Three months later…

Under a canopy of stars, Silas joined hands with Meredith, the heat of the bonfire toasting the chill from the evening air. Sparks rose between the trees and blended with the stars above. It was a beautiful late-summer evening, every star visible in the clear night sky.

“I’ve never been to a celestial fae funeral before,” Meredith said.

“Neither have I.” Silas lifted their coupled hands and kissed the back of hers. “It’s a privilege to be invited. The celestials are secretive about their traditions.”

“Isn’t it strange how long they waited? It’s been months since Soleil died.”

“You didn’t see what happened to her. There was nothing left to bury. According to Grateful, the fae are heavily religious about astrology. Tonight is the perfect time for this ritual. Don’t ask me to explain why. Something about the alignment of the stars. That part went over my head.”

“Where is Grateful?”

“She’s around. She’s making sure the area is secure and nothing disturbs this ritual. She told me she felt like it was the least she could do.”

“Don’t look now, but there’s someone coming our way, and her eyes are on you.” Meredith gestured with her chin.

Dressed only in a cascade of glistening stars, Astrial approached them, reaching for Silas. He took her trembling hands and greeted her warmly. She’d been crying, and Silas fought the urge to wipe her glistening tears away.

“Thank you for coming, Silas. I know for a fact that Soleil loved you deeply.”

“I loved her too,” he said. It was awkward to say the words in front of Meredith. The way he’d loved Soleil was different from the way he loved Meredith, but it wasn’t the time or the place to explain that now. Still, he noticed Meredith’s eyes dart toward the fire.

Astrial lightly touched her elbow. “Don’t fret.”

“Hmm?” Meredith’s eyes widened.

“Soleil wanted Silas to be happy. She was polyamorous and would never have kept him from you even if she was still alive.”

“Oh, uh,” she mumbled, “um, thank you.”

Astrial bowed deeply. “I must go now. The ceremony is about to begin.”

“That was weird,” Meredith said, once she was gone.

Silas snorted. “Different strokes for different folks.”

“Just so we’re clear, I’m the monogamous type. I definitely will not be okay with you taking other lovers.” She gave him a nervous grin.

He hooked a finger beneath her chin and pressed his lips to hers. “Good. I feel the same way.”

They followed the crowd of guests to a long line of people surrounding the fire. Silas noticed a familiar face on the other side of the flames, Ryker, alone and despondent, his dark, upturned eyes reflecting the light. Or maybe that burn came from within. Behind the incubus, the vampire, Julius, stood on the brink of the woods, hands folded respectfully. The vampire looked less despairing. In fact, his lips held a whisper of a smile as if he was the keeper of a tightly held secret.

The celestial fae, all women, crowded around a carved wooden box. When they opened it, Silas’s exhale shook with emotion. Inside, was what was left of Soleil—a dense, black orb cushioned on purple silk. The fae raised the box above their heads and began to sing.

The haunting tune was in a language Silas didn’t know, but the melody brimmed with love and loss. The group of fae proceeded solemnly toward the fire.

A tall black woman, dressed in rings of purple crystals that reminded Silas of the planet Saturn, addressed the crowd. “We come here to celebrate this revolution of our sister Soleil. The universe is a vast and unfathomable place. We are drawn to each other by orbit, we hold to each other by gravity, and we stay in each other’s galaxy by fate. Soleil was our sun, a bringer of light and warmth and pleasure. We bring her now to the fire of our ancestors, fire born of stardust from the far-off place of our origin. Be free, Soleil. May your light be renewed and shine for us always.”

Astrial, crying beads of light that twinkled like tiny stars on her cheeks, accepted the box from the other fae and tossed it into the flames. A plume of purple embers sailed toward the stars. Silas squeezed Meredith’s hand tighter as the fire consumed the box and the dark orb within. Soleil’s remains unraveled like a tightly wrapped ball of rubber bands, a giant purple atom rotating deep within the pyre. Flames turned to sparks, which in turn, transformed to hot embers. And then, abruptly, the fire burnt itself out. All that was left was a heap of hot coals and charred logs.

“By the goddess,” Meredith whispered. “Look!”

Silas narrowed his eyes on the spot where Meredith discretely pointed, but couldn’t see anything. Astrial stepped forward and removed one of the larger pieces of scorched wood. He gasped in disbelief. Under it was a small foot, the size of a human in the fourth or fifth year of life. Its skin was ash colored but alive, kicking forward with a jerky movement.

The crowd closed in, the celestials clearing off more of the firewood. “No, it couldn’t be,” he whispered.

“You didn’t know?” Julius appeared beside him. “Celestial fae are made of stardust. Energy. They don’t reproduce like shifters or humans. Not even like vampires.”

A hand appeared in the ash, and then Astrial helped a little girl step out of the steaming wood, her bright blond hair seeming to glow in the darkness. Her knees wobbled as she stepped forward, delicate and naked, two gossamer wings unraveling from her back.

Another fae, this one with bright red skin and a dress that looked like white fog, approached the girl. “I name this child Luna and claim her as my own.”

“Do any oppose this union?” the black woman asked.

No one said a word.

“Then I pronounce you mother and child. Take your daughter home.”

“Th… that’s her?” Silas asked Julius.

“Reincarnated.” Julius rested his hands inside his pockets. “Someday she may remember you, if only as a distant dream.”

“Wow,” Meredith whispered.

“Indeed.” Julius flashed her a little fang. “A vampire’s end is far from as pretty or as functional. It’s why we guard our lives above all else.”

“That explains some things,” Silas said. He scratched behind his ear. “Why are you here, Julius?”

“To pay my respects.”

“And?”

Julius’s face turned hard and cold as marble. “I can see my attempts at civility are lost on you.” He tipped his head toward Meredith. “It’s been a sincere pleasure. Good night.” In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

“I probably could have handled that better,” Silas said. “Not used to a vampire being cordial.”

“You knew him?” Meredith asked.

“His name is Julius.” Silas was about to explain how he knew Julius when Ryker appeared in front of him.

“Congratulations on ending the dragon fae and Alex. It’s a strong man who can face Panaal and remain among the living,” the demon said.

“Thanks, Ryker,” Silas said. The guy still made his skin crawl.

“What became of the book?”

“It’s gone, for good. Swallowed into the depths of hell,” Silas said. “Why? Are you hoping to dig it up?”

Ryker’s eyes flashed red. “The Book of Flesh and Bone is one relic I’m pleased to hear was destroyed.”

“You didn’t want to add that one to your collection?” Silas asked.

“Actually, I was wondering if you could give Jason a message for me.”

“Sure. What?”

“I’m closing Lost Things until I can find a place to relocate.”

Silas frowned. “Business not what you thought it would be?”

“My reasons aren’t financial. It’s time for me to make a new start.” The demon shifted uneasily in the light of the fire.

“I’ll let Jason know.”

Ryker bowed and disappeared into the woods. The fire had completely burned out and a cool breeze coursed through the crowd. A line of people had formed to shake the new mother’s hand. Others had drifted off to make their way home.

“Looks like everyone’s disbanding,” Meredith said.

“I know it’s late, but there’s somewhere I want to take you.”

“Other than home and to bed?”

Silas grinned mischievously. “Oh, I’ll get to that. But first, I thought we could get something to eat.”

“Perfect. I’m starving.” She hooked her arm within his, and he led her to the car.

* * *

“Rivergate Manor.” Meredith eyed the sprawling front of the estate, thinking it hadn’t changed much since she’d last been there with her father. With its Italian marble floor and airy veranda, the mansion looked like it was plucked from a postcard of Venice. “I was expecting Valentine’s. Does this manor even have a restaurant?”

Silas flashed a rogue grin. “Not usually, but I pulled in a special favor. Trust me.”

“Special favors? In the middle of the night?”

“Well, I am special… and royal. Have I mentioned I’m the alpha?”

She laughed. “Maybe. I keep forgetting.”

He took her arm and led her inside. “This visit is about more than dinner. I thought it was time we discussed your apprehension regarding our shifting grounds. Now that we’ve been together for some time, I think it’s important for you to be reintroduced to pack royalty, begin coming to pack functions again. What do you think? Or do you plan to move back to the Catskills after your mom is released?”

Her eyes flicked to the floor and back up to meet his. “I love you, Silas. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good.” He reached out and briefly touched her face. “I love you too.”

“So, you don’t mind having a partner long-term?” she asked, poking him in the side.

His eyes wrinkled slightly at the edges. “I don’t mind. Come on.”

He led her across the veranda and through the ballroom to a set of glass doors that opened onto the main garden. Red hibiscus the size of dinner plates welcomed them. Roses in a spectrum of cherry hues rivaled white hydrangeas for her attention, blooming below the twisted branches of trees. There were more varieties of plants and flowers here than she could name.

“This is new!” The last time she was here with her father, the garden was a simple square of bushes and evergreens.

“Cameron planted this last year. Smell.”

She inhaled deeply. “Gorgeous.”

“So that our wolves always know which way is home.”

She looked up at the stars just as Silas flipped a switch on the side of the building and strings of large white lights glowed to life overhead. A table for two was dressed and waiting at the center of the garden.

“What is this, Silas?” she asked. A waiter in a black-and-white tuxedo stepped out of the north entrance to fill two champagne glasses.

“Dinner. I thought we established that.”

“Fancy dinner. I feel underdressed.” The jeans and dressy black sweater she’d worn to the outdoor funeral suddenly seemed inappropriate.

“You’re dressed perfectly. Wait till you see what’s on the menu.” He approached the table and lifted the dome.

Meredith chuckled. “Chicken.”

“Nothing says home like a whole roasted chicken.” Silas winked.

“The same as our first dinner together. How sweet!” She laughed and accepted the tall crystal flute of bubbly he handed her.

“I wanted you to feel at home here.”

“So that’s what this about? The garden, the champagne. You want me to start participating in pack functions.”

His face fell. “You caught me.” He took a long swig and looked around the garden. “Do you think you could ever think of Rivergate as home? I mean, not that you’d ever have to live here. I don’t. But my position in the pack means I have responsibilities.”

She could tell this was important to him. Rivergate was an integral part of his life, a sanctuary for the pack, which would feel like home to an alpha. Understandably, he wanted to know that she accepted this part of his life. She wouldn’t disappoint him.

“I can and I will. I know this place is significant to you, Silas. I’ll start shifting here. I’ll get to know the other members of the council. I’ll attend all the society events if you want me to. I’m ready.”

“Good. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”

She nodded. “I think after all that’s happened, we deserve something more. If you want to take this to the next level, I’m ready.” She gave a soft laugh and had to look away from the intensity of his gaze. She stared up at the crescent moon and thought about the lunar cycle, the push and pull of gravity. It wasn’t unlike love, changing by the day yet remaining constant over the years. She couldn’t expect to be with Silas forever. He was alpha after all, with all the expectations and responsibilities that came with the title. But she’d take what she could get.

“Meredith?”

She turned at his voice to find him on his knee next to the table. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

He pulled a small box from his pocket and cracked it open. An obscenely large diamond shone from within.

“Damn, the shine off that thing could blind a small child,” she rambled. Her brain flip-flopped in her skull, trying to digest what she was seeing. She looked at him and shook her head slightly. “I don’t understand. What is this?”

He removed the ring from the box and took her hand. “Meredith, you’ve been my partner at work. Now, will you be my partner for life?”

She looked from his face to the ring and back again. Was he asking her what she thought he was asking her? Was he serious? “But… but I’m not a purebred werewolf. You’re the alpha.”

“An alpha who makes his own rules.”

“Bu-but you’re expected to propagate Fireborn pack. You’re royalty.” She said the last in a stage whisper as if she was letting him in on a secret.

“Are you against having children?”

“No!” she said. “I’d be honored to have your children.”

“Then?” He positioned the ring near her finger.

“You want me to marry you and help you rule Fireborn pack,” she said dumbly.

“That’s what this is, a proposal,” he said, gesturing toward his knee. “Although I’m beginning to think there is more to the asking than meets the eye. It would be great if you could give me an answer. These stones aren’t as comfortable as they look.”

“Oh… oh dear.” She tugged on his shoulders, but instead of helping him up, she somehow ended up on her knees in front of him.

He cupped her face in one hand. “Meredith, I can’t do this alone anymore. When I became alpha, it wasn’t by choice. I wasn’t ready. Every day I’ve tried to live up to the expectations of this role. But tonight is not about expectations. It’s about joy. I’ve never laughed harder or smiled longer than I have since I met you. You helped me find my joy again. And it’s about love. I love you, and leading this pack doesn’t make sense anymore without you. As I see it, I need to merge two worlds. Either I bring you into this world as my queen, or I leave the pack for good. Because I can’t live without you anymore. I need help. I need you. You’re home to me now.”

She placed her hands on his chest, searching his expression for any hint of hesitancy. There was none.

“Yes, Silas. Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your partner, and I’ll be the best damn alpha’s wife this pack has ever seen.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and swept her from the stones, swinging her in circles in the center of the garden. Meredith looked at the stars above and the crescent moon that resembled her tattoo. She thought of her father. She’d come to Carlton City to avenge his death, and she’d thought she and Silas had attained their goal the moment he’d slain Alex. But maybe there was more to the story.

As Silas’s mouth crashed down on hers to seal their engagement with a kiss, the stars above seemed to bless their impending union. And she knew to the depths of her soul, this was her future. Their lives would go on. And they’d be happy. Insanely and unequivocally happy. They’d have love and friendship and family.

Perhaps that, she thought, was their ultimate vengeance.