Epilogue

“Woman, will you sit down?” Cassian said as he came out the front door, a sour expression on his face. Ever since learning I was pregnant with a little ice dragon he’d been hovering and ridiculously over-bearing. I couldn’t blame him though because I actually found it rather endearing. Even when I was just trying to stretch my legs because all I’d been doing all day was sitting.

We’d officially taken over the Base as our home after the Battle of the Blood Moon, relocating anyone who wasn’t part of my unit to somewhere else. Saskia had moved to Strigavallis with Rae to help the new Witch Queen find her feet and had never left. They”d become thick as thieves over the recent years and I swear, those two on a night out were ruthless, but I loved them.

A gurgle of laughter reached my ears and a little mop of brown curls shot past me. Alaric was the spitting image of his father, with big brown eyes and a smile as big as his heart. He was also a complete rogue and currently using his elemental magic to shoot water at Alec. Alec was taking it all in his stride, loving being able to embrace his own inner child. We’d grown closer over the last few years and, through a lot of talking and with a lot of patience, I was lucky to call him mine as well.

Cassian ran across the lawn. “Sit down, before I make you sit down.”

“I hope you’re not threatening her,” Torsten said, popping out of the shadows and making him jump. I sniggered at him. That never got old.

“Fuck off,” Cassian growled. “She needs rest. Infant ice dragons are super rare, and I want to make sure Lori takes care of herself. You’ve seen the side effects.”

And boy were there some side effects with this little nipper. With Alaric, the worst I’d had to deal with was heartburn. With this one, I was breathing ice, and randomly erupting in black midnight scales. It was exhausting. But there was only three more months to go until she was here, and I could have my body back.

Cassian and Torsten squared off with each other and Lucifer took the opportunity to rescue me.

“Come on,” he said, “let’s find a moment of peace.”

Lucifer still had his duties in the Underworld, but he’d started to learn the art of delegation and Iver needed a place to hide and keep himself busy. It hadn’t really gone to plan with Iveri. They were sort of on again, off again and I think she was too scared to commit because she knew she would pass on at some point, where as Iver was immortal. I was still convinced that they’d work it out eventually. I was technically Queen of the Underworld, so I”d rotate my time between Hell and topside, but with the pregnancy Lucifer had told me to focus on that, and he”d handle the rest until I was ready to return.

The Devil kissed me softly. It had been a few days since I’d seen him.

“How are you?” he asked, a hand stroking the curve of my belly.

“I’m good.” We walked to the garden I had built in memory of Fenris. Some days were harder than others, but as time went on, grief became an easier partner to bear.

It was a beautiful spot and I’d made sure to include all the elements in the garden. A fire pit that was never extinguished, a pond full of life, earth that fed the trees and chimes to hear the wind. I loved this place, as did the others, and some days it felt like I could feel him sitting here with me. I twisted the ring he”d given me around my finger, thinking about him and how much I missed him. I”d refused to become Arch Mage. When I took the ring on that awful day, I”d technically become the Arch Mage, but with everything else going on, the hunting of the Fallen Angels, duties in the Underworld and my pregnancy with Alaric, it wasn”t right. I asked Edwin to take my place. He”d kicked and screamed about it, but he was a good man and a brilliant ruler. Far better than I would ever have been.

Jasper was sat on the bench under the oak tree, his eyes closed, and head tipped back taking in the warmth of the sun. I sat next to him, and Lucifer joined at my other side.

Jasper wrapped his hand around mine, intertwining our fingers and I rested my head on Lucifer’s shoulder, breathing in the peace of the place. It didn’t last long, not when our family was so huge. Cassian and Torsten looked like they’d gotten over their argument since they came in laughing, and Alec carried Alaric on his hip, smiling wide, happy and carefree.

Blessed. That’s what I was. Completely and utterly blessed.

The End.