Epilogue

Jasper

I rolled the tattered parchment paper and stuffed it into an empty wine bottle. After replacing the cork, I handed it to Evie. "You do the honors."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Her eyes, more beautiful than the sea before us, held a warning. "I'd actually prefer you to do it."

"Yeah, that map has a purpose. It's clearly bringing soulmates together, and it's time we pay it forward." I wound my arm all the way back and flung the bottle as hard as I could. We watched it sail through the sky, arching high before it plopped down into the sea current heading the opposite direction.

"I thought you said your mother gave the map to your father." Evie's brows beaded together.

Reaching out to take her hand in mine, my heart skipped a beat as our fingers glided together. "She did. She said after her dad found it on one of his voyages across the Holy Land, that at first, he assumed it was a farce, but it clearly worked for him, and others. He stored it in a chest in the palace, not wanting anyone to find out about his find. Being mischievous my mother had found it in her youth, and when they took me away, she stole the map, praying that it would work to bring me back."

The sun was setting behind us, disappearing behind the rolling hills we'd come to love in this village. The air between us was steeped with anticipation as we held each other's gazes.

I was used to being alone my whole life. Never did I dream I'd meet both my parents, and the love of my life in the same year, or even at all. But deep down, I longed for something even deeper, a connection that made Evie and me real family.

This was it.

Evie was everything, and I knew it with everything in me.

Now that the map was off to find a new destiny, there was only one thing left to do to finish this story. I got down on one knee and pulled a velvet box out of my jacket. It was an heirloom from my mother's collection, and worth more money than most countries, but the money didn't matter to me. The only thing I cared about was making Evie see that this togetherness thing was real, forever and eternal.

Evie's eyes rounded with tears welling up as the sparkling diamond ring glistening in the sunlight. I had rehearsed this moment so many times in my head, but the words caught in my throat, and my voice cracked. "Evie, I meant it when I said I want to do everything together. Will you marry me?"

Evie gasped in delight. Without hesitation, she whispered, "Yes."

I slid the ring on her finger, and leaned in for a kiss, our lips bonding, and breaths mingling as we had learned to breathe each other in, being one. I was freefalling, and life could never get better than this. Our embrace filled with longing, my fingers tangled in her hair as we held onto each other tightly.When I pulled away, my smile was growing. My days of thievery were over. Not because I had found my riches, but I had been given a deeper purpose. All I wanted to do was live each day to make Evie proud of me.

One could say my luckiest loot had been that map, but I knew better than that. Of all the things I'd stolen, the most valuable prize was the key to Evie's heart.

That was the real treasure, and I was going to guard it with my life.

"Now that this is settled." I twisted the ring on her finger and playfully winked at her as a warning, "Let's talk about getting a Golden Retriever."

She threw back her head in laugher, as we both knew I won't give up on this one, and before I have to wager on my offer, she immediately chimed in, "Yeah, I think that's exactly what we need."

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