Epilogue

It’d been six weeks since Celeste had left the estate. Every day she’d gone down to sit at her dad’s grave to talk to him. She knew he wasn’t in there, but she talked to him anyway. She told him about Tyr and Herm and Vid and Phes. She told him about how Yegret was getting used to her. How she’d planted a bunch of flowers around his grave. How being in the Underworld, she’d found more peace than her entire life on Earth. But mostly, she talked to him about the classes she’d started taking online, and the graphic novel she was writing.

She loved being so close to him, even though he was gone. For years, she had wondered where he went when he wasn’t with her, and now, to know he would be with her always, brought her more comfort than she thought it would.

The sky had begun to grow dark when Tyr joined her on the grass. He kissed her and smiled, but his eyes remained uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

Tyr shook his head. “Nothing is wrong, Fylgja. I just think it’s time.”

“Time for what?”

He blew out a breath. “Time for you to get out of the estate.”

Her gut clenched. She didn’t know what kept her from leaving; she just knew that she hadn’t felt like it.

“Tyr, I don’t know…”

“Hear me out. It’ll only be for an hour, maybe. Nothing too long, and if you aren’t comfortable, we can come right back.”

“Where?”

He licked his lips. “To Odin’s place. It’s family dinner, and I need you to come with me.”

“You need me to, or you want me to?”

He grabbed her hand. “I need you to.”

She stared at him for a moment and realized how nervous he was. “You’re going to do it?”

He nodded. “It’s time. But I don’t know if I can do it without you.”

She chuckled. “The God of War needs me to hold his hand while he does something hard?”

“Something like that.”

He’d been so attentive the past two months. Never pushing or prying, just being there for her, whatever she needed. And he’d asked for nothing in return.

“Okay,” she said.

His face lit up. “Seriously?”

She nodded. “Seriously.”

Tyr had never been so nervous in his entire life. Everything he’d been through. Everything he’d done. Every battle. Every fight. Every everything. And going into a room full of people he’d known his entire life and saying two little words terrified him more than he could even vocalize.

“Wow,” said Celeste as they walked through Odin’s bar, “This place is… not what I’d imagined.”

Tyr noticed her staring at the half-naked girls up on the stage and shielded her eyes.

“Can I do that?” She smiled up at him.

Tyr’s vision went red.

She burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. Totally kidding. This body is only for you, Lover.” She patted his chest.

He pulled her closer and kissed her. “It better be.”

Tyr glanced around, and stared down several men who checked out Celeste. A pulse of anger washed through him, and one guy bumped into another, and the two started yelling.

Celeste pulled Tyr’s face to hers. “Easy. Always remember, I go home with you. I’ll always go home with you.”

He nodded, but her words did little to soothe his jealousy.

“Come on, where are we going?”

Tyr nodded but kept his mouth shut as they headed to the next room and then down the hall leading to Odin’s house, attached to the back of the club.

They walked to the ancient wooden door carved with the Norse tree of life. Yggdrasil . He stopped and stared at it. He’d seen it a million times, and still, it gave him a sense of longing. He wasn’t quite sure what for, but he admired the beauty all the same.

A minute passed.

“We can go home if you want,” Celeste offered.

She appeared as nervous as he felt.

No! He was doing this. Not just for him but for Celeste as well. She needed to get out of the estate, too. Plus, he wanted her to meet the family. Everyone else who had found their one had brought them to family dinner, some before they’d even been together for certain. Herm had started teasing him that he was ashamed of Celeste. Which had gotten Herm a bloodied nose.

Celeste needed this. She needed a family, not just him, Herm, and Vid.

Celeste squeezed his hand. “Seriously, we can go home.”

“No. It’s been too long already. I should have done this centuries ago.”

“Are you sure?”

He gave her a tight smile. “I am.”

“Okay.” She lifted her hand and knocked.

Tyr cocked an eyebrow.

She shrugged.

The door opened, and Herm grinned. “You actually showed. I thought you were going to hide her away forever.”

“Actually, I didn’t want to leave,” said Celeste. “I haven’t been ready to go anywhere.”

Herm’s eyes widened. “Oh. Well… uh…”

“Move,” Tyr said.

Herm scratched his head and stepped out of the way before heading across the room to the dining table.

“Do you have magic powers I don’t know about?” Tyr asked.

Celeste looked at him. “Why?”

“Because Herm has never shut up that fast in my life.”

Celeste smiled.

The spacious room was like the front of an apartment. Heimdall sat on an ample leather sectional, surveying the scene, an ale in his hand. He noticed them and nodded. Tyr returned his nod.

Thor and his wife stood in the kitchen preparing food and laughing with Frigg and Meili. Baldur, Vali, Herm, and Vid sat at the table, playing cards and drinking.

Tyr looked past the sectional to a wall of dark French doors that stood open and led to an atrium. Odin took up his normal place, tending to a fire and cooking in the middle of the grassy area.

On the lawn around him, Loki and Val lounged as their daughter, Freyette, toddled between them and then over to where Fenrir held a small pink bundle. Grace sat next to him, holding two bundles of her own. Their triplets.

Tyr glanced around the group, his stomach in knots. Celeste squeezed his hand.

“Tyr’s here,” Heimdall called, loud enough for everyone to turn.

Tyr glared at him, and Heimdall raised his ale and then sipped from it.

Damn, Heimdall.

Frigg hurried over, a radiant smile on her face. “Tyr, I’m so glad you made it. We’ve missed you.”

From anyone else, the sentiment would have sounded like a lie, but Frigg never lied. And of anyone, she loved her family most.

She hugged him and then looked at Celeste. “You must be Celeste. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so glad you came, too.”

“You’ve heard about me?”

She nodded. “Your father used to come in every few months for a meal and a drink. He always talked about you. And, Herm hasn’t stopped talking about you and Tyr.”

Tyr rolled his eyes. Of course. Herm never could keep his mouth shut. But being the messenger to the gods, Tyr supposed it was written into Herm’s DNA.

“Oh, Tyr, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a friend to join us from now on. I know he’s your friend, and we don’t know him, but I felt like I needed to.”

Tyr’s eyebrows drew together. “A friend?”

She nodded, and a loud knock sounded at the door. Frigg smiled and walked to it, opening it.

A smile spread across Tyr’s face as the broad man ducked in the doorway and glanced around nervously.

“Hephaestus, you got my invite. I’m so glad,” said Frigg. “Thank you for joining us.”

“Uh… thank you for the invitation, Lady Frigg. I am truly honored.”

“Frigg,” she replied. “Just Frigg.”

Poor Phes seemed as nervous as Tyr felt. He’d put on a button-down, black shirt and had slicked his hair back. It even looked like he’d brushed and waxed his beard.

Frigg took his arm and led him to where Tyr stood.

The two shook hands, and then, as Phes went to shake Celeste’s hand, she pushed his hand out of the way and hugged his hard middle. Phes hugged her back as his cheeks reddened.

“I’m so glad there’s someone else here who is as new at this as I am,” said Celeste.

Phes chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time I was invited to some kind of family gathering.”

Frigg patted his arm. “You are welcome with us any time.”

Phes smiled, and Tyr swore he saw tears in Phes’ eyes.

“Come on,” said Tyr. “Let’s get a drink.”

Phes sniffled and nodded. Together, the group walked to the bar, and Frigg poured them each an ale.

For a minute, no one spoke as they each tried to calm themselves.

“Why do I feel like the girl at prom without a date?” Celeste asked.

Tyr and Phes laughed.

“Does kind of feel like we are the odd ones out,” said Phes.

Tyr took a deep breath. No. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Celeste was his mate. His life. He shouldn’t let her feel that way.

Tyr downed his drink and set the mug on the counter. “Come on.”

He grabbed Celeste’s hand and motioned for Phes to follow them. Together, the three walked out the doors to the atrium and onto the grass. Loki turned and nodded, and then Fenrir looked over his shoulder as well.

“Loki, Val.” Tyr nodded to them and then to Fenrir. “Fen.”

“Tyr.” Fenrir’s eyes remained wary, but at the same time, they’d softened since Tyr had last seen him. His demeanor had, too. His gaze no longer shot around the room, assessing everyone and looking for a way out like a trapped animal. He’d found a sense of peace. A sense of calm. The thought both made Tyr happy and jealous.

“Who’s this?” asked Grace.

“This is my mate, Celeste. Oh, and Hephaestus.”

Phes held up his hands. “I am not his mate.”

Everyone laughed.

Fenrir stood and walked to Tyr. “This is my daughter, Sygni.”

The expression in Fenrir’s eyes went straight to Tyr’s heart. The love and total adoration were more than apparent, and soon, Tyr found his throat so tight he couldn’t swallow. After everything that had happened, everything Fenrir had been through, he had found his Fylgja . And his family.

Fenrir looked up at him. “Would you like to hold her?”

Tyr’s mouth opened and then closed.

Go on. Hold her.

Celeste beamed up at him.

Go on.

Tyr looked at Fenrir again. “Fen, I?—”

“Stop,” Fenrir cut him off. “I know what you’re going to say. And I forgive you. To be honest, in a way, I owe you and Odin my gratitude.”

“What?”

“If it hadn’t been for what happened to me, I may never have gotten Grace. And now, my three pups.”

“But it doesn’t excuse what I did.”

“Maybe not to you, but it’s enough for me.” Fenrir smiled. Truly smiled.

Tyr had no words. Fenrir had changed. Grace had done that for him, and there would never be a way he could repay her for fixing what Tyr had broken in Fenrir.

“Are you two gonna hug now or punch each other or something?” Celeste asked.

They both chuckled.

“I think we’re good,” replied Tyr. “But just so you know, Fen, I am truly sorry for what happened to you. And I’ll spend as long as it takes to re-earn your friendship and your trust.”

Fen nodded and smiled at his baby girl before looking at Tyr again. “So, do you want to hold her? She doesn’t squirm half as much as her brothers.”

Tyr chest squeezed. Fen was willing to let him hold his daughter? He fought to keep his throat from choking up. “I’ve… uh… never held a baby.”

Fenrir chuckled. “The first time I held Freyette, I thought I would break her. But don’t worry. You won’t.”

Tyr held out his arms, and Fenrir placed Sygni in them. She weighed as much as a loaf of bread and was just as squishy.

She yawned and blinked up at Tyr with deep, soulful eyes.

“How old is she?”

“Four weeks. But she seems much older, doesn’t she?” said Fenrir.

Tyr nodded. “Yeah, it’s like she is already thinking a million things about me.”

“She’s always like that.” Fenrir chuckled. “An old soul.”

Tyr gazed down at her tiny pink face and dark black curls. She was so delicate. So soft. Something in his heart squeezed, and suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to hold a child of his own.

Hephaestus walked up behind them and put an arm over both Tyr and Celeste’s shoulders.

“So,” said Phes, “When are you two gonna start a family?”

Celeste smiled.

Thanks for reading!