Demon and the Mage (Jeongcheol)

Epilogue

Seungcheol

Three years later

I landed in our garden and smiled at the light shining in the hallway window. We'd moved into Jeonghan's house a week after his kidnapping. His place was bigger, something Scratch was very happy about. For such a tiny beast, he sure liked to have a variety of spots to laze in.

I wasn't often called away to deal with supe business these days, and even when I was, Jeonghan generally accompanied me. However, with his brother's wedding around the corner, he'd been needed here. Blaise was driving his groom and just about everyone else crazy with the planning, so Jeonghan had decided to stay back to stop anyone from killing him.

Literally.

A small still-treasured corner of my heart ached as I stared at that light. It'd been almost a century since that night when I'd looked up at the light Doyoon had left on for me. I'd entered the house, not knowing the heartache awaiting me.

That wasn't something I needed to worry about tonight. The bond reassured me that Jeonghan was safe and waiting for me to get home. He'd undoubtedly heard my arrival but was giving me needed space.

That was one of the things I loved most about Jeonghan. He never showed any jealousy or discomfort over what I'd shared with Doyoon. If anything, he ached for the grief I'd been through.

But Jeonghan knew that while a part of me would always love and miss Doyoon, my heart and soul belonged to him now.

Ready to be back inside and snuggled up with him, I headed for the back door. A yellow Post-it Note fluttered on it, my lips automatically lifting before I even read the shitty joke.

I don't trust those trees. They seem kind of shady.

I laughed, shaking my head, letting my bemused affection fill the bond. Jeonghan's satisfied amusement echoed in return, along with a pulse of urgency.

I wasn't the only one ready to cuddle and reunite.

I'd only been gone for forty-eight hours, but that was approximately forty-seven and a half hours too long. As I'd suspected, I wanted Jeonghan close at all times.

Fortunately, Jeonghan felt the same. He spent most of his nights working the bar with me, so we didn't have to be apart.

As I walked through the hall, my attention snagged on Jeonghan's wall of photos. New ones were scattered among those I'd seen on my first visit. Shots of us on the wall at Southsea, under the northern lights, outside the hotel in Scotland where we'd visited last year, and even a few from Vernon and Seungkwan's wedding.

It was a tapestry of the life we'd built together. My absolute favourite had pride of place right in the centre. I loved it so much that I had a smaller version in my office. I wasn't the only one either. Each of my brothers displayed one in their homes, work, or, in Soonyoung's case, wallet.

It was a casually posed photo of my brothers and me with our mates and a few important others. Blaise and his fiancé had been dragged into the shot, despite their protests. It was hard to believe they were now such a big part of our family, but with everything they did for us, we wouldn't have it any other way. Ferry and his mate were standing at the back beside Toby's cousin Sebastian and his husband. The four stood slightly apart but were still an undeniable part of our little crew.

I stroked the edge of the frame with a finger. Who would've thought that all the sons of Lucifer would be happily mated?

Certainly not me. Especially not after what had happened. How we'd come so close to losing everything.

This photo was a reminder to not forget. To remember what we'd been through. To treasure every moment because it could be our last.

I took one final look at the image, tracing over the laughing faces, before taking the stairs two at a time.

Outside our bedroom door, I was once more struck by the memory of Doyoon. How I knew opening that door would change everything.

I turned the knob and threw it open with a grin. I never needed to be scared again. Nothing could or would take Jeonghan from me.

And if they did? I'd always get him back.

Jeonghan was sat in bed, holding one of Scratch's toys so he could bat at it. When he spotted me, his whole face lit up. "You took your time."

"Sorry," I said, shedding my clothes as I stalked across the room. Grabbing Scratch under his belly, I gently put him outside the bedroom door. "And sorry, but you need to go. What's about to happen here will scar you for life."

I closed the door and turned back to my mate. Grabbing the rope from the hook on the back of the door, I twisted it around my hands. "Ready?"

Mischief danced on Jeonghan's face. "For you? Always."