One year later
Life never felt quite the same since our return to our proper time. It was impossible for it to ever feel normal without Seth. We made the jump home once we were ready to leave, bringing his body back to his family. They were devastated, just as we were, but thankfully understood what we’d been through and didn’t condemn us.
I’d grown close to his parents over the last year, mainly because I was carrying their grandchild. Both came for the delivery, and it was lovely and memorable. I named my sweet baby boy Seth, also. It just seemed like the right thing to do and made him feel closer.
This child had been such a healing balm to Jett and me. That spark of Seth’s spirit that resided in him helped ease our pain of separation a lot. In fact, we rarely suffered from pain through our bond at all. The worst of our sorrow lived on in our hearts.
Jett stood by me through everything, being a quiet strength but never forcing his will or opinion on me. He gave me space to grieve, heal, and mourn—things I hadn’t been able to do when I thought he died. In fact, he hadn’t even kissed me until after the baby was born. He said it was disrespectful to Seth. It was surprising because I was sure he would’ve been the one to not care about such things. But he was different now, and he wanted to honor his friend. I wanted that, too.
In the beginning, after our return, we’d stayed a few weeks in Sedona with my mom’s family. It would’ve been weird for me to show up at home nearly ready to pop. I hadn’t been pregnant when we left. It could’ve caused a lot of issues to suddenly be nine months pregnant after the general public believed they’d seen me the day prior appearing normal.
Grandma Milly, my mom, and Grandma Stacey helped deliver baby Seth. After some downtime, we returned to Salem, telling people we’d adopted the baby from a family member who had died. It was partially true. Seth had died, and Jett had adopted baby Seth legally. Now, we were living together and planning an actual wedding in our future.
Jett’s parents had been introduced to mine and had worked out any issues between them regarding demonism. They’d also been given tattoos of the Fae blood that Brigid had sent with us, helping them better control their magick.
Dad and Kyle had been working hard to replicate the serum to help others suffering from their demonic condition. Well, they were when Kyle wasn’t off making out with his girlfriend, Julie, or filling her head with all the wild tales of how he subdued and escaped Queen Luna all on his own. Julie seemed to hang onto Kyle’s every word. They were so fun to watch together. They were truly a beautiful couple in love. Kyle was right when he said she would be his soul mate. He’d been planning a secret proposal for weeks now. I was so happy for them both.
Funnily enough, seeing Kyle and Julie so happy seemed to send my parents right back into their own marital bliss. Ever since we’d returned from the past, they resumed acting like love-starved teenagers. It was one of the major things that inspired Jett and me to finally get a place of our own. The two of them were worse than we were, and that was saying something. If we’d had to hear my mom calling out my dad’s name one more time, we were going to puncture our own eardrums. The move had been very necessary.
Our place wasn’t big, but it was cozy. I liked it. It was a cute little seaside cottage, not too far from the Blackstone family restaurant. Jett had been helping at the restaurant while waiting to start college in Boston where he’d be playing football. His parents would often drop by after their shift to play with their newly adopted grandson. I really was growing to love Jett’s family as I continued to meet more of them.
My phone beeped, and I glanced down to see a text from my dad’s mom, Krista.
Send me more pictures of my cute grandbaby, it read. I grinned and raised the phone to snap a quick photo before sending it.
Here you go, I replied. Tell Grandpa Hex, Grandma Milly, and Grandma Stacey hi for me.
I hadn’t seen them in a few months, but great-Grandma Milly still ran the coven there, and they kept a close eye on everyone.
My gaze returned to where Jett was carrying baby Seth around the garden, naming the varieties of plant life as if the toddler could understand him. Seth babbled something incoherent and grinned. Jett glanced up, catching me staring. He smiled and shrugged, coming to the porch swing, and sitting beside me.
“You never know,” he said. “He could have plant magick like his dad.”
“I hope he does,” I replied, reaching to tousle the white-blond hair on my child’s head. He looked so much like his father. “But, you’re his dad, too. I don’t want you to forget that. You’re the one choosing to be his daddy. That’s as important as his DNA.”
Jett nodded. “I know. I just want him to really feel like he understands what a great guy his real dad is.”
I loved that Jett still spoke of Seth in the present tense. “He will know Seth because he knows you.” I smiled. “You’re the perfect person to raise him. No one knew Seth better than you.”
“I hope I can do you both justice for him.”
“You will.” I rested my hand on his knee and leaned my head against his shoulder. “I have faith.”
“Good to know.” He stared at the baby in his arms before glancing at me. “I think we should give this kid a sibling, though, don’t you?”
I laughed and bumped my shoulder against his. “Now you’re just trying to have your way with me,” I teased, even though I didn’t hate the idea.
“I’m always trying to do that, Darlin’.”
Eyes sparkling with delight, he leaned over and kissed me.
Rowan-
I stood in the tree line, watching Kenna and Jett from the shadows as they played with her baby. She probably felt like it hadn’t been that long since she last saw me. For me, it has felt like eons. Kenna thought I died on the battlefield, but my people saved me with their rituals. When I woke, she was already gone—lost to me forever, but I still carried the pain of her bond. I couldn’t leave her to suffer for eternity. Besides, holding this bond helps me feel close to her.
I have lived all this time, hoping for one more glimpse of her.
And now I have it.
She is happy. She is at peace.
Now I can try to be, too.
Turning, I slipped back into the woods, never to see her again.
THE END.