Epilogue

EPILOGUE

PAIGE

F ive years later

I stand at the entrance of the castle garden, watching the gnomes wrangle the kids. Three little dragons, all darting around with the boundless energy that only young ones have, weaving between trees and chasing after butterflies, or rather, attempting to torch them.

"Careful," I shout when I see a stream of fire shoot out from Aelia nearly catching a butterfly mid-flight. "Don't incinerate the wildlife!"

Ted waves his tiny arms at me as he races by on Kitty's back. "Don't worry, my lady! We've got it under control!"

Behind him, Zed is frantically trying to put out a small blaze Ignis, the oldest of the triplets, started in the bushes. Fred grabs a bucket of water, and Ned is running around with a butterfly net, trying to catch the butterflies before the children can. Or maybe he's trying to catch the children. Who knows anymore?

I press a hand to my forehead, sighing with a smile. "Under control, huh?"

Aries chuckles beside me. "We'll owe them big for this."

"Think they know what they've gotten themselves into?" I ask, watching as Ignis takes off in the air, his tiny wings flapping furiously. At four, he's still too small for proper flight, but that doesn't stop him from trying.

"They'll be fine," Aries says, grinning as he watches our brood terrorize the garden. "They've defended the library against all manner of threats, including a full-grown hydra. Three little dragons should be easy."

I snort. "Sometimes, I think I'd rather face the hydra."

Aries chuckles as Aelia lets out another burst of flame, this time singeing the gnomes' hats as she scurries past. Queen Dorthea watches it all from her vantage point on the veranda. Solaryn is perched on her hip with a cookie in each hand and chocolate icing covering her mouth.

Queen, indeed , I think, watching Dorthea dote on her grandchildren. It's still strange sometimes to watch the former queen of Astronia spend her days chasing her grandkids around rather than being chased by courtiers and advisors. But Dorthea seems thrilled with her retirement, even going so far as to take the triplets camping last weekend up in the foothills—a trip that resulted in her wearing pants for what was apparently the first time in her fae life.

Leo hasn't let her live it down.

Now, watching her and the gnomes wrangle the triplets is both a joy and a bit of a disaster waiting to happen. But I shove aside the worry, grabbing Aries' hand. "Come on, let's go before I change my mind."

We slip out of the garden, heading back inside where Leo and Elyra are already striding toward us hand-in-hand. The diamond on her finger gleams even from here. It's the largest, gaudiest thing I've ever seen, but she seems to love it almost as much as she does the mate who put it there.

"Ready?" I ask.

"Yes, sorry we're late," Elyra says. She runs her hand down her green dress as if to make sure it's unruffled.

"We got held up." Leo smirks at Aries, and my mate shakes his head.

"Right on time, actually," I say, turning to the smooth section of wall and calling my magic to me. "This spot works as good as any."

With a few mental nudges to the magic, a portal appears, swirling and whirling over the wall. The surface is murky, but it's not the inky darkness that once would have given us all pause. This is a navy blue that winks with what looks a lot like stars.

A window to another world.

My home away from home.

I lead the way, stepping through with Aries' hand still firmly twined with my own. He's close behind me. Even after all this time, he won't take any chances of being separated—not by magic or anything else.

On the other side, I inhale the scent of dust and paper.

A thousand memories wash over me, as they always do when the Athenaeum first hits my senses. Blossom and Mag have made changes, but the heart of this place remains unchanged. Maybe that's why I see my childhood everywhere I look. Where it once used to feel like a prison, the library now feels like a second home. One I haven't visited nearly as often as I'd like since the triplets were born.

"It's quiet," I say as we make our way through the stacks.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Aries asks.

Behind us, Leo and Elyra step through the portal.

I glance behind them to where the magic continues to swirl, beckoning.

"You think they're going to be okay?" I ask with one last glance at the castle before it disappears behind us.

"The kids or the gnomes?" Aries teases.

"Both," I say, laughing.

"They'll survive," he assures me, smiling. "Besides, we need this break."

"Aries is right," Leo says. "Tonight, you're off duty. Now, come on, and let me pour my queen a drink."

Leo pushes past us, Elyra in tow. She tosses me an apologetic look that has me smiling ruefully. She and I have become close these past few years. That's still strange sometimes too. Knowing one of my best friends—and now sister—used to be a hellhound who was apparently just cursed and trapped into the body of one by her evil stepmother. Thanks to that nightmare, Elyra's healing is ongoing, but there's a light in her eyes that grows brighter every week.

"You up for this?" Aries asks, and I realize I've been standing still too long.

Leo and Elyra disappear around the corner, and I look over at my mate, offering him a smile. "I am."

"Because we can go home right now," he offers. "Spend the evening alone…"

"As nice as that sounds, we're here," I say pointedly. "But let's plan for that ‘alone' portion when we get home."

He winks, and I tug him along toward the sound of voices.

We round the corner, and I see the others gathered around a sitting area that's been transformed since the years I called this place home. Much of the common areas have been, in fact, but the former break room is my favorite.

Twice the size of what it used to be, the space is basically a communal living area. The hard-backed chairs and scuffed tables are gone, replaced by a cozy couch and chairs scattered over a worn rug. The full-sized fridge remains though it's been updated to an industrial size with automatic dispensers and countertops lining both sides.

On the other side of the space, a long dining table with chairs enough for at least twelve has already been set and laden with food. In the far corner, a bar is stocked with drinks and snacks. Mag stands behind it, pouring and mixing cocktails.

"You made it," he calls, flashing us a handsome smile.

Aries releases my hand and makes his way to the bar, greeting Mag with some sort of special handshake.

"You're here!" Blossom grabs me in a hug, her high ponytail tickling my shoulder before she releases me.

"Why do you look so surprised?" I ask.

Blossom winces. "I actually had ten pieces on you not coming at all. I thought the little monsters would've dragged you back before you got two steps out the door."

"We considered it," I say, shaking my head. "The gnomes are probably regretting all their life choices right about now."

Mag snorts. "Those kids are nothing compared to what we've handled." His tone is gruff, but there's a twinkle in his stone eyes. "Though, from what I hear, Uncle Leo has started teaching them to fly early."

Blossom raises an eyebrow at him then me. "Already? I thought you were waiting for spring to start flight lessons."

"I was." I glare at Leo. "He had other plans."

Leo shrugs. "I'm helpless against their charms; what can I say?"

Aries returns to my side, offering me a drink. Mag follows, passing drinks to Leo and Elyra.

"The king allowed this?" Blossom asks, smirking at Aries.

He sips his drink, clearly amused. "They're eager. Can't blame them for that."

"And the fire-breathing?" Mag asks, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Have they set anything else on fire besides the garden?"

"Just the gnomes' hats," I admit.

"Ah, well, better than the whole castle, I suppose," Blossom says. "Next time you want a night out, Mag and I will babysit. At least, he can't be burnt to a crisp."

"It's a deal," I say with a laugh, but deep down, I'm so grateful that Blossom and Mag managed to synchronize the library's measurement of time to Astronia's so they can be more present for the triplets.

We all sit down at the long table, passing food and serving our own plates while we talk and laugh. The conversation flows easily, filled with lighthearted banter, shared memories, and stories of our adventures—both past and recent.

Mag shares a tale about remodeling a section of the library's lower level with only a gargoyle's brute strength, and Blossom adds her own version, full of dramatized flair and exaggerated details. Aries talks about the kids' progress in learning to fly (or lack thereof), and Leo chimes in with his grand ideas of teaching them the finer points of dragon combat. And for the first time in a long while, the weight of royal responsibilities feels far away.

Aries squeezes my hand again, and when I look at him, his smile is soft, content, like he's thinking the same thing I am: This is what we've been fighting for.

I glance around at our little group—Aries, Leo, Elyra, Blossom, and Mag, not just friends but family—all of us safe, happy, together. And I think: This is what the stories meant about a happily ever after. Against all odds, and with a little help from some pumpkin spice and accidental alchemy, I found my happy ending. Except it's not an ending at all, it's just the beginning.

Want more romantasy from Heather Hildenbrand?

Snag the free prequel A GLAMOUR OF SMOKE & SHADOW

and dive into the world of the Cursed Fae where enemies become lovers and bullies become the greatest villain the realm has ever known.

The Aine are an elite caste of warriors among the fae. A sacred dozen selected by the Fates to protect this world.

Today, I join my sisters and become one of them.

It's all I've ever wanted.

Then he shows up.

The Furiosities are demon-gods. The three kings of Hel, they call them. No mortal fae has ever laid eyes on them before today, though their cruelty and wrath are legendary.

The first two make me want to run in the other direction, but the moment I lay eyes on the third male, everything else falls away.

Dark, mesmerizing, and intense—he is more than forbidden to someone like me. He is impossible.

Yet, when he speaks, I know I will do anything he asks. Even break my most sacred vow.

My weapons and magic might belong to my people, but my body and heart are owned by another—and there's no telling how the demon-god might bend or break both in the end.

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