Epilogue

EPILOGUE

"Is this going to work?"

Dex popped a bubble at me for asking the question, and kept at her task.

"It's either going to work and I'll be a literal genius in the realm of magic tech, or it'll fail miserably and explode."

"Are those the only two options?" Funus swung his eyes between us, worry tugging at his kind voice. "It's either success or violent death?"

"She's just teasing," I reassured him. "Right, Dex?"

Dex popped another bubble. "Sure."

"Maybe we should rethink this." Barnaby wrung his hands for the millionth time. "I'm starting to get second thoughts."

"It'll work. Dex knows her shit." I gave Barnaby's shoulder a squeeze. "It'll be okay."

"I trust you. I just…I worry." Barnaby turned his big, doe eyes to Dex. "If you have any doubts, please tell me now. If something happened to him…"

Dex sighed, her apathy slipping in a rare show of emotion.

"I can't guarantee it'll work, but it won't explode. Maybe a tiny fire but…he's bone. He'll be fine."

Barnaby gave a nod, continuing to wring his hands like a fretting old woman.

Dex finished attaching the device to the base of Funus's skull, the magic within it pulsing and churning respectfully. It had been a hell of thing figuring out how to chip off some of the Goddess's blade without causing mayhem, but Dex and Kimi had created an enchantment that kept the chaos from spiraling out of control as we broke off pieces for testing. Between Kimi's witch prowess and Dex's knack for tech, the duo was able to do what Florence and her billions couldn't—control the blade's raw power.

It didn't hurt that they had the Goddess's favorite boy and Funus to help quell the tears when they did pop open.

Dex used the devices we snagged after we turned Hei and Florence into dipshit dust to craft something new, breaking apart the base components inside and repurposing them for something much better than making false Thralls.

Black opals had the power to heal, but they also had the power to rebuild even the oldest bodies. Pair that with the raw power of the Goddess's scythe?

Well.

That's a really powerful reanimation device.

"Once I turn it on, it should kick off the spell Kimi programmed," Dex explained to Funus. "I don't know how long it will take for the black opal to respond to it, or if the scythe's blade fragment will keep it stable, but if it starts smoking, I'll shut it down. Are you ready?"

"Yes." Funus turned his eyes to Barnaby. "I'm ready."

"I hope you know that no matter what happens, it doesn't change anything for us." Barnaby smiled at his skull boyfriend. "I will still be at your side. We can still travel and do all the things we planned."

"Of course, darling." Funus's sparkling eyes let us know he was smiling, but it was weak. "I just hope I can give you more."

"You give me everything," Barnaby said in a rush, eyes shining from hopeful tears.

"As do you." Funus's eyes brightened a bit more at that.

Barnaby released his hands so he could grip mine as Dex started the device, the iridescent greens, purples and pinks beginning to churn with flecks of crimson.

"I might throw up," he confessed softly.

"That's okay," I told him, squeezing his hand. "I'll only make fun of you a little bit if you do."

Dex chewed her gum like she was trying to dissolve it into dust, fingers tapping on her tusk as the magic device she had crafted flashed with the activated magic.

Black veins began crawling out from where the device was attached to Funus, moving like thick, onyx slugs over his cheekbones and jaw. Funus's eyes swiveled and tried to follow them as they slithered up over his forehead and into his nose, curling over his teeth and into his sockets.

Barnaby covered his mouth and got very still, holding his breath and probably his barf.

"How we doin', buddy?" I called to Funus. "You okay? Feeling some tingling?"

"I…I don't know…" the skull said nervously.

"Is this what you expected to happen?" I asked Dex but she shushed me.

The black veins thickened as they started to connect to each other, colliding and overlapping into tangles. Funus's bright eyes slowly dulled as the dark matter smothered his entire face, the pace of the slugs mutating into frantic worms that started to seep out onto the table.

Barnaby covered his face and turned away, holding my hand so tight I was worried he was going to break it. I winced but didn't dare pull away.

The black goop worming its way out of Funus started to take an angled shape, long lines expanding out and ending with flared digits. A thicker mass solidified at the center, branching out like an unfolding flower as it took a dome shape. A ribcage bloomed from its mass, the lines fanning from it thickening into bones before being coated in nerves, muscle, and skin.

Funus's skull sprouted features, a nose extending out to cover the hole at its center, just above a set of lips covering his teeth. Cheekbones were covered next, followed by a nice brow and sharp jaw, ears popping out just a bit too far in a charming way. The wormy substance began to slow as skin took on a rich brown, a mop of chestnut curls falling from his scalp.

The worms fell away once the last of his toes took shape, his body still and quiet on the table. My heart started to thunder from the breath I was holding, only exhaling when Funus's eyes slowly flickered open.

They were the yellow of honey, sweet and bright, looking for Barnaby the moment they opened.

"Holy shit," I finally exhaled. "Grandpa is hot ."

Barnaby inhaled a sob as he finally forced himself to look, tears pouring from silently expecting the worst. His big, dark eyes widened at seeing Funus in the flesh, lanky and beautiful, with a sheepish smile creeping over his face.

"Hello, my love," he whispered, voice the same but now with a living weight to it. "I was hoping the rebuilding would lessen the extent my ears stuck out, but I see it was extremely thorough."

Barnaby moved to touch him and paused, always the gentlemen.

"Would you mind terribly if I feel your skin?"

Funus took Barnaby's hands in his and kissed his knuckles before pulling him into a hug that had Barnaby sobbing. Funus beamed as Barnaby took his face in his hands and kissed his cheeks, running his fingers through his hair and marveling at every part of his handsome face.

"You are perfect. You're perfect , Funus. I cannot wait to show you every single place I promised to take you. We'll eat so much wonderful food, see so many beautiful things."

"I will go wherever you are, my Barnaby." Funus kissed his palm, eyes shining with a true, flesh and blood smile. "We have our whole lives for adventure, and I plan on being at your side for whatever life throws at us."

Funus turned to me and stood, testing out his legs for the first time in centuries. He wobbled a bit, laughing as he had to sit back on the table, Barnaby holding him steady by the elbow.

"Ah, well, I'll have to get used to how these work. I'm a bit rusty." He grinned. "Dallas, it's lovely to meet you again for the first time. I meant to come give you a hug but I think I'm a little wobbly."

"You can hug me when you're not naked," I teased the no-longer-old man. "Plus, I think Barns gets to hog you for a bit. I'll get in some extra hugs when I get back."

"I'll take that deal." Funus laced his fingers with Barnaby's, sighing at the feeling.

"I'm a fucking genius," Dex whispered to herself, the magic of love not penetrating her marvelous mind.

I retreated to leave the lovebirds to their swooning, and made my way out into the foyer, where I caught Austin trying to quietly leave.

"Hey," I called out accusingly. "Are you for real?"

He sighed, shutting the door and turning my way.

"Yeah, alright. I was bailing before you made me hug you," he said as I hugged him, making a noise of disgust as I kissed his cheek. "You're an asshole."

"You don't have to leave, you know." I released him once he forced me backwards. "Sias said you can have a room here until you figure out what you want to do."

Austin ran a hand over his buzzed hair, eyeing the big chandelier hanging above the stairs.

"I'll make my own way. This place is huge, but I think I'll feel a little crowded here."

"You staying in the city?" I asked. "Preston and Seyyid said they're hiring on new recruits to DHAP after all this shit went down. Said they tossed Magnus out after his bullshit accusations against innocent people like Sias."

"Sias wasn't innocent." Austin lifted his brows. "He was aiding you and you were a person of interest tied to the destruction of the city."

"See? You already sound like a cop. You'd fit in great there. Plus, Sias was able to threaten the city with a fat lawsuit after it was proved that Magnus's accusations about me being in league with Florence were bullshit."

"Having a rich boyfriend must be nice," Austin said dryly.

"Oh, it fucking rules, man. I highly recommend it."

He rolled his eyes and asked, "I thought Preston and Seyyid would have lost their jobs after telling you to run out of the city."

"I'm no snitch," I snorted. "I'll take that shit to the grave. Or until I need to blackmail them for a favor later. They're still officers, so they're useful."

"Good to know. Maybe I'll look into working with DHAP." He shrugged. "Or maybe I'll go freelance. You could use some friendly rivalry."

"Yeah, I don't think so." I grinned as he chuckled. "You know where to find me. Let's not go another ten years without seeing each other. I'd like for you to be in my life, Austin."

"I'll think about it," he said, which was a hell of a lot better than "no." I decided that was good enough.

Austin slipped out the door as the sound of Twig screaming announced Zane's entrance, his arms full with suitcases I knew weren't his.

"Is he serious?" I asked as the vampire huffed the luggage next to the rest of Sias's mountain, stretching his back before scooping up his kitten.

"He assured me he needs all of it." Zane parked his bundle of fur into the crook of his arm, appeasing Her Majesty as she demanded chin scratches. "But I think his plane is going to drag on the runway with this much shit in cargo."

"My plane can handle twice that, I'll have you know." Sias appeared, descending the staircase like a prince ready for vacation. Malphie barreled ahead and ran over to sniff at Twig who peered down at him from her Zane throne. The big void hound was madly in love with the tiny queen, and she decided he was tolerated for the most part.

"We're going to be gone a month," Zane reminded the prince as he meandered over. "If you say you have more up there, you're going to throw my back out."

"Oh, my sweet vampire, I'll be doing that later." Sias grinned, planting a scandalous kiss on Zane's lips.

"Uh-huh. No more luggage, Sias."

Sias hummed like he was absolutely not done dragging more shit downstairs. He turned his emerald gaze my way and tapped his expensive watch.

"We leave in ten, pet. I want to be at the resort for dinner."

"Food dinner or incubus dinner?" I asked, smiling against his lips as he kissed me.

"Both," he purred, thumb stroking my chin before releasing it, adding lovingly, "If you're not by the car in ten minutes, I will leave without you."

"Love you too," I called after him as he went back upstairs, Zane groaning as he rubbed at his lower back.

"He's going to kill me," the big vampire complained.

"Yeah, you like it. You get to show off the muscles."

"Sure," he placated, leaning into the kiss I pulled him into. "If you're about to ask me to carry something for you, I will throw you out of the fucking window."

"Aw, you and your pillow talk." I kissed his smirk, because it was sexy and I was weak for it.

"Hunter," Zane said softly. "He will leave you if you're not ready."

"Yeah, okay. I got it. Steal his keys because I'm not going to be ready in time." I ran away before he could yell at me, rushing to my room to grab whatever I could before my boyfriends left me behind from our mutual vacation.

Kevin watched me with his signature Supreme Judgment Stare, spurned from having to wait on me for more bloodworms he clearly deserved. Naturally because of this, my packing was delayed further so I could marvel at how adorable my sweet, darling, perfect betta fish was.

"I still owe you. Not just for babysitting Twig while I was away, but for everything else."

I sprinkled some blood worms into Kevin's tank and smiled at my grumpy little savior. "You know, you could have given me a heads up about the whole ‘connection to the void' thing."

He swallowed a worm down and side-eyed me. The explanation I got was one little bubble that floated to the surface of the water and lingered before it popped. I wondered if this was a sign, a message from a fish that might not be as mortal as I had thought. Was the bubble our shared connection to a plane of existence that few living beings had ever seen? Had we been soul bound since the day I had pulled him back from the void, too heartbroken to live a life without him?

Or maybe we had been bound long before that. Maybe Kevin had been expecting me to find him in the pet store that day. Maybe that one, important bubble was meant to represent something much more divinely engineered than I could have ever fathomed. Perhaps there was much more to my little fish than I would ever know.

Or maybe it was just indigestion from swallowing down high-grade bloodworms, because he shit immediately after that.

He was literally the best creature on the planet, and he kinda liked me.

I was the luckiest man alive.

The End