Epilogue Two

A month later

"Are you ready?" I ask Rhett, sticking my tongue out at the skull sitting on the mantle with freshly picked snapdragons inside. "You double-checked with Fitz at the shop, right? He is okay without you tonight?"

"Yeah, he's good. He's only painting one of the walls tonight. He'll be home later."

Fitz moved in with us. I thought I'd be worried about a man in the house, but I'm not. I'm protected. Rhett would never let anything happen to me. Plus, Fitz is a good guy.

They also decided to go into business together. The shop is called "Snapdragons Garage."

I asked Rhett why he named it that and he said snapdragons was a word that made me feel safe. He wanted me to have another safe space.

Falling in love with him was the best thing I ever did.

Speaking of snapdragons. I placed a few flowers from my yard in Ty's skull that's sitting on the mantle. I decided to use him as a vase. I never thought he would be handy.

We've come so far as exes.

"Do we have to go? Can't we just stay in bed?" Rhett gripes, dragging his feet and hanging his head as he walks to me.

"You just want to knot me again."

Rhett growls, pulls himself out of his sad state, picks me up, and swings me in a circle. "Damn right I do. I can't keep my hands off you when you're showing like this." He places his hand on my slightly rounded stomach. "Makes me constantly want you, but you know what I miss?"

"What?" I circle my arms around his neck, giving him a peck.

"I miss your blood."

"You feed from me all the time, Rhett."

"Not that blood." His eyes become hues of red.

My cheeks heat with realization. "Well, next time. We will have to prepare for times like this. Maybe make you tea bags, bloody ice cubes, popsicles…"

He moans, and his cock rubs against my leg, hard and ready. "Sounds so fucking good, Beloved."

"It will be if you don't manage to get me pregnant again."

He mumbles under his breath. "Unfair choices. I love both." He frowns, his mood turning from cheery to sad again.

"We can worry about it later. Come on. Let's go to Demi's and when we come back, you can knot me."

The solarium opens, allowing us to fly from the bedroom into the sky. Rhett fixed the solarium with the money he stole from the banks. We still have a large sum left over and he keeps it in his burrow. He refuses to put it in the bank.

We soar through the sky, the night sky beautiful and twinkling millions of stars.

"I wish I could grab one for you."

"Why?" I ask.

"To prove your light is so much brighter."

I smile, kissing his pec, wondering when I was ever this happy.

Never.

At least, not that I can remember.

I think about Milo and Minnie. Milo moved in with me since the house is big enough. I didn't want him to be on his own after Minnie had to leave to be with Alexander. I feel terrible for keeping the truth from him, but when Minnie is ready, then we will tell him.

"We're here."

"Sound more excited." I pinch his nipple through the shirt I forced him to wear.

He can't walk around naked all the time.

We land in Creed's backyard where he lights the grill with his dragon fire.

"Hey guys!" I greet, sliding carefully from Rhett's hold.

"Hey!" Demi waves from the table. "You got here just in time. He is about to cook the steak."

Creed tosses Storm a raw piece of meat and the little boy growls, thrashing his head back and forth as if the steak is prey.

Feral. Absolutely feral.

"What's all that noise over there?"

Demi groans and I turn around to see what the fuss is. An old man is peeking over the fence, his brows thick, wiry, and white.

"You couldn't have done this earlier?"

"Mr. Pete, it isn't late. We aren't doing anything wrong."

"Hi, Mr. Pete," Rhett greets.

"No, Rhett. No. Fuck, Mr. Pete. We don't like him," Creed sneers at the old man.

Rhett lifts his middle finger. "Oh, good. Fuck you, Mr. Pete."

"Rhett!"

"What?" He shrugs. "If Creed doesn't like him, I don't."

"Demi, you're a good girl. Why in the world."

"Okay. That's it." Creed points at Mr. Pete. "I'm going to kill you and fucking roast you. I'm sick of your shit."

"Creed. No. He's fine. Just let it go."

Creed stomps his way to the fence and captures Mr. Pete's gaze. "I don't know why the mystifying doesn't work very long on you. Probably due to old age so, you will leave us alone. Again. Forever. You see nothing here, okay?"

"Can I have a steak?"

Smoke billows from Creed's nose. He looks over his shoulder to Demi, and she nods.

"Fine," Creed bites.

The retractable leash buzzes and Creed gets yanked to the left as his son takes to the air again.

"Storm. Get down here, now! You won't get any more steak!" Demi shouts and Storm flies back and tumbles as he lands. "He'll figure out the landing."

I snicker, rubbing my own stomach.

"When are you due?" she asks.

"I have no idea. Rhett doesn't either. We're just taking it one day at a time."

"If you need anything, you know where to find me. We have to stick together."

"Thank you." I lean back against Rhett, my head on his shoulder, and enjoy the chaos of Creed cooking and his son nipping his ankles.

"Steak is ready!" Creed announces.

Demi uncovers all the sides she made. There's salad, loaded baked potatoes, green beans, egg salad, and mac and cheese.

We eat fast with no conversation. We're all too hungry.

"Where's my steak?" Mr. Pete yells from the other side of the fence.

Creed slaps a steak, grabs it with his claws, and throws it over the fence.

"Creed…" Demi sounds exhausted from his antics.

"What? He got the steak." Creed digs his claw into his own raw meat, picks it up, and gnaws at it viciously.

When we're all done, Creed and Rhett give each other a knowing look.

"What?" I wipe my mouth, placing the napkin on my plate.

"You'll see." Rhett takes my hand and leads the way to two piles of blankets and pillows.

One for us and one for Creed and Demi. Rhett helps me lie down before he does, pushing me against his side. Demi does the same, holding Storm in her arms.

"Ready?" Creed shouts.

"Ready!" Rhett replies, cupping his hand by his mouth.

Creed blows his fire, lighting fuses that begin to spark. He runs to be with Demi, places his hand on her belly, and watches the sky.

Rhett's thumb brushes across my small bump.

A loud whistle sounds before an explosion fills the air. White fireworks spread across the stars. I gasp, watching from down below as if I'm in my own personal firework globe.

"You did this for me?"

Rhett nods, stroking the side of my stomach. "I can't bring you the stars, but I'll always create them for you."

"I love you." I cup his chiseled jaw, my eyes watering, and stare at him with all the adoration I can muster.

"Even though I'm a monster?"

I giggle, kissing him again, unable to take my lips from his. "I love you, anyway."

The End.