Chapter Sixty One

Bang-bang-BANG. “Thea! Dylan?! Open this door!”Dylan’s eyes opened at the same time mine did. I snuggled in closer. “It's just Niklaus.”Dylan groaned into my shoulder. “Can we pretend we didn’t hear?”Bang-BANG. BANG-BANG. “This is an emergency!”Dylan closed his eyes and muttered, “He sounds fine to me.”I rolled out of bed, pulling on an abandoned pair of pants and one of Dylan’s shirts—long enough to count as a dress—and shuffled to the door.Before I even touched it, Niklaus bellowed, “If you do not open this door right now, I will—”He froze mid-threat. The knocking had barely stopped reverberating when I opened the door. Behind him stood the former ghost-turned-very-real immortal… looking thrilled. Niklaus practically shoved the immortal inside like he was returning a faulty product.“Take him back,” Niklaus snapped.The immortal beamed at me. “Good morning, mommy dearest.”Dylan appeared behind me, shirt half-buttoned, hair a mess, eyes soft and decidedly just-woke-up-next-to

Last Updated : 2025-12-09

Chapter Sixty Two

It started gradually.Dakota had been the first to settle deeper into the cottage, curling himself into the corner chair as if it had always been his den. Tonya made herself comfortable beside the hearth, flipping through her hexing book—yes, the one I gave her—with her legs thrown over two cushions that she insisted were “temporary thrones.” Darcy had claimed the sofa like a lounging cat queen, scarf flung dramatically across the cushions, rearranging my throw pillows with the confidence of someone who assumed she had full interior-design rights.Niklaus positioned himself in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, arms crossed, body angled like calculated indifference… though his eyes kept flicking, unwilling and hopelessly drawn, toward the immortal perched on the kitchen table. The immortal—still smugly sitting cross-legged right in the center of it—sipped Thea-quality coffee like it was divine ambrosia.Dylan and I stood side by side at the counter, his fingers brush

Last Updated : 2025-12-10

Chapter Sixty Three

Afternoon settled over the cottage like warm honey — soft light through the windows, scattered empty mugs, Darcy humming under her breath as she braided Tonya’s hair, and Kismet draped lazily across the arm of Niklaus’ chair like a cat claiming its favorite human. Or like a decorative, immortal barnacle.Niklaus pretended to read, or maybe he really was reading, since it was hard to tell when his ears were that red. Kismet looked content. Radiant, even. Every so often, he’d glance around the room with a little frown… and then fix his attention back on Niklaus’ shoulder as if it anchored him.Dylan stood beside me near the counter, making sure I ate something that wasn’t sugary, caffeinated, or empty-stomach-stress for once. He kept touching my back lightly, like he still half-expected me to vanish if he didn’t keep confirming I existed. It was peaceful.Dakota was the first to stand. “Dylan,” he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Can I talk to you? Out of earshot?”Dylan blinked. “

Last Updated : 2025-12-11

Chapter Sixty Four

Dylan and Dakota were still sorting lumber in the yard—Dakota reverent, Dylan confused—when Darcy hooked her arm through Tonya’s and mine like a woman with a secret mission. Dakota held the planks reverently, like each piece contained ancestral wisdom. Dylan was reading a chair design sheet upside down.“Dylan,” Dakota said gently, “that’s upside down.”“Oh.” Dylan flipped it over. Squinted. “I think it’s still backwards now.”Dakota rubbed his temples. “It’s okay. We’ll start with the basics. Step one- don’t panic.”“I’m not panicking.” The plank in his hands splintered loudly.Dakota paused. “…Okay. That's okay. We're here to learn patience, too.”Meanwhile, Tonya, Darcy, and I stood at the cottage door, watching our boys begin what would surely go down in history as the most chaotic woodworking lesson ever attempted.“We're leaving,” Darcy declared.Dylan frowned. “Leaving for what?”“Girl things,” Tonya said quickly.“Very girly,” I added.“Horrifically girly,” Darcy finished prou

Last Updated : 2025-12-12

Notice

I’m really sorry to announce that this story (and one of my others) will have its contract terminated soon, which unfortunately means there will be no further updates on this platform. I’m hoping this message reaches as many of you as possible before the story is taken down.While it is heartbreaking as an author, I completely understand the decision. The good news is that I’ll soon regain full ownership of my work, and with that freedom, I’ll be moving the story to a new platform (I-n-k-i-t-t).Once it’s up, I’ll be making the entire story free to read for everyone—at least through completion and for a bit of time afterward.Thank you all so much for the love and support you’ve given this story!!! Another special shout-out to Stacey Christine—your gems helped me reach the Top 49 of the month, which is absolutely wild and incredibly kind of you! Even though I won’t be paid for any of that success, knowing this story resonated with so many of you means more to me than anything.( I hav