Before he could stop himself, Ronan closed the distance between them, his hand sliding to the back of her neck as he pulled her into a kiss—not the fierce, desperate kisses they so often shared, but something softer, more real.

Lilith melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back with equal intensity. The taste of her was intoxicating, sweet and familiar, and Ronan could feel the last of his defenses crumbling, the walls he had built around himself falling away.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they stood in the golden light of dawn. Ronan's hand slid down to rest on her waist, his grip firm, as though he was anchoring himself to her, to this moment.

"I love you," he whispered, the words coming easier than he had expected. He had never said those words to anyone before, but with her, it felt natural—inevitable.

Lilith's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face, but then her lips curved into a soft, genuine smile—one that made his heart swell. "I love you, too, Ronan," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I think I always have. I think I've been waiting for you all this time." She punched him playfully. "You shouldn't have taken so long."

Her confession hung in the air between them, but instead of feeling heavy, it was liberating—like they had finally stepped out of the shadows and into the light. "Sorry about that," he laughed. "I'll do my best to make it up to you."

They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the rising sun casting a warm glow over the bayou. The water lapped gently against the wooden posts of the cabin, the soft chorus of frogs and birds creating a peaceful symphony that seemed to echo the calm in their hearts.

For the first time, Ronan wasn't thinking about the dangers that lay ahead, or the battles they still had to fight. He wasn't thinking about the High Council, or the lingering threat from Oberon. All he could think about was Lilith—the woman who had changed everything, the woman who had shown him that he didn't have to be alone anymore.

He pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her temple as they stood side by side, watching the sun rise over the bayou.

"What happens now?" Lilith asked softly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Ronan smiled, his grip tightening on her waist. "Now, we face it together," he said, his voice steady. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it. And we'll win."

Lilith leaned her head against his shoulder, her fingers curling around his as they stood hand in hand, ready to face the new day together.

In that moment, as the dawn broke over both the fae realm and the human world, Ronan knew that whatever challenges lay ahead—whatever battles they still had to fight—he and Lilith would face them side by side. Together, they would help to bridge the gap between their two worlds, and for the first time in his life, Ronan felt at peace.

The taste of their hard-won future lingered sweetly on his lips, a promise of what was yet to come.

R eady for Elyria and Stryker's story? Click here to read Magic Undaunted.

She's the realm's most wanted rebel. He's the High Court's most formidable enforcer. But a greater threat will force them together.

In the mystical outskirts of New Orleans, where the Whispering Woods guard ancient secrets, Elyria leads a daring rebellion against the tyrannical High Court of the fae. Once a princess of this opulent realm, she now fights to protect the lesser fae from a sinister threat—mysterious disappearances that hint at dark magic and treachery within the Court itself.

Stryker patrols the borders of Luminara with growing unease. Disturbed by traces of forbidden magic and haunted by memories of Elyria—the fiery rebel who once held his heart—he begins to question the very orders he's sworn to uphold.

When their paths cross once more, Elyria and Stryker uncover a rogue human mage's devastating plan to wield a weapon capable of unraveling the fae realm's very fabric. Forced to join forces, their simmering attraction reignites, blurring the lines between past and present.

As battles rage and alliances crumble, Elyria must confront her past and make an impossible choice: trust the man who could betray her or risk losing everything to save a world that has forsaken her.

Magic Undaunted is a spellbinding paranormal romance in The Grimm Files series that weaves together passion, peril, and love against the darkest of magic. Prepare to lose yourself in a world where love and duty clash, magic comes at a deadly price, and one woman's choice could change the fate of two realms forever.