Page 107 of Colton

43

EPILOGUE I

The office stands vacant before me. I’ve taken out everything I brought, leaving this space with nothing but a desk and shelves on the wall. I even brought my own chair when I stepped into the role of the Dean, and I’ll be damned if I leave Steven with anything he didn’t pay for.

Dahlia accepted the position of new Dean, and she’ll soon fill this space with her own things. In a way, I’m excited to see how well she fares in this role, and if she’ll find it as exhausting as I have.

Clyde’s visit came rather unexpectedly. He hasn’t set foot on the Academy grounds since he graduated, because he’s always loathed the place. He came with news that I’m still trying to process, and the reason why Artemis has failed to identifywho’s behind that damned website suddenly became rather clear.

As of right now, I’m keeping the information a secret. If Avalon gets wind of it, it’ll only make her worry, and I’m not going to be the cause of her headaches. So, the secret will stay one until it’s time to be revealed. Hopefully, I’ll never have to reveal it.

This doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for the person; they will be significant, and once I’m done, they’ll wish they never started the website.

Avalon returned to the Academy on the following Monday, and she’s done a fantastic job of keeping her head held high. Students and professors alike stared, whispered, and even pointed fingers; however, she paid them no mind.

She’s almost done with this place, and she’s not letting anyone tarnish her happiness any further. We’ve kept our relationship on the low, of course, because it’s still technically a school year, but starting tomorrow? Everything will be perfect.

“Hey,” her soft voice comes from behind me, and I turn to greet her. She smiles, closes the door, and stares at the empty office, her eyes gliding through the lack of interior. “It looks bigger like this.”

“Doesn’t it?” I wrap my arms around her waist, hugging her from behind, my chin resting on her shoulder. She laughs softly and looks out the window for a moment. “Do you regret it?”

“No,” I say, kissing the side of her neck. “I’d do it all over again if necessary. None of it matters if you’re not by my side.”

Avalon falls silent, and I offer no further words, either. The two of us stand there, and I can’t help but think back to how it all started. It was risky, it was rocky at times, but I never, ever regretted starting a relationship with Avalon.

She’s the light of my life, and she’s the only one that matters. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of our lives proving how much she deserves to be next to me, showing her how much I love her, and showing her that everything she desires is hers to take and claim.

If it means I’ll be left with nothing, so be it.

Nothing matters if she’s not by my side, anyway.

Just the two of us.

44

EPILOGUE II

I’ve never been the one to come at the right time, but luckily, I returned to the Academy just as Sophia was going to leak her nudes. It took a lot of convincing, but I managed to pry the phone out of her hands and make sure she didn’t do it.

The thought matters, and I’m so grateful to have her by my side. She’s a real friend, someone I know I can trust and lean on when times get rough. Lila and Grace fall into that category, too. I’ve never thought about whether I’d keep in touch with my classmates after our time at the Academy, but I know the four of us will stay together, no matter what.

My parents are still struggling a little to accept Colton, which is my fault, anyway. However, they’re no longer hostile, and I can tell they’re both trying, for my sake. Emma loves him, and it shouldn’t be a surprise — I brought her to Colton’s castle.

She immediately demanded a frilly dress to act like a princess for the day, and I have a lot of pictures to keep the memories forever. She’s been over the moon ever since, and she promised she’d visit more often.

The stares at the Academy almost made me falter once. It was during breakfast, and I was in the cafeteria with Lila and Grace, waiting for Sophia to either show up with Soren or alone, annoyed that the two weren’t together.

Students weren’t that subtle, and the professors around made no attempt to shut them down — meaning they shared the sentiment. If it weren’t for Grace and Lila in that moment, I would’ve cried.

But once I could see Colton after school, everything became irrelevant. All that matters is him, and that he’s by my side.

I’m still struggling with the fact that he quit his job for me, but he keeps reassuring me that it was a choice he made willingly, with no regrets whatsoever. I’m trying to work on my insecurities, and to prove I can stand proudly beside him.

Which is why, after my graduation, I moved in with him in the castle.

Dahlia comes and goes as she pleases, and she’s been lovely to have around, even for a little bit.

I snap out of my thoughts when Colton stirs beside me, and a small smile forms on my face. He looks so peaceful, and sleeping beside him for the past two weeks has been incredible. Waking up next to him is even better: the feeling of his arms wrapped around me, the soft kisses he plants on my temple, shoulders, and even my neck, are enough to make me feel at ease.