Epilogue

Three months later, I squeal when Ben and Kiarr pop into the room. “Hey, you’re not supposed to be in here yet.” I shove their presents under a pillow. “No peeking or you’ll ruin the surprise.”

Ben looks abashed, but gives me a sly smile.

Kiarr leans an elbow on the top of my dresser with a lazy grin. “Ye’ve been in here all morning.”

“Well, I’m not done yet.” I blow a blonde hair out of my face, most of it is tied up in rollers. “Wrapping presents takes time.” In addition to taking an extra-long bath, waxing and giving myself a pedicure and manicure. Should’ve thought that last one through because my nails took forever to dry and I couldn’t touch anything, or I’d have to repaint them again.

Neither of them moves.

“Go on,” I leap up from the bed, and push them toward the door, “I mean it, go.”

Kiarr grabs me and hauls me into the air, kissing me breathless. “Hurry up, our surprise has been ready for half an hour.”

He sets me back on my feet and I sway a little.

Before I fall, Ben pulls me into a hug, kissing me softly. “How much time do you need?”

I lean into him, suddenly not caring that their gifts aren’t wrapped. “How much can you give me?”

Ben kisses the tip of my nose. “Later, after we open gifts, you can have all the time you desire.”

Liquid heat pools between my legs and I squeeze them together. “Oh?”

Kiarr’s chuckle rumbles in his chest and makes my knees weak. “Aye, lass. But hurry up with your presents. Even Jacques can't keep our present calm all day.”

“Now I’m curious.” I bounce on my toes. “What is it? Did you find out how to make a magical unicorn or dragon?”

“Ah, lass, it’s bad luck is it not, to guess a gift before it is given?”

“A hint?” I plead, giving them the best pouty look I can manage.

Ben laughs. “Twenty minutes and we’ll return for you with or without your wrapped gifts.”

“Fine.” I shake my head. “Now leave so I can finish.”

They both disappear and I rush to finish wrapping their gifts, excitement making my hands tremble and it takes me three tries to get the wrapping paper to fit. I smooth my hands down my Christmas dress that swirls around my thighs. The rich velvet hugs my curves. I take the rollers out of my hair, pinning up the sides with bright green combs.

Then I juggle three boxes and leave my room, heading down to the common room where the Christmas party waits. Much to my surprise, the magic I worked the night we brought Jacques back, didn't just affect those with me, but everyone and now they could all see and hear my three ghosts.

When I was at the human school, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. I’d entertained being a lawyer to being married to Lance. Now, I know what I want…I want to be a counselor for people struggling with accepting their magic, like I was. And with my medium skills, I can resurrect the ghosts for loved ones to be able to say goodbye unlike I was able to do because of the wraith taking everything including the soul and essence of my aunt, mom, and dad.

I wish every day for that time back with them and I’m happy to be able to grant it to others once I graduate. Which would probably be equivalent to a Ph.D. in the human world.

Giddiness envelops me as I turn the corner and stop short at what I’m seeing. There’s a white, silk runner stretching down an aisle. Chairs on either side are crammed with my friends from both my old human school and Hollowheaven academy.

At the end of the runner stand Ben, Jacques, and Kiarr dressed in tuxedos.

Though Kiarr has his sword strapped to his side. Each looks so serious and my heart does a little flip at seeing them. Both Decan and Walsh are standing by them too.

I look to my friends, tears in my eyes. Melanie rushes up to me with Jolene. “Here, we’ll take these.”

“Wh-what’s going on?”

Ben strolls down the aisle toward me and goes down on one knee before me. “If you will take us, we pledge our life and our love to you.”

“Wait,” my knees shake, “is this a wedding?”

“Only if you wish it to be,” Jacques says coming toward me with a crooked smile. “We thought to have this as an engagement party.”

“It was either witnesses for the engagement or both Jacques and Kiarr’s traditions have witnesses of consummating the marriage after the wedding.” Ben shrugs.

A flush makes my face so hot I’m sure as red as my dress.

Kiarr joins us. “And there be food after for ye and yer friends.”

I start shaking, sinking down onto the silk runner. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, Ben is making a muck of things.” Jacques pulls out a box from his vest and holds it out to me. The other two ghosts follow suit.

They open the boxes at the same time. Inside are three white-gold bands with little chips of purple.

“Will ye marry us, lass?” Kiarr holds the ring in one hand and unsheathes his sword, laying it at my feet. “It’s customary for my kind to give his bride his ancestral sword.”

“Yes, yes.” I wipe away tears of joy and their arms wrap around me.

After kisses, I hold my hand out, shaking. Kiarr puts his ring on my finger, followed by Jacques, and then Kiarr. Each clicks into place making one symbol of a triple heart with a red center.

“Are these stones from the prism?”

“Aye.” Kiarr nods.

“The center stone is a blood-red garnet.” Jacques rubs an arm down my back. “You are our heart and we are yours.”

“It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“So do we eat or are you gonna get married now?” Jezza rushes up to us and hugs me. “Either is fine with me, but I am starving.”

I laugh, hugging her back, then turn to my men. “I want to marry you three today or any day. I’m ready.”

All three of my men beam at me and I feel so happy and loved like I’m going to burst.

“We’re having a wedding,” Melanie shouts and then hugs me too.

“I don’t have a wedding dress.” I place my trembling hands on my crimson velvet dress.

“You are beautiful, red is defiantly your color,” Jolene says and hands me a blue garter. “For your something blue.”

Gwen shoulders through the gathering crowd dragging Lance behind her. “And if you are okay with it, you can borrow Lance to walk you down the aisle.” She rolls her eyes slightly, but there’s a smile pulling at the edge of her lips. “After all you two grew up together, right? So he’s kinda like the brother you never had.”

Once upon a time, I’d disagree with her strongly. But now that I look at Lance again, I find she’s right, because what I felt for him pales in comparison to my ghosts. It’s like comparing an apple seed to an orchard.

“If you don’t mind?” I ask Lance.

“I’d be honored.” He bows. “You were my friend before anything else.”

Guess Gwen has rubbed off on him now that he isn’t looking at me like I am a monster just because I’m a witch anymore. I give him a nod.

“Places everyone,” Headmistress Decan says and claps her hands.

My three men race up to the front and the crowd laughs. Each of my friends returns to their seats.

Lance holds out his arm. “I’m sorry about everything, Brene, but I can see you are happy now and I’m glad. I really am.”

“You sure you’re ready to do the same for Gwen?” I whisper. “She’s a handful.”

A blush colors his cheeks and I wind my arm through his. “Yeah, I am.”

“Not so fast.” Angelic pushes through the crowd. “She can borrow this and I’ll walk her down the aisle.”

“Yes. I’d like that.” I beam.

She holds out a sparkling diamond necklace and loops it around my neck, before offering her arm that I take.

Lance kisses my cheek. “Good luck, Brene, but I doubt you’ll need it.”

“Thanks.” I hug him and he leaves to return to Gwen.

Bridal music sounds and Angelic takes us down the aisle. How I wish my mom and dad and Aunt Grace could be here. But somehow, I know they can see me even though I can’t conjure them up no matter how hard I try as they died from the wraith. Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them away.

Decan smiles at me while Walsh clears his throat. “Who gives this witch and woman to these men?”

“I do,” Angelic steps forward, turning me over to Decan and Walsh before slipping back to her seat in the crowd.

I can’t stop staring at my handsome ghosts while Decan and Walsh take turns orating the ceremony. Part of me feels like this is all a dream. A wonderful, amazing dream I never want to wake up from.

“Do you, Kiarr take Brene as your lawful wedded wife?” Decan asks.

“Aye, I do.” He winks at me and my stomach does a flip.

“And do you, Benjamin also take Brene as your lawful wedded wife?” Walsh says.

“I do… forever.” Ben bows his head to me.

“Finally, do you Jacques take Brene as your lawful wedded wife along with these two other men? Each of you loving only her. Being honest and true for as long as she lives?”

“Oui.” Jacques stares at me like I’m the only one in the room. “In this life and the next and the next after that for all eternity, I will love you.”

Walsh clears his throat. “Do you, Brene, take these three as your lawful wedded husbands?”

I couldn’t stop my smile. “Yes, yes. I do. Forever and for eternity.”

“Then by the power invested in us, we pronounce you husbands and wife.” Decan waves her hands and white, pink, and red rose petals float down around us.

“You may kiss your bride,” Walsh adds.

Kiarr grabs me, hauling me into a kiss that makes my knees buckle.

Then hands me over to Ben who gives me a chastise kiss, but whispers in my ear, “I cannot wait to celebrate in private with you later.”

His promise makes good goosebumps dance down my arms.

And Jacques’ hands cupping my face as he kisses me so sinfully that several in the audience start whistling. I pull back and wave with a smile.

The rest of the evening I spend dancing with my men, eating and talking with my friends. All too soon, I start to yawn and Ben bids everyone goodnight. I return Angelic’s necklace, thanking her.

“We will talk again tomorrow.” She kisses me on each cheek, then smiles.

Ben swoops me up and carries me up to my dorm room with Jacques and Kiarr following behind us.

Inside my room, I’m so exhausted from the day I can’t keep my eyes open. Then a thought pops into my head. “Oh no, it’s Christmas and you’ve not had your gifts yet.”

“You are all the gift we need.” Jacques sits on the bed beside me.

Kiarr vanishes, then returns with my wrapped boxes in his arms. “I never turn down gifts.”

“Okay, open them. Please.” I say, suddenly nervous that they won’t like them.

Ben opens his and wipes his eyes. “A pipe? And a cane?”

“It’s from your era an-and I saw a pipe in the background of your portrait in the hallway. Was I wrong?” I press a hand to my stomach. “I-I spelled it with Melanie’s help so you can use it even as a ghost. And men in your time often had a cane in the drawings.”

He leans down and kisses my lips softly. “It’s perfect. I’ve missed smoking as a ghost. And the cane is perfect as well.”

“My turn.” Kiarr rips open his gift and lets out a triumphant yell. “A polished bull horn for mead—is it spelled too?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Ye don’t know how happy ye make me, Brene. But like Ben said, you are the only gift I want or need.”

“Then you don’t want the horn or the other gift?” I arch an eyebrow.

“Now let’s not turn berserkers.” He dug through the tissue paper like a kid eager to get to the prize. Then he sunk back on his heels. “A sword?”

I nod, biting my lip. “It’s the only one I could find in good condition, but it was originally in my family line.” And had cost me a lot of the money I got from the trust fund. “Do you like it?”

“Aye.” He lets the light in my room gleam off the metal. “It is customary for husbands and wives to trade swords and ye have mine now.”

“And you have mine.”

Kiarr sheaths his new sword, then bows in front of me, kissing my hands. “I pledge to keep you safe and happy always.”

“Aye,” I say using his word for yes. “And I will hold you all to your promises and vows.”

My Viking ghost steps aside for Jacques to open his gifts.

I sit cross-legged on my bed, watching Jacques open his presents.

The first he unwraps is a black onyx ring with rubies around the band. “It is magnifique.” He places the ring on his finger.

“It keeps you from having to disappear when the sun rises.” I pick at the hem of my dress. “Got the idea from an old TV show I used to watch, but the rubies hold my blood. We’ll have to renew them every dark moon.”

Jacques’ gray eyes brighten. “You, Brene, are so special and I am lucky to be in your life.”

I swallow, my face heating. “There’s one more gift in there for you.”

He lifts through the paper, then brings out a framed drawing and inhales sharply. It’s an of me dressed in French Revolutionary garb.

“Angelic helped me pick everything out and styled my hair.” I instinctively pat my curls. “That was how I used to look, right?”

“You are more beautiful every lifetime.” Jacques blinks back tears.

“And there’s a special glass in the frame. If you take it out in the moonlight, you can see your reflection in it.”

He places the picture on my dress, then crosses the room to kneel in front of me and takes both my hands in his. “I can see my reflection in your eyes and that is all I need. You are all I need.”

I stifle a yawn and my three men chuckle.

“Sleep, lass.” Kiarr climbs into bed, pulling me with him. “We’ll stay all night with ye until ye wake.”

Ben slides in on my other side followed by Jacques. Their hands stretching over me, wrapping me in warmth and love. I fall asleep with a smile on my face that I know will never fade.

“Goodnight, my ghosts, my loves, my husbands.” And I couldn’t wait to spend tomorrow and eternity with them. I was finally at peace and full of love and awe and ready to continue my life with these three amazing men with me.