Epilogue

Two moon cycles later…

"Lorik," I chided, struggling to conceal my smile when his hands squeezed my backside. "You're being very distracting."

"You are distracting, little witch," he murmured, pressing his hips against me, his lips brushing against my ear. I could feel the outline of his cock against his loose trews, hard and warm. And I let out a breathy moan when he nibbled on the column of my throat, a frustrated groan meeting my ears.

He squeezed my backside again.

"Later," he promised.

"Later," I agreed, stepping away, a little more flushed than I'd been before. "Just a few more riverberries. And maybe some willowroot moss if we can find it."

"I haven't seen any willowroot lately," Lorik commented, watching me as I reached down to pluck a few plump berries off the vines growing close to the river bank. "Last I saw any was to the north, near the Massadians. I'll snag some for you if I ever see it again."

"Thank you," I commented, reaching out to run my hand down his arm. Warm, hard, and strong beneath my fingertips. A flash of desire speared through me, thinking of our lovemaking that very morning—the driving pound of his hips, his wings giving him momentum, getting him as deep as possible.

I bit my lip.

"Ahh," Lorik murmured, his eyes narrowing on something in the distance. He began walking, and I trailed behind him after snagging a few more riverberries for the scones I would make tomorrow morning.

"What do you see?"

Lorik, I'd discovered, had much better vision, especially in the Black Veil. Much better senses overall truthfully. He could hear a critter half a mile away scurrying up the trunk of a tree, smell the riverberries when they ripened from my cottage, and see a Shade in the darkness where I could not.

"Star grass. I'll get some for Peek," he replied.

"Still trying to bribe him?" I teased, wiping my stained fingers on the thick cloth I'd brought with me.

"One day, he will adore me," Lorik vowed, flashing me a mischievous grin. "Didn't you see him last night? He brushed up against my leg. On purpose."

"Yes, I did," I replied, an amused smile tugging on my lips at the excitement I heard in his tone.

Peek was beginning to warm to Lorik's presence, now that it was nearly constant in the cottage. But my braydus had a mean streak, I'd begun to learn. Once, Lorik had brought him a braised Massadian bird leg from the market, not knowing that Peek detested Massadian birds. As punishment, Peek hadn't allowed Lorik past his barrier around the cottage. Lorik had needed to call out for me, and I'd had to pull him through.

Though I'd scolded Peek afterward—and though it had never happened since—I always got the sense that Peek had been infinitely pleased with himself, and Lorik had grumbled about it for days.

But…now there seemed to be a truce between them. Peek especially liked Lorik's gifts for him, though Lorik was always sure to ask me if Peek would like them first.

The patch of star grass was a bright blue, shimmering in the darkness that was beginning to stretch through the Black Veil, slowly like a thick fog. I never worried being out here so late. Not with Lorik. I enjoyed the moonlight, the quiet. It relaxed me. And if a branch snapped in the distance or I heard the movement of slow, shuffling feet, I knew to trust in my male's instincts. I knew to trust that he would protect me if we ever encountered something more dangerous.

Just when Lorik was reaching down, his breath inhaled sharply, and a small stab of disappointment went through my belly.

"So soon?" I asked, looking at his wrist when he began to pluck the star grass in solid clumps from the damp earth. There I saw the summons, like opal-colored ink on his skin. He'd just returned from the Below three days before.

"It can wait until tomorrow," he promised me, checking the mark.

"Are you sure?" I asked, biting my lip.

"We discussed it, yes?" Lorik said, giving me a small smile when he stood, fresh star grass clamped in his palm. He deposited them in the basket hanging from my arm and stole a quick kiss, his arm threading around my waist.

I nodded, ease slowly loosening my shoulders.

He meant the Below King when he said we.

Shortly after we'd made the decision to give us a chance, together, Lorik had told me that he would leave the Below to be with me.

And though the gesture had nearly brought me to tears, it had made me realize that I didn't want him to do that. Not for me. The Below was his home…what he loved—where his family, his duty lay. It would be more difficult, yes. Lorik would be called away at odd hours of the day and night, depending on the severity and urgency of the summons. Most times, I wouldn't know when I would see him next.

But we'd made adjustments. He sent me messages through magicked birds that would disappear in a puff of silver smoke when they delivered his letters. Letters of when he would be back, assuring me that he was safe, that he loved me, that he couldn't wait until I was in his arms once more—all written in midnight-blue ink with his certain, steady hand.

He'd spoken with the Below King, who didn't want to lose Lorik as his Hunter. And so, agreements had been made between them. Smaller scouting duties, both in the Below and Above worlds, would be passed to others. Lorik would only be called to the Below for council meetings, trials, and more important matters that the Below King didn't trust others to handle.

And so, Lorik was free to live in both the Below and the Above.

Though there was a pressing thought that was becoming louder and louder in my mind as the days dragged on without him.

"Lorik."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think…" I trailed off, watching him straighten to regard me. I gave him a nervous smile. "Do you think that I would be welcome in the Below? One day?" I added quickly.

Lorik studied me, and then his eyes glowed brighter.

Then he leaned forward, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to my lips. And he stayed there. His tongue stroked mine, his hand wrapped around my waist, holding me to him. It was a warm embrace. Loving. He made me feel so incredibly safe and wanted.

"Yes," he murmured finally. "You would be most welcome, Marion."

"Really?" I asked.

"My sister has been asking to meet you."

My stomach zinged with sudden nerves…but also delight. "Really?"

Lorik smiled. His thumb brushed my cheek. "But it's not an easy decision—I know that."

"But like with everything we do," I said softly, "we can figure it out. As long as I'm with you and you're with me, that's all that matters, right?"

Lorik grinned. And it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Even more than my glowflies at midnight in the garden. Even more than a pretty moonrise or the lakelight leaves when they turned color during the harvest season.

"I love you so much, little witch," he rasped.

I smiled back. Those words never failed to bring a flurry of wonderment to my chest.

"I love you too," I whispered, pressing my lips to his, my basket full from our foraging in the Black Veil.

"Let's head back," he suggested, taking my hand in his. "It's getting late."

But on our return to the cottage, as darkness fell and the glow of the moon was shrouded behind clouds…Lorik stilled on the path, his eyes trained on something in the distance, to the west.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," he said, brow furrowed. "Follow close."

We trekked toward whatever it was that Lorik had spied in the forest, and the closer we came, the more light I saw. Blue light, slightly silver, emanating from a hollowed-out circle in the trunk of a tree, high above our heads.

I gasped when I spied the familiar crawling vines looping and swirling their way up the trunk.

"Is that…?" Lorik trailed off, his voice hushed.

"Yes," I breathed, turning to face him wide-eyed. I laughed in disbelief. "My gods."

Shadevines, with their thick, flat, velvety leaves, wound up the tree like a welcome embrace. And in the hollow of the trunk, I watched a shadevine glowfly dart out, landing on a nearby leaf. Then another. Another.

A shadevine hive in the Black Veil.

Lorik squeezed my hand, his palm warm and strong.

And I smiled.