“Me too.” Nox gathered Nelson’s hand in his and raised it to his lips and kissed it. “I love you, Nelson, and I will love you until the end of all time.Youmade me believe in myself and that anything was possible because I’m not stuck in this alone. I have you and together we’regoodand we’re unstoppable.”
“I love you more than I thought was possible, or that I was capable of, honestly.” Nelson shook his head, somewhat baffled thatanyof it was real or that he had been picked for theadventure and honor of a lifetime. “All that matters to me is the together part, I’ll leave the rest of it up to you.”
Part Two
Two years later…
The big union celebration was a week away but Nox was embarking on his own early celebration tour. He hadn’t told Nelson why, just that he needed a taxi for the day and that he had some special deliveries to make. This celebration wasn’t about them, but the friends who had saved him and made their special day possible.
Everly was overjoyed when he answered his and Bryn’s front door. “I didn’t know you were coming!” he pulled them inside and rushed them through to the back patio where Bryn and Arawn were monitoring the grill. Fletcher was lounging in the hammock with a book and waved in greeting. “Look who’s here!” Everly told the twins who hurried over to hug and high-five them.
“You should have called! We would have made more,” Bryn said but Nox waved dismissively. There was enough food to feed an army but the twins ate like an army.
“We’re only staying for a few minutes. We have a lot of stops to make today but you saved us a trip because Arawn and Fletch were next.”
They had bought a house just around the corner so it wouldn’t have been much of a trip, but Nox should have guessed that they’d be at Bryn and Everly’s place. The twins were working at the same hospital in Bethesda and were still inseparable off duty. Thankfully, their spouses fit them perfectly and their little branch of the family in Silver Spring was happily thriving. Everly loved working at Bippity Boppity Books and while Fletcher had retired, he occasionally consulted on unusual cases and was writing a book. He hadn’t told anyone what it was about yet but it was sure to be brilliant.
“I have something for each of you,” Nox said and gestured at the wooden case Nelson had kindly offered to carry.
Nelson opened it with a flourish, as if he was assisting on a game show. Inside, there was a medallion for each of their friends. They had been made to order by a friend of Merlin’s, an extremely reclusive alchemist and highly sought after charm-maker. Strands of Nox’s hair were embedded in the gold chains and his symbol, a skull with antlers and a triskelion, were embossed on one side. The other side was engraved with Nox’s motto: Let love win. Nox had blessed each medallion so that the wearer would always be protected and would prosper in their endeavors.
“Oh!”Everly’s huge black eyes were massive as he held his up and admired it. “This is full of beautiful magick! I canfeel it!”
“You and all of our friends helped me find that magick,” Nox told him and nodded at the twins and Fletcher. “I wouldn’t beme and I probably wouldn’t be here with Nelson if it weren’t for you.Thank you.”
They were all visibly overcome as they held their medallions on the deck. Bryn dragged the back of his hand under his nose and swiped at his eyes. “You saved our lives too and made us into a family. Thanks, brother,” he said as he pulled Nox into a tight hug, surprising him and making him laugh.
“I have a brother! How awesome is that?”
“You have two,” Arawn said when it was his turn to hug all the air out of Nox.
Fletcher cleared his throat loudly. “What am I? Chopped liver? It’sfour, you knuckleheads. Nox has four brothers now because you can’t leave me and Everly out,” he declared and Everly was smiling and nodding as Fletcher hugged Nox.
“I’m your brother too!” he confirmed, giggling as he hugged his arms and twisted. “I didn’t have a single friend or any family before but I haveso manybrothers now. And a Merlin and a Clancy!”
Thatwas Nox’s idea of magick and would possibly be one of his greatest feats as a god. At least, it would be to him. There had never been a soul as lost and lonely as Everly’s so it was extra gratifying to see him so happy and surrounded by so much love. Especially for Everly, who had never given up on love and was the epitome of kindness.
Nox’s next stop was Pooles Island, with plenty of warning and assistance from Tony to ensure his boat wasn’t capsized before he reached the dock. Nelson was waiting back at the marina while Nox delivered medallions to his faithful oracle and the reluctant merrow.
“Not sure what I did to deserve this,” Ronan muttered but there was no bark to his bite and he gave Nox a gentle punch to the shoulder. “I wouldna mind so much, if ye wanted to visit Tony more often.”
That was ahugecompliment from a merrow and Tony looked suitably shocked as he hugged Nox. “I’ll never be able to thank you for all that you’ve done and all that you’ve given me,” he said but Nox’s nose wrinkled as he shook his head.
“I’m pretty sure you were born to be an oracle and it was fate that guided you to me.”
Tony flailed a hand and rolled his eyes. “I meant the rest of it, Nox. You saw something special in me, way before we found out I was an oracle, even when I didn’t see it.”
“It didn’t take a genius to see that you were special, T. That’s just you and I’m glad everything worked out the way it did for you and Ronan. I might even be a little jealous,” Nox said from behind his hand. “You have your own private island with a dozen fur babies and a big, burly man who worships you.”
“I’m the luckiest man in the world,” Tony said as he watched Ronan playing fetch with the dogs.
“It would only be luck if you didn’t deserve it.”
They hugged once more and Nox accepted a crate of peaches and several jars of preserves and butters before he rode back to the marina to meet Nelson. “Everything okay?” Nelson asked as they set off for Tighe and Shelby’s cottage.
“Everything’sgreat.”
Nox scooted across the bench and Nelson put his arm around him, both content to enjoy the long ride out to the country and the spring morning in silence. The little patch of meadow Shelby had purchased was a small piece of heaven and the tiny house he had built for Tighe was big on joy and love. It glowed with happiness and Tighe was laughing and jumping excitedly as soon as he spotted the Continental.
