Epilogue

EPILOGUE

I MMY

I pulled up to the gathering, seeing all the cars already parked in the lot, and eyed the large number of people in the fairgrounds with trepidation. Mabon was one of my favorite festivals, celebrating the harvest and the fall season, full of good food and dancing. My family rarely joined the larger celebrations in WhyNot, preferring a more sedate dinner with their network of connected witches, so I didn't run the risk of meeting any of them here, allowing me to enjoy myself.

I had spoken to my mother only once since that fateful evening. I had gone to their house, alone, and informed them of the status of the grimoire and my own relationship, demonstrating my newfound magical control and skill. I saw the covetous desire in my mother's eyes at my power, but she quickly denied all ties with Blythe, not that I expected otherwise. Blythe had shared her own communications with my mother so, when I showed them to mother and father, the repeated denials rang hollow. We had not spoken since.

I had gone home and cried, feeling like an orphan for the first time. I may not have belonged with my family for most of my life, but the rift felt permanent. Edge comforted me, understanding how it felt to lose a family. Once I had worked through that grief, I realized it wasn't about losing them, but about the idea of a family. I had never really had them or a family, really. My friends and small coven circled around us, welcoming Edge to their group, filling whatever void I had, until I realized I never had a void. I always had a family, only it was not the one I was born into, but one I created.

Edge laid a hand over mine. "Are you ready?"

I shot him a nervous look. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

Edge still felt awkward in large crowds, accustomed to people finding a ghost made flesh a little strange, and sometimes he still went misty at times. "Of course I want to go. I've spent my whole existence lurking on edge of everything, never a part of the community. I'm ready to join in and experience life. It might be a little overwhelming, and I might need some time to adjust, but I'm eager to start."

I bit my lower lip for a moment, the music from the celebrations drifting to us on the wind. Finally, I nodded. "Let's go."

We exited and headed for the crowds and began weaving our way through everyone. We greeted people, some with hugs and others with just a smile. I loved how everyone welcomed Edge, including him in our festival without a sideways glance or sneers. Soon, we were swept up in the jubilant atmosphere, eating, drinking, and dancing.

Finally, exhausted and needing a break, we wandered among the vendors, perusing the booths and checking out the herbs and charms available for sale. Edge remained at my side through all of it, his hand often on my back, or holding mine, showing interest in what I was looking at, and never bored.

"I'm sorry for taking so long. I'm low on some of these herbs and I can't grow them in my garden." I realized I had been in this booth for an inordinate amount of time, one of my favorite vendors, especially considering the size of my basket, which was considerable.

Edge glanced over at me, looking surprised. "Then you should be sure to get what you need. Didn't Kemera mention Alimissa for something you wanted to try?"

I stared at him. He wasn't bored or annoyed by how long I was taking? And he remembered a herb from the grimoire that I needed, one I had forgotten? I walked over to the basket where he was standing. "Yes, I think that was listed. Thank you for remembering."

"Make sure you get enough. That seemed like a spell you wanted to practice a few times for your healing."

I added a few extra bundles for good measure. Edge pointed out a few other herbs I had forgotten, and we left the vendor with a lot more than I had expected and headed for the car to deposit our treasure.

"Do you want to watch some of the dancing?" Edge asked.

I loved the dancing, but didn't expect him to want to stay. "You're not too tired?"

A sly smile crossed his face. "I'd love to dance with you, but first, let's get something to eat to fortify ourselves, then we'll see how it goes."

I flung my arms around him. "You're too good to be true, Edge. Are you just humoring me?"

He pulled me close. "Immy, I love spending time with you, but even more so, I love experiencing life. I've been in limbo for so long that this is a pleasure. And I get to spend it with you. I'm the luckiest man ever."

I blushed and tugged him back towards the food trucks. "I think I'm the luckiest woman. Let's eat and dance some more!"

We settled on a bench under a beautiful oak with our dinner to watch some of the dancing. Once we'd finished our meal, I sighed and leaned back against Edge, feeling content. "This has been the best festival ever."

His hands came around me and brushed along the sides of my breasts, ghosting over my nipples through my red silk blouse, a handy trick he had kept after the spell to make him corporeal. I shivered, my body heated in an instant, my pussy flooding with arousal.

"Edge, this isn't the time or place."

He placed a kiss to my ear. "No one is watching us, Immy, dear. Besides, I'm a ghost, remember? No one will see me if I don't want them to. I could just fade away and fuck you, and no one would be the wiser."

His hand drifted lower, under my clothes and stroked my clit. I jerked, a streak of fire racing through me. I arched under his touch, a low cry echoing around us.

He chuckled against my neck. "But you'll have to be quiet, Immy. Or everyone will know our little game." His finger slipped inside of me, seeking and finding my spot deep inside that made me cry out again. "Can you do that, sweetheart? Can you be quiet while I fuck you hard?"

He added a second finger, stretching my walls and stroking harder. Then he stopped. "Or should we wait until we get home? Much later."

I held my breath, my body throbbing, aching, stretching tight, needing that release.

"Fuck me, Edge," I whispered.