Page 66 of Handcuffs and Hexes

“I’m pretty happy with our setup now,” I admitted. “Even if we had a bigger place, I’m sure we’d all pile into the same bed anyway.”

“You betcha!” Hazel said, grinning.

Seth brought up a bucket with two bottles of champagne. “Hazel, why don’t you do the honors?”

“I’ve never done this before,” she said, taking one of the bottles from him.

“Just break it across the hull as hard as you can. It’s bad luck if it doesn’t break. So do it hard.”

“Oh, I’ll do it hard, alright.” She swung, and the bottle hit its mark, smashing open and spilling its golden liquid everywhere.

Then we opened the second bottle, and I poured us all a glass.

We were all smiling as we boarded theCovenant. I really should’ve realized the moment I saw the name that it was Seth’s; he was so predictable. And I loved him for it.

A meal, more champagne, and a giant bouquet of daisies awaited us on the deck. It might be a new ship, but everything was in place. Alright, just like we’d practiced back on theRevenge.

We started on our way, guiding the craft to the Archway, just like that first day. Then I tucked a daisy behind Hazel’s ear and led her to her seat, even as Seth reached for the tiny velvet box behind the vase with the flowers.

Then we were both on our knees in front of her.

She knew it was coming. She just didn’t know when or how. It seemed we’d truly surprised her, though, because she was covering her mouth, trying to tame her excitement.

“Will you be ours forever?” Seth and I said together.

Her happily squealed, “Yes!” was worth waiting for.

Ours. Hazel was ours!

“I didn’t know it before, but you two are all I ever want, all I ever need to be happy.” Seth’s words rang with honesty. “Revenge and world domination pale next to the two of you.”

Aww, that was really sweet coming from Seth.

We’d just gotten the ring on her when Seth went off script. He stayed on his knees, his eyes on me. There was a second box in his hand.

“I get a ring too?”

“Of course you do, Pumpkin,” Seth said. “This was long overdue.”

Unlike the large solitaire we’d gotten for Hazel, my ring had an emerald-cut diamond set into a thick, masculine band. It glittered as I held it up to the sun. Maybe it was because I never expected it, but when I inhaled next, the breath came in shaky. And then I was crying.

Imagine! A crying demon! They better not utter a word about this.

“I think you broke him,” Hazel said, wrapping her arms around me.

“I just,” I swallowed hard. “I didn’t expect it. I’m the luckiest demon in the world.”

Several decades ago, if you’d told me I’d have everything I ever wanted, I would’ve laughed in your face. But here I was, surrounded by the people I loved, with the lake breeze in my hair. And all I had to do was put my faith in a wizard.

“I love you guys,” I sniffed.

“We love you too,” Seth said, his arms coming around us both possessively. “We love you too.”

Epilogue

Hazel

Manyyearslater…

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