Reaper grins, his voice ringing out. “By the power vested in me by the state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your bride, brother.”
Phantom doesn’t hesitate. He lifts me off my feet, mouth crashing into mine, his kiss hungry and wild and full of every promise he ever made me. I kiss him back, tears and laughter mixing until I’m breathless, arms around his neck, heart finally, finally at peace.
The room erupts—laughter, clapping, everyone shouting congratulations, someone tosses confetti over our heads as Kaylee jumps up and down, her curls bouncing. She throws her arms around our legs, grinning so wide it warms my heart to see her have the family she deserves.
“I love you, Mommy! I love you, Daddy!” she shouts, and the words hit me square in the chest.
I never knew how Kaylee would take learning Phantom was her daddy. I worried for nights, wondered how to explain the truth without making her afraid. But that little girl—she lit up brighter than the Christmas tree. She always was smart for her age, and tonight she shows it. She’s got her daddy’s courage and her momma’s heart, and I thank God for it.
Phantom drops to his knees, pulling her into a bear hug. “I love you too, baby girl,” he whispers, his voice breaking. I wrap my arms around both of them, tucking my head between them, letting the love wash over me.
For a long, perfect minute, nothing matters except this. The fire, the tree, the snow piling up on the porch, the laughter and love filling every corner of the house. I let myself believe, really believe, that the past is finally behind us.
Someone calls for music, and Jinx jumps up to plug in a playlist—old Christmas songs, jazz and blues, and something wild and rowdy for the men. There’s more laughter, more toasts, stories being shared about the worst presents ever, and even Venom cracks a smile, letting Ash drag him outside for more firewood.
It feels like everything ugly and sharp has been scrubbed from the world, even just for this night.
I’m about to grab a cookie and sneak off for a breath when Reaper’s voice cuts through the noise, sudden and sharp. “Hey—anyone seen Haze?”
A ripple moves through the room. Beast, sprawled in a big leather chair, lifts his head. “I haven’t heard from him in a couple of days, actually.”
Emilia frowns, pulling out her phone, tapping through messages. “Nothing since Tuesday.”
Storm shakes his head, glancing at the front door like he expects Haze to swagger in, grinning, trouble trailing behind him.
Reaper’s brow furrows. “That’s not like him. Haze doesn’t just disappear. Not at Christmas.”
Everyone checks their phones, scrolling through old texts, but it’s Charli who reappears at the living room door, holding up a scrap of paper between two fingers. Her face is pale, but her eyes are bright with something almost amused.
“Found this taped to the inside of the cookie jar,” she announces, waving the note in the air. “Recognize the handwriting?”
She hands it over to Reaper, who reads aloud, voice half-laughing, half-exasperated.
Charli, give this to the men when you find it. Gone hunting. Wish me luck. I might need bail money… or a casket. I’ll keep you posted. Merry Christmas. —Haze.
A groan ripples around the room. Beast shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “Only Haze.”
Arabella laughs, relief and worry mixing in her tight expression. “He’ll be fine. Right. He always is, but I am not the only one thinking this has trouble written all over it, right?”
Phantom pulls me close, his arm strong around my shoulders. Kaylee tucks herself into my side, her small hand tight around mine.
“She’s right.”
“I feared as much.”
For a moment, I just watch the scene in front of me—the tree, the fire, the family we built from the ashes of every broken thing in our pasts. I let the happiness soak in, let the worries fade to the edges of the room. If Haze needs help, he’ll let us know.
Outside, snow falls in thick, soft silence, muffling the bayou, blanketing the world in fresh hope.
For tonight, we are together. For tonight, we are safe.
For tonight, I am loved, and I am home.
And that is more magic than I ever believed I’d find in this life.
