Iris leaned into Finn.
Yes, he had.
But so had she.
Epilogue
Election Night
Iris
“I heard you’re the mermaid to talk to about the best book club around,” someone said behind Iris as she grabbed a flute of champagne off the platter of a passing server.
Turning, Iris saw a tall, lithe woman with long sable hair and two small horns poking out of her forehead. Clearly some kind of shifter, though Iris had yet to figure out an appropriate way to ask someone that particular question.
“I’m Fawn. You knocked me over at yoga once.”
“Oh, oops. Yeah, I’m still getting used to walking on two legs. Doing yoga on them was probably a bad idea. I hope I didn’t do any damage.”
“Wasn’t the first time I took a tumble in class. And won’t be the last. At least I could blame you for that one. So, this book club. I heard Montague does readings at them …”
Oh, Monty.
He would be insufferably delighted to know how many rooms his name was spoken in these days.
“He does. He does voices and everything.”
“Do you have room for one more?”
They were going to have to move the book club from Selene’s store to an event venue if too many more readers got wind.
But Iris was happy to extend her circle.
Her gaze scanned the room, smiling when she saw Caprica Coraline talking to Willow near the buffet table.
Monty was fashionably late, as always.I can’t show up on time, like some common pigeon.
Both Arden and Selene were suspiciously absent. And Iris secretly hoped they were off making out behind a floral arrangement or something.
“Of course we do. We’re reading that new vampire thriller that just shot up the charts.”
“I’m so excited. I can bring a cheese board.”
“Excuse me,” Finn said, moving in at their sides. “Mind if I steal my wife away for a dance?”
“Of course!” Fawn said, beaming at Finn. “I justknowyou’re going to win tonight,” she said.
“Either way, we will have a great party,” Finn, ever the diplomat, said. “Have a great time.”
With that, Iris was swept into his arms and out onto the dance floor.
“I have to give it to Arden,” Iris said, glancing around the room, “he can really pull together any kind of party, can’t he? It’s beautiful.”
Not as beautiful as their wedding, all beachy and surrounded by their loved ones, but, again, she was a little partial to that event.
“Haven’t been able to look at anything but you. Did you paint this dress on?” His hand ran down her exposed back that, she’d insisted to Arden, would be too risqué for an election night watch party. But with the wonder in Finn’s eyes, she knew it had been the right choice.
It was a floor-length silk gown the color of sea foam that hugged every curve of her body.
