42. Epilogue

ANGIE

One Week Later – oh, my!

I stood inside the lighthouse, waiting for the signal. The town had kindly allowed us to use the building to get ready since our wedding would take place out on the rocks with the waves crashing against them just beyond in the public park.

I'd insisted on setting the arch away from the ocean spray, something Krunesta reluctantly agreed to. It was tradition for the bride and groom to get saturated by sea water to celebrate the event. I pointed out that I'd be cranky if I had to walk around in a wet gown for hours. That seemed to convince her more than anything, though I had to agree to one more gargoyle-approved dessert in exchange.

Mortar mousse would be served, and it included real concrete. We'd place discrete notes in front of it indicating humans might want to avoid that dish but were welcome to take a cup of the mousse made with chocolate instead of stone.

"You look lovely, honey," Mom said. She kept fussing with my dress that Kylie, the seamstress, had miraculously reworked to fit me in time for my wedding. Truly, it was a miracle. It was gorgeous and my tail looked great sticking out the back. Kylie found a way to work the strap-on belt beneath the waistline of the dress so it wouldn't show, plus she'd incorporated the straps for my wings as well. They didn't look bulky at all. While our guests would know I wasn't a real gargoyle, they'd still get the monster effect as I walked down the aisle and—gulp—flew off the edge of the cliff with Tuvid at the start of the ceremony.

It was gargoyle tradition for a couple to tie tails again and then take flight, soaring over the guests before landing once more to speak their vows as the sun slipped below the horizon.

I kept hoping I wouldn't crash into the ledge beneath the arch where the gargoyle religious leader waited.

Our flight was something Krunesta had insisted on. She refused to take no for an answer. Tuvid said he had an idea that might make it work, that I could trust him, and I did.

As for Emma, my auditor was showing she'd siphoned money from me for years. There was no way to get it back, but at least we'd stopped her from doing it further. She'd pleaded guilty and would be sentenced soon.

Katar and Bailey had returned from their vacation, and Katar and Elrik would handle anything that came up at Monsters, PI while Tuvid and I went on our honeymoon. We were going to Europe for a castle tour. Tuvid had some gargoyle friends he wanted to look up, and I loved old buildings. It was a honeymoon made in heaven as far as the two of us were concerned.

"Stop biting your lip," Mom said, tapping my chin.

I pinched my dress. Released it. Pinched it again. "It's either that or cry."

"Don't cry either," she said, fresh tears streaming down her own face.

I dragged my gaze away from hers to keep from joining in. I'd been working on my crying control over the past week in anticipation of our wedding, and I could go for hours now without weeping too much. Tuvid didn't mind me sobbing here and there. I was doing this for myself, not because of anything he'd said. But today was my wedding day. Mascara, folks. I didn't want my face streaked with black in the photos, though I doubted our gargoyle guests would notice or care.

I could sob to my heart's content after the pictures were taken.

Krunesta handed me my bouquet—black orchids, a gargoyle thing, mixed in with the pink carnations Mom adored. I'd insisted on pink lilies because I loved the scent, and with the black baby's breath, even Krunesta had to admit the bouquet looked gorgeous next to my white gown.

"You look wonderful." Krunesta looked ready to cry, something I'd yet to see from my soon-to-be mother-in- law. If she hung around Mom and I much longer, she might need some tissues herself.

I gave her a gentle hug that wouldn't crush my dress and a big smile. She was almost as tall as her son, which meant I had to crook my neck back to look up at her. Female gargoyles were known for their strength and stamina, and it wasn't uncommon for a female to best a male in battle. I liked that about my new people. It boded well for Tuvid and me if we chose to have children.

"You're sure Elrik will be here?" Melly asked from nearby. Melly had grown up in town and she ran Creature Cones, the ice cream shop on Main Street. We'd stayed in touch since graduating from high school, getting together once a month or so for coffee. She and Gracie had agreed to be my bridesmaids and they looked amazing in their black gowns.

Krunesta beamed at them, happy to have won that part of the argument, though I liked the black. The contrast looked great with the decorations.

"Elrik said he'd be here," I told Melly. Did we have a budding romance in the air between her and Elrik? I'd be curious to hear if anything was blooming when Tuvid and I returned from our honeymoon. If they needed a nudge . . . I wasn't opposed to suggesting Elrik get some ice cream with me and Tuvid.

I could urge him in her direction then.

Bailey poked her head inside the door to the lighthouse, and she smiled as she took us all in. When she'd returned from the orc kingdom, she'd volunteered to help me organize the rest of the event, and she was amazing at talking Mom and Krunesta into almost anything. "It's almost time. Krunesta and Bettina? You two need to come with me. The ushers are ready to bring you down to your places in front of the guests."

I'd walk myself down the aisle, and since there were no youngling gargoyles or humans in the family, I'd talked my mom and Krunesta into skipping the ring bearer and flower girl.

"Alright, Bettina," Krunesta said. "It's time for us to join the guests waiting to witness this lovely wedding." She leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I'm delighted to have you in the family, Angie. You and Tuvid make the perfect couple."

Mom kissed my cheek, and they left.

I was nervous but not too worked up. After all, I was marrying the male of my dreams. What was scary about that? Actually, it was my first flight and the wings Tuvid had rigged for me that made me jittery. Would I fly or would I spiral into the sea?

As the music lilted outside, Gracie and Melly stepped out into the late-day sunshine. I clutched my flowers and followed. We walked sedately along the path winding from the lighthouse toward the sea and continued as the path ended at a broad stretch of ledge plunging all the way down to the sea. The sun hovered above the horizon, streaking the sky with pink and yellow beams.

The arch looked amazing festooned with pink and black flowers. When I stopped at the head of the aisle, our guests stood, gargoyles and humans alike, smiling at me and my bridesmaids as we walked between them.

The best thing of all was my tall, handsome groom waiting by the arch for me, in front of the gargoyle elder who'd marry us.

My heart pinched tight to see Tuvid. He looked amazing in the gray suit he'd insisted on wearing—tailor-made for his large frame, wings and tail. His eyes were only for me, and I couldn't look away.

This male was everything I could ever dream of in a friend and a companion. He was an amazing lover, but our relationship was about so much more than that. Sex was great, but there would be times in our lives when we couldn't cling to that to get us through rough patches. Knowing he loved and respected me was the bridge connecting us from today to any possible tomorrow that might come our way.

As I joined him in front of the arch, I stepped into my future beside him.

"You're beautiful," he gulped, tears in his eyes.

I handed him tissues from my pocket, and he blotted his face.

"You're gorgeous," I whispered, leaning into his side.

He kissed the top of my head. I wanted to grab onto him, wrap myself around him, and give him a solid kiss that would show him how much he meant to me, but the gargoyle elder cleared his throat to get our attention. Kisses could come later—lots of kisses.

"Dear guests," the elder intoned. "We welcome you all here for this ceremony where we will join two worlds as one, gargoyle and human. Before we speak the vows joining this couple, they will take flight, their pending union witnessed by the setting sun." He dipped his head toward Tuvid. "If you'll take the tie and assist your bride. "

Tuvid handed me one end of the silk band, and we carefully tied the tips of our tails together.

Mom cried through it all, and I was glad she was here for this tail tying when she'd missed the other—something she reminded me of on a daily basis.

"Very well," the gargoyle elder said when we'd finished. He looked back and forth between us, a slight frown appearing on his brow as he took in my red wings. "It's time for your first flight as a soon-to-be mated couple. Are you ready?"

"We are." Tuvid took my hand and squeezed it. He removed a small black box from his pocket and leaned close to me, whispering. "Our newest hire, a vampire, helped me with the mechanics. You'll meet him when we return from our honeymoon."

A vampire? How cool was that?

"Will he bite me and . . ." I lowered my voice. "Dwink my blood?"

Tuvid winked. "I'm doing the biting tonight."

Yes, a mating mark. I was looking forward to biting him back and seeing if the mark would glow silver. I couldn't wait.

If that didn't work, I'd packed the handcuffs.

We stepped around the arch, walking over to the edge of the cliff. It wasn't much of a drop-off; only about twenty feet to the ocean churning and frothing below. But I didn't like the thought of getting wet.

"Trust me," Tuvid said again, holding up the black box. He pressed a button, and my wings extended. When they fluttered gently, they lifted me off my feet .

"Ahhh," I cried. "It's happening." I grinned down at him. "You did this for me."

He nodded. "I'd do anything to make you happy."

"I'm going to give you lots of kisses soon."

"I can't wait."

As my wings continued to flap, someone cheered behind us. Others joined in, clapping and calling out well wishes.

I didn't look back. My gaze was focused on Tuvid's. My wonderful, thoughtful, sweet gargoyle mate. I couldn't wait to join with him for a lifetime.

"The sun's about to set." He grinned up at me as his own wings extended and he lifted up beside me. "Are you ready to fly with me, mate?"

"Yes, yes, I am."

With big smiles, we soared off the cliff.