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Then I look at Damian. At Margot. At my ridiculous new tail. At the haunted B&B behind me that's filled with guests because I made this happen. And finally, at my still flat-ish belly that will soon round with our young.

And I realize something.

I don't feel rejected. I feel chosen. Loved. Free.

I feel like I’m finally home.

I smile.

“Yes.”

My magic sparks brightly around my fingertips.

“They fucking were.”

Epilogue: Damian

Halloween night in Arrhythmia is fucking insane.

Not regular Halloween insane.

Arrhythmia insane.

There’s a Headless Horseman riding down Main Street.

An actual fucking Headless Horseman.

His black horse is breathing blue fire while he waves at tourists with one hand and carries his flaming jack-o’-lantern head under the other arm.

No one seems particularly concerned. A Werewolf dressed as Dracula is arguing with an actual Vampire on the front lawn. Three Witches just flew over the roof on broomsticks trailing orange sparks behind them.

Someone brought a miniature Yeti wearing a pumpkin costume.

Gerry the Gnome has already been warned twice to stay away from the spiked cider, and Sheriff Owen Randall personally threatened to arrest him if he takes his pants off before midnight.

Again.

Apparently, that needed clarification.

The ghosts in the attic are blasting disco music, though thankfully the enchanted soundproofing keeps it from rattling the chandeliers downstairs. The vegetarian vampire bats are behaving themselves in their new roost.

Mostly.

Sparky is stationed beneath Albert’s cage, wearing a tiny pair of red Devil horns Belinda put on him.

He fucking hates them. But Albert seems delighted. And Bell’s Books, Bed & Breakfast is packed.

Every guest room is occupied.

The downstairs rooms are filled with people. The garden glows beneath hundreds of enchanted lights. The lovers’ maze is open. Clarissa is everywhere at once, keeping drinks filled, checking on guests, and somehow preventing the ghosts from adding an unscheduled conga line through the second floor.

Turns out Clarissa is staying permanently.

Belinda offered her the job of live-in caregiver and manager for the B&B, and Clarissa practically exploded glitter all over the kitchen in excitement.

She moved into Belinda’s old bedroom three days ago.

Her fifteen siblings are still running Clarissa’s Cleaning Service, so they’ll handle the cleaning while Clarissa stays here and looks after the house, the guests, and the resident supernatural population.