Epilogue
“Do you think it will work?” Sam is the only one that dares ask the question out loud. His green eyes are a mixture of excitement and fear. Damien can’t even look at my face—his gaze planted firmly on the ground.
And Dylan? He’s across the rooftop, unable to even be near us.
“I did the spell. Accurately, I think.” Bunny nods his approval. He helped me, along with Tran at the magic shop.
“The Shaman had nothing to do with this, right?” Clinton asks. His jaw is set and shoulders tense. This means so much to them. If it fails…if I fail…
“Do you think I’m crazy? No freaking way I involved that bastard in something so important.”
“So what do we do?” Sam asks.
“Well, it should be like riding a bicycle, don’t you think? Instinctive.”
Damien finally looks up. “It’s been a long time since we’ve shifted.”
I take his hand in mine. “Today is the day you reclaim your wings. Don’t be afraid. Embrace it the way we do everything. Fear doesn’t guide my Raven Guardians, even when it comes to this.”
I tug him by the shirt and his violet eyes flash at me. His lips are sweet when I kiss him for good luck. The best part about my harem is they do not fight and squabble over the attention I give to the others. They’re patient.
Good things come to those that wait.
The kiss seems to have calmed him down, and he walks across the garden to stand with Dylan. I take time with the others. I feel the tension ease off Clinton as our mouths connect. I taste the excitement from Sam in the way his fingers dig into my sides. Bunny wraps me in a nervous hug, using both arms. Yes, both. The extent of my power is great, and with the books in the library downstairs, I can do many things. Healing Bunny was the first. Giving them back their form is the second.
After years of not being able to use both arms, Bunny has made up for lost time, linking his around me at every opportunity. Battling the others with newfound speed. He kisses my neck, biting my chin and finally crashes his mouth into mine.
“I have no doubt you pulled this off. I know what you can do. What you’ve already done.” He holds up his reclaimed arm. “The power you hold, thank you for using it to give this back to us.”
I touch his cheek, so thankful we’re all back together again. I want it like this always. Forever.
The others wait, ready to begin the process. Dylan still stands by the edge of the roof, looking out over the bare trees of the park. The sky is a gorgeous blue. Cloudless and crisp. I roll my eyes at the others and they fight back a laugh. Someone always needs a little extra coaxing. I cross the garden and slip my hand into his.
“They’re waiting.”
He looks down at me. His eyes reflect the blue of the sky. “They should go without me.”
“They won’t. You know that. They need your eyes and your leadership. You’re the Sentinel.”
“Someone should stay back to protect you.”
I snort. “You really think I need protecting? From who? Sue’s cheesecake? That thing needs protecting from me.”
He shifts on his feet, biding time to make up another threat. “The Legion is still here. Gods know how many enemies they have.”
“Hildi has them under control.” More like under her spell. I’ve never seen a group of men so fascinated by a woman. Well, other than my own. “Stop procrastinating, babe. This is my thank you for everything you’ve done. For your love and devotion. For your protection and grace.” I squeeze his hand. “Not to mention the sexual awakening I’ve had. Can you believe I was a virgin when I got here?”
At that he smiles, because he remembers the meek, curious girl with a head full of stories and imagination that arrived here months and months ago. That girl had no idea what was in store for her future.
“I guess it would be rude not to accept your gift.”
“Terribly rude,” I agree, feeling the ice melt. He’s always the last one to commit, but when he does, he’s all in.
He finally relents and goes to meet his brothers. I go with him, making a circle of six. The incantation isn’t difficult—it’s the final part of the spell. When the last word parts my lips, the air shimmers, the ground trembles, and my men slowly vanish into glossy black. Their feet do not hit the ground. Their wings take over naturally, instinctively, and without another look in my direction they lift off the rooftop and soar.
*
I retreat to the cushioned bench that overlooks the city. I’ve watched many things from this perch. Fireworks. Sunsets. Snowfall and rain. But feeling the passing shadow from overhead and the widespread wings of my ravens soaring through the sky is the best.
They go for hours, sailing out over the park and reaching the high peaks of New York’s skyscrapers. One always remains in sight. I’m trying to learn who is who in this form. It’s harder from a distance. Up close I can see their eyes and then, without a doubt, I know.
The sun begins to fade and a chill rolls over the rooftop. One by one, my ravens meet in the sky, flying in formation. The first, Dylan, drops to an ornamental tree in the garden, plucking something out of the branches with his beak. He joins the others in a circle overhead. I shade my eyes and see whatever it is in his mouth fall from the sky. I hold out my hands and it fumbles twice before I catch it.
It’s a box.
Butterflies form in my belly and the shadows that cross over me are no longer winged and in flight, but human and standing before me. That is, until they kneel.
Their hair is wild. Their eyes bright. A smile tickles their lips.
“What is this?” I ask. The box is square, light, and tied with a bow.
“Open it,” Damien says.
I do and find the most amazing diamond and platinum ring inside. I hold it up and it sparkles in the fading daylight. It’s a circle of five crows, linked one after the other, encrusted in jewels.
“What is this?” I ask again, unable to say anything else. That’s when I notice the piece of paper tucked inside. With a shaking hand, I lift it out.
Sam clears his voice. “Read it. Please.”
My voice cracks when I speak, “We waited a thousand lifetimes for you. Those days were dark. Listless. But we knew something was on the other end. Something good, we hoped. Something we could fight for. The gods never told us it would be you. So strong. So beautiful. So sexy and perfect and full of life.” I pause, blushing hard, and with tears filling my eyes. Bunny nods for me to continue. “Share our life with us. Fill our beds. Make us a family and lead us to the future. Seal our destiny, Morgan, Queen of the Ravens, by declaring yourself ours and us yours officially.”
The paper trembles in her hand and Clinton takes it from her. They’re all still kneeling, but Dylan steps forward.
“Marry us,” is all he says.
I spot the tears welling in the corners of his eyes. I look at the faces of the others. I love them all so much. I don’t need the ring to prove that. Or a ceremony, but they want it, and I want them. An image of the five of them dressed in tuxedos flashes in my mind. And then the honeymoon. I bite my lip and blurt out, “Yes. I will take you all as my husbands. It will be an honor to be your wife.”