Epilogue

SWYN

The house feels different now. The weight that has been pressing down on it for years—maybe even centuries—is finally gone. The air is lighter, the walls seem to breathe easier, and the ancient magic that once crackled with tension is now a steady hum beneath my skin.

This place, my ancestral home, is no longer a tomb of old curses and hidden horrors. It's a sanctuary—a place where I can finally belong. Where we can all belong and be together.

I stand in the doorway, looking out at the garden as the stray dog we adopted in the storm chases a dragonfly. I smile, glad that Bolt has also found his place at last. With us.

Even if Ri threatens to skin him alive every morning because his favourite snack is socks.

It's late afternoon, and the sunlight filters through the trees in soft golden beams. The house is quiet behind me, the kind of quiet that I never thought I'd associate with peace.

It used to be a haunted silence, but now, it feels safe. It feels like home.

A soft rustling from inside pulls my attention, and I smile. Ri, Kel, Sol, and Oland are here with me, of course. After everything that's happened, they're okay.

Healing, thanks to Mavis and my Aether magic. The relief of that, of them surviving, is still sinking in. It's only been a couple of days since the final battle, and I'm still trying to accept that we made it.

That they made it.

I run my fingers over the newly replaced door frame, the wood warm from the sun. My heart feels full—full of love, full of gratitude, and full of possibilities. I've spent so long running from my past and my future, running from the curse, from the fear of losing everyone I love. But now it's all behind us.

"Vi, are you going to stand out there all day?" Kel's voice floats through the doorway, light and teasing. "We're waiting for you, you know."

I turn, leaning against the frame, and catch his grin. He's sitting at the long table in the dining room, legs kicked up on a chair, looking as relaxed as ever.

Ri is next to him, his arms crossed, an expression that's half-annoyed, half-amused, as he always is with Kel's antics. Sol is on the floor, fiddling with some old magical trinket we found hidden in one of the rooms.

And Oland is by the hearth, his eyes meeting mine with a softness that still catches me off guard.

The weight of their combined love is everything.

I smile at them, warmth swelling in my chest. This is my family. My mates. My future.

"I'll be there in a minute," I call back, stepping inside and letting the door swing shut behind me once Bolt joins me. The scent of food fills the air, something savoury and comforting.

A quiet celebration.

It's the first time in forever that we've been able to gather like this, not out of necessity or strategy, but simply to be . To exist together. And to celebrate Oland's birthday.

His brothers have been teasing him relentlessly for being an old git, but he can give as good as he gets and it's been wonderful to watch them bond and slowly get reacquainted.

As I walk over to them, I catch the look on Ri's face—guarded, as always, but softer now. More open. I take a seat next to him, feeling the solid presence of his arm brushing mine.

Sol glances up from his spot on the floor and gives me a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling in the light. Kel winks at me, ever the one to keep things light, but there's a quiet joy in his gaze.

"We did it," I say softly, more to myself than to them. But they all hear it. The weight of those words sinks into the space between us, and for a moment, the room is filled with a quiet, shared understanding.

"We did," Oland says, his voice low, but steady. He walks over to stand behind me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. His touch sends a warm current through me, and I lean into it, closing my eyes for a brief second.

There's no more distance between us, no more watcher and runner, no more barriers. Just us. Husband and wife. A wife that he willingly shares with his three once-estranged brothers.

Ri leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his sharp gaze flicking between us. "And what now?"

Now.

That word.

It holds so much meaning, doesn't it? What happens now, when the battle is won, and the curse is gone?

I smile, looking around the table, at all of them, my heart swelling with love for each of them in a way I never thought possible.

"Now," I say softly, "we live. We live and we love. Without fear or hesitation. I'm all in, guys."

Kel chuckles from the floor, shaking his head. "Sounds suspiciously simple for someone who's just mastered ancient Aether magic."

"Hey," I laugh, throwing a glance at him. "I think we've earned simple for a while, don't you? Besides, I'd say I'm far from having ‘mastered' it."

The room fills with quiet laughter, the tension finally easing out of all of us, piece by piece. It feels like breathing again for the first time after being underwater for too long.

Then, as if on cue, my phone buzzes on the table. I frown, reaching for it, wondering who could possibly be calling me right now. When I see the name flash across the screen, my heart skips.

Mum.

I hesitate for a moment, exchanging a glance with Oland, then swipe to answer.

"Hey, Mum," I say, my voice soft but steady. I've been meaning to call her, but I just wanted a few more days to process everything.

"Swyn!" Her voice bursts through the speaker, brimming with excitement. "Oh, sweetie, I knew it—I felt it. The curse is broken, isn't it?"

I blink, taken aback. "How did you?—?"

"Of course I know," she interrupts, laughing. "We've always been connected to it, you know. As soon as it happened, every single one of us felt it. But that's not why I'm calling. I have news. Big news. Huge. Massive. You'll never believe it!"

I raise an eyebrow, feeling a strange flutter of nerves. "What news?"

"You're going to be a big sister!" she says, her voice practically singing with joy.

I freeze, the words sinking in slowly, as if my brain can't quite process them at first. "Wait… what?"

"You heard me, sweetie! I'm pregnant!" she announces, the happiness in her voice contagious, even as my mind struggles to catch up.

There's a moment of silence around the table. I glance at the others, seeing the mix of surprise and amusement on their faces. Sol's grinning, Kel's laughing softly, and even Ri has raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"I… I'm going to be a big sister?" I echo, my voice faint.

"Yes!" she exclaims. "Isn't it wonderful? If we hadn't felt the curse break, this was all the confirmation we needed. In fact, we're all fertile!"

"W-what?"

"All of the Galdurs are pregnant! Even your grandmother! It's a miracle! It's everything! A new beginning, for all of us."

I can't help it. I laugh—a bright, disbelieving laugh that fills the room. "Mum, you really know how to drop a bomb, don't you?"

She laughs on the other end, and it's the sound of someone who's finally free, who's finally allowed to dream again. "You have no idea, sweetie. But I wanted you to know—you deserve some good news after everything you've been through."

"Yeah," I say, smiling even though she can't see it. "I think we all do."

We talk for a few more minutes, her excitement infectious, and when I finally hang up, the room is buzzing with a new kind of energy. I look around at the men, at my men, and the weight of the moment settles over me like a warm, comforting blanket.

We did it. The curse really is broken. And life—our life—can finally begin.

"I love you all. So much," I tell them with tears in my eyes. Their answering smiles are all I need. They love me too.

Later that night, as the stars twinkle above and the moon casts a soft glow over the garden, I find myself sitting outside with Mavis, two midnight margaritas in hand.

The cool night air is refreshing, a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from the laughter echoing inside the house. We've claimed this moment as ours, a small escape from the whirlwind of emotions swirling around us.

Mavis raises her glass, her eyes dancing with mischief. "To broken curses and new beginnings," she toasts, her voice low and teasing.

"To new beginnings," I echo, clinking my glass against hers, feeling a warmth in my heart. Mavis has always been a part of this journey, an integral thread woven through our lives.

She's the tribe I never had, the friend who stood by me through the darkest of times.

"Now that the curse is lifted, you've got to start thinking about settling down, you know," she says, her eyes narrowing playfully.

I roll my eyes, taking a sip of my drink. "Mavis, can't we just enjoy being us for a little while longer?"

She laughs, a bright sound that echoes in the quiet night. "You know I'm just teasing. But really, have you thought about it? Kids, a family—it's a lot of fun. The one type of fun I wish I'd had." She sighs wistfully before perking up.

"Mind you, I had my hands full with those three hooligans growing up, so it's probably best we didn't throw my own flesh and blood into the mix. A mini-me running around in platforms and leopard print would have just been horrifying!"

I laugh, then consider her words.

For a moment I watch the stars twinkle overhead, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

"Honestly? I never let myself consider it before. The curse loomed over us like a storm cloud, and I thought?—"

"You thought you wouldn't have a chance," she finishes for me, her tone softening. "But now, you do. You have all the time in the world."

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. "It's a possibility, I suppose. But right now, I just want to enjoy this—enjoy us." I gesture to the house, where the laughter of my mates fills the air, weaving through the warm summer night.

Mavis leans back, her smile genuine. "That's all anyone could ever ask for, Swyn. Just be happy."

And I am happy. For the first time in my life, I feel truly free. The weight of expectations, of curses, has vanished, and what remains is love—a love shared among four incredible men who have fought for me, who have chosen me time and time again.

As the night stretches on, I sip my drink and gaze at the stars, dreaming of the future, of possibilities yet to come. But for now, I'm content. I'm home. I'm loved.

And with the love and adoration of four great men, I'll never be cursed to be the fading witch ever again — whether we decide to have children in our future or not.