“Surprise!”
With an epic blast of party horns and wolf-whistles, three gargoyles leap out from behind the furniture in the study just as Draegan and I enter.
“Happy Birthday!” they shout, then they all launch into the song, Draegan too, and I’m just standing there laughing my ass off, becausegirl?
The sight of three massive, winged, horned, tailed, and totally ripped gargoyles wearing nothing but loincloths and tiny paper party hats isdefinitelyone to behold.
Tears well in my eyes as I take in the scene. Not just the adorable party hats, but multi-colored streamers hanging from the ceiling, and a big silver “Happy Birthday!” banner tacked across the mantle. A huge glitter cannon is set up in the corner, shooting off at regular intervals to shower the room in pink and purple sparkles.
Hopping around on the mantle, looking like they have no idea what the hell’s going on, but they’re glad to be part of it anyway, Lucinda, Huxley, and Jean-Pierre flap their wings and caw—their version of Happy Birthday.
“You guys did all this for me?” I gasp, emotion tightening my throat.
Jude gathers me into his arms and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Didn’t think we’d forget your birthday, darling. Did you?”
“No, but… it kind of got lost with the weird Wintermoon passage of time thing.”
“Precisely,” Draegan says. “And now that we’re home and everything’s back to rights, it’s time for a proper celebration.”
Auggie sets a plastic tiara on my head, then leads me to the sofa, where he sits me down as the others proceed to bury me in presents.
I’ve never had a birthday party before, let alone a surprise party. I’ve never gotten presents before. It’s completely overwhelming in the best possible way, and it’s all I can do not to tear into the wrappings like a wild animal.
Forcing myself to go slow, I unwrap every precious gift, each one so completely perfect it’s like they’ve known me for decades.
There’s a set of vegan cookbooks, enough goodies from Sephora to open my own cosmetics store, two new Tarot decks, and a whole bunch of scandalous leather outfits I can’t wait to try on.
Rook got me a new smartwatch and a few collectors edition books on Celtic witchcraft. Auggie surprised me with a framed sketch—the one he drew of me and Rook at the inn in Wintermoon. I didn’t even realize he’d saved it. And it wouldn’t be a present from Jude if it didn’t involve the bones of my enemies—this time in the form of bookends carved into witches riding broomsticks. I’m pretty sure they’re Reedsy’s bones, and I don’t askwhichbones, but it doesn’t matter.
The craftsmanship is downright exquisite.
“Do you like them, darling?” he asks now. “I thought they’d be perfect for the new library.”
“Theyareperfect.” I beam, excitement bubbling inside. We’ve already started planning the rebuild, and it’s going to be absolutely stunning. “I feel like a princess. Seriously, you guys are amazing. Thank you so much!”
“Not a princess,” Drae says. “A queen.Ourqueen.”
He takes my hands and pulls me up, leading me to a quiet corner of the room while the other guys take my gifts upstairs and clean up the wrapping paper explosion.
Dipping his head low, he says softly, “Of all the gifts I thought to give you today, nothing could compare to the gifts you’ve given me. But I wanted you to have something—a reminder of the bond we share. What it means to me.”
He takes my hand, placing something smooth and cool inside it.
I glance down to see a palm-sized stone shaped like a heart, similar to the one his daughter Anastasia gave him all those years ago.
But this one is carved with different initials—D.C.
Draegan Caldwell.
My eyes fill with tears, and my fingers wrap around the stone, holding it tight.
After everything we’ve been through together, after everything he shared with me about his past and his family…
For him to give me a gift like this is…Goddess, I don’t even know how to thank him. It’s not just a stone heart. It’s a symbol ofhisheart—every part of it, from the past that shaped him into the man he is now to the future that shapes the man he’s still in the process of becoming.
I don’t have the words, so I don’t use them. I merely stretch up on my toes and kiss him, telling him everything I need to say, just like that.
* * *
