Chapter 170 Epilogue

Chapter 170 Epilogue
E L E A N O R

"Run along now, Thomas. Fetch the milk." My father scoffs, taking my daughter Elodie from her crib while Marcus gently strokes Pierre's back, coaxing him deeper into sleep. I watch them with a laugh as I sit in front of the vanity, still getting ready for the event today. The maids work around me, brushing and pinning, but my eyes stay on the scene behind me in the mirror.

Thomas frowns, crossing his arms over his chest. "And who do you think you're ordering about—"

He's cut off by a loud, demanding cry from Elodie, her tiny face scrunching up as she clearly announces that she wants her drink now and no one had better keep her waiting.

"I'll get back to you... after this." Thomas hurries out the door, his boots echoing down the hallway.

He leaves just as Perseus walks in, his presence filling the room like it always does. "Darling, I'm afraid we don't have any gifts for George." He sighs, running a hand through his hair while my maids finish packing my hair into a sleek ponytail, adorning it with small pins that catch the light.

I turn my head carefully. "What do you mean we don't have any gifts? We packed everything weeks ago. I made lists. You checked the lists twice."

"Just a little transportation mishap." He holds his fingers up to show me how small. "The servants swapped the crates by accident and sent ours to Jeremy for his coronation instead." He walks to me and presses a warm kiss on my cheek, then heads over to take the crying baby from my dad. Elodie softens immediately at the familiarity of his scent, her tiny fists unclenching against his chest.

"Yes, I've still got my touch." He celebrates, sticking his tongue out at my father like a child on the playground.

My father gasps in mock offense. "You've corrupted Elodie to betray me, Eleanor. Can you believe that? My own granddaughter."

"You've been here since three months, Kai." Thomas scoffs from the doorway, already back with the milk. "Three months since you moved in and took over as their personal nanny. You sleep in the nursery more than your own chambers."

"It's been two days since you've seen Elodie, Father." Perseus grins, rolling his eyes as he hands her back. My dad takes a seat by the window, settling the baby against his arm as he brings the bottle to her eager mouth.

"I'm only doing what I know best." Father grins, his eyes soft as he watches her drink. "Being a present father."

Perseus laughs, his shoulders shaking as he stands behind me, idly playing with the curls the maids are trying to pin up. They swat his hands away. He puts them back.

"Hey, hey." Thomas points a stern finger at him. "Only Perseus can make those absent father jokes, and besides, I've been a terrific grandfather. Haven't I, Perseus?"

"You almost choked Pierre with his own bottle last week." Perseus cracks a smile. "I'm still trying to figure out how that even happened. You were holding it upside down. The milk was going up his nose."

"Just ignore him, Father." I roll my eyes as Perseus leans in to kiss my cheek again. "You've been doing a terrific job lately. Really."

They've all been deeply supportive, each retiring from their various positions on the throne to focus on my family. It's been fun watching them babysit, go on fishing trips and just living through it all after how brutal life has been to us. Jeremy and George are also warming up to Perseus, sending the children gifts within intervals.

Marcus finally stops hovering around the boys' crib, now satisfied that both Pierre and Phineas are sound asleep. He joins my father by the window, peering down at Elodie with an almost reverent expression.

"We really don't have to give George a thing." Perseus shrugs, watching me in the mirror. "I already let him off the hook for burning down my palace, so that's a perfect wedding gift. Generous, even."

"Athena would rage." I point out, imagining her serpent eyes narrowing. "And it would be incredibly rude. She's been planning this wedding for months."

"Well then, we'll have to make a few arrangements here and there."

"Please do." I sigh, finally finishing up my makeup and hair just as Bernadette arrives with Severus on her arm. The wedding between George and Athena has consumed our lives for months, giving me barely enough time to recover after the birth of Elodie, Phineas, and Pierre.Three hungry, crying, beautiful little miracles who take turns sleeping so that I never get a full night's rest.

With the grand wedding finally leaving our calendars today, we can focus on managing the new partnership between a few human inventors and physicians set on introducing technology to Bloodthorn. Electricity, they're calling it. Lights that turn on with a switch instead of a flame.

A few days ago, Asmodeus paid us a visit. He offered to carry out a blood test on the children to determine their abilities since they were already three months old. A soldier handed me the letter he sent on my way into the carriage this morning. I tucked it into my sleeve without reading it.

I hold it there now, folded and waiting. I kiss my babies goodbye, pressing my lips to each soft forehead, breathing in their scent before I leave them in William's capable arms. She's been watching them while I get ready, and she gives me a nod that says she has everything under control.

I sit next to Perseus in the carriage, his hand finding mine as the wheels begin to turn. I look at him, smiling at the sheer ridiculous bliss of how handsome he looks in his formal coat, his hair falling across his forehead as he waves at William from the window.

We started in the worst possible way. Two enemies set on killing each other through torture or by any means necessary. Now we're building a home with three lovely children. Building a kingdom. And somehow, through all the chaos life has thrown at us, our love has not only survived, it has bloomed.

Like he's read my mind, he leans in and presses a kiss to my lips.

"Thank you, Eleanor." His voice is low, meant only for me. "I love you. I really love you."

I kiss him back, a gentle press that says everything I don't have words for. "I love you too, Perseus."

The party is packed and eventful. There is dancing and toasts and Athena looks radiant in her grey gown, and George looks like a man who still can't believe she said yes. We end up leaving earlier than planned when William sends for us through one of Bernadette's portals. Elodie has been crying again, and nothing the servants do seems to calm her.

I sigh as the carriage carries us home, exhausted and full at the same time. That baby has been restless lately, more than her brothers. More than both of them combined, actually. She screams like she's fighting something. Like something inside her is fighting back.

On my way up the steps to the castle, I finally remember Asmodeus' letter. My heart drops into my mouth as I skim through the contents, the words blurring and then sharpening.

\[She bears the mark of Ravon.\]

Perseus takes the letter from my trembling fingers. "What?"

—The End—

A/N:

Phew. Well, that was a lot.

I've been stalling on this final chapter for a long time, and I truly apologize for the wait. There was just so much I've been dealing with lately—writer's block and self-doubt and the weight of wanting to get this ending right.

This book was first drafted in April of last year. I had it sitting on my computer, collecting virtual dust, facing rejections that broke me. Not just my belief in my writing, but my belief in this book specifically. I thought maybe I had imagined it. Maybe it wasn't as good as I thought it was.

When I tried out this platform, I didn't expect they would accept it. I certainly didn't expect to find readers invested beyond the first chapter. I'll be forever grateful to a friend who stayed from the first chapter until the very end—Patricia Mariano. Your comments, your follow-up, and basically just your presence motivated me to finish this piece. Every time I wanted to give up, I thought about you waiting for the next chapter.

And to the reader I met toward the end, Jenny Escobar. Thank you so much for your encouraging words and beautiful comments. You showed up at exactly the right time.

The last few comments requested more chapters, and since I had only this one left, I decided to write the sequel. To be clear, we are done with Perseus and Eleanor's tale. The next book will immediately focus on our new characters—their children, along with other familiar faces.

The sequel will be available by June. I would deeply appreciate it if you could check out my new sports werewolf romance novel, After Rebirth, I Joined A Reality Dating Show To Ruin My Trashy Mate! Your support would mean the world to me.

Either way, I am truly grateful. I have anxiously overthought this ending, worried that it wasn't good enough for you. If that's the case, I hope the sequel will compensate for it.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for staying. Thank you for believing in Eleanor and Perseus when I wasn't sure I did anymore.

With all my heart,

Gigi.