Page 117 of Visions of You
"About what?"
"The scarf. We knew it was enchanted, but we never knew in what way. She said it was a protection spell, but what if it wasn't? What if the enchantment is what allowed me to keep my connection to you when you were… fighting with fate."
Keegan had entertained the thought himself. It was a bit much to believe that the piece of fabric had just naturally acted as a substitute for their bond.
"Malkira gave me that scarf and told me to give it to you. She was the one who enchanted it." Jaron looked at Keegan. "Did she know? That things would play out the way they did? That I would… save you and you would save everyone?"
"We'll never know for sure," Keegan said. Since the scarf had been burned, there was no way for them to know what spells had been woven into its threads.
"Do you think it's possible?" Jaron seemed like he wasn't sure what he wanted to believe. Keegan understood. Even if Malkira had foreseen everything, she couldn't have known for sure what would happen.
She could only have gambled, and it was people's lives she'd gambled with.
Keegan knew that only too well.
"I do think it's possible," Keegan allowed. "But that doesn't absolve her."
"No," Jaron agreed, then he paused. "Would it be wrong of me if I choose to believe that she wanted us to win? She used me, she manipulated me, and still…" He nearly crumpled the letter in his hands.
Keegan went over to him and drew him into his embrace. "You loved her," he said. "That's a wound that takes time to heal. Don't be mad at yourself for that. I love your big heart."
Keegan held Jaron close as the dragon shifter struggled with the conflicting emotions Malkira's letter had brought up. He could feel Jaron's tension in the tightness of his shoulders and the way his tail wound around Keegan's leg.
"We should sell the house," Keegan said after a moment. "Start over new, somewhere else."
Jaron pulled back to look at him, his brow furrowed. "You think so?"
Keegan nodded. "We can find a place close to my coven. A home of our own, where we can make new memories. Somewhere we can live without dwelling on all the shit that's happened."
Jaron leaned into Keegan's touch, his eyes fluttering closed. "That sounds perfect."
Keegan pressed a soft kiss to Jaron's forehead. "It will be."
Jaron's arms tightened around Keegan's waist, pulling him closer. "Did you see that in your visions?"
A smile tugged at Keegan's lips. "I know that without even looking."
EPILOGUE
Two months later
Jaron stood back and looked around the living room. The space felt warm and inviting, with plush furniture, vibrant artwork, and personal touches that made it uniquely theirs—like the artsy deck of tarot cards on the coffee table and the decorative midnight blue pillows that had the constellations printed on them.
His gaze lingered on the painting of Keegan and himself. The one they'd purchased in Aquavaris when they'd tried to make their escape from reality.
It hadn't worked out the way they'd planned, but they'd still won in the end.
As if sensing his thoughts, Keegan approached from behind, slipping an arm around Jaron's waist. "Everything ready?"
Jaron leaned into the embrace, a smile playing on his lips. "Everything is perfect," he agreed. His eyes caught on a stack of letters in Keegan's hand. "What are those?"
"Just something I've been working on. Gifts for our guests."
Before Jaron could press further, a knock sounded at the door, signaling the arrival of their first guests. Keegan gaveJaron's waist a gentle squeeze before stepping away to answer the door.
Jaron took a deep breath. Time to get this housewarming party started.
Their guests arrived one after the other as Jaron prepared a snack table in the living room. Only with 'normal' food, though.
