Cursed

Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

"I wish you would give me a reason for all the secrecy," Avi grumbled.

"You'll know soon enough," Scott assured him, elbowing him gently in the ribs. Over the last few months, their relationship had become extremely close. It couldn't hold a candle to what he had with Mitch, of course, but it was comforting to have a friend while his boyfriend was off being king of the world.

"I hate surprises," Avi said, unappeased.

"Oh, no you don't. And it's a good thing. Come on," Scott said, and the two of them caught up to the crowd descending into Runyon Canyon as the moon climbed higher in the dark April sky.

After half a year, Scott no longer had to shift into his wolf at the full moon at all if he didn't want to. He could allow the vampire within him to override the lycan and hold it back almost indefinitely. His power was still unnerving to some, but most of the Cursed population in Los Angeles was used to it. He was hardly the only hybrid in town these days.

Marcus had been the first to volunteer, once he'd been sure of the science. He and Dess were now living mostly as a vampire couple, with him shifting to wolf only when the moon demanded it. They were even on the waiting list to adopt a human child, though it would be a few years for that.

Hybrid science was a booming field. Nearly all combinations had been tried now, but there was one Scott was excited to see become a reality tonight.

"What are you two dawdling for?" Mitch called. He was already stripping out of his clothes, eager to let the big cat out to play.

"I'm trying to get Avi excited about his birthday present," Scott called back, his gaze lingering as always at the shine of moonlight on Mitch's sharp clavicles.

"I've been dead for almost seventy years," Avi said flatly.

"I'd say you're very much alive," a female voice said. "And as I've given so much of myself to keep you that way, I'd appreciate it if you didn't call yourself dead."

"Rachel!" Avi said, watching his favorite human servant as she floated to his side. She beamed at him. "What are you doing here?! I thought you were sick! It's been weeks since I've seen you!"

"Not sick, just changing. I didn't want you to suspect. And since we don't really know what will happen at the full moon."

"We? What's going on?" Avi turned to Scott.

"Happy birthday," he replied with a grin.

Rachel put a small hand on Avi's cheek, calming him as no one could. "You know that I love you. That I've loved serving you. But this is a way that we can both have more."

"I don't understand..."

"I've taken the hybrid injections. I'm sorry that you won't be able to taste my blood anymore, but I'm eager to rewrite our future, once I'm something else." She leaned in to kiss his lips gently.

"What will you be?" he wondered, something like awe in his voice.

"I suppose we'll know soon," she said, and after a little shudder ran through her body, she stepped out of her shoes and began to undress. Avi walked close and helped her unbutton her jeans. It was almost too sexy, watching him stare intensely at her and pull her clothes off with his big white hands. Scott had to shift his attention to Mitch.

Watching Mitch transform was always such a treat. He did it so smoothly. One moment he was a gorgeous boy, and the next he was a powerful black leopard, golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Scott could feel his wolf leaping around within him, wanting to start a play fight with this overgrown kitten. But he wanted to stay in his human form so that he could keep Avi together.

The Master vampire's demeanor was swinging wildly. He seemed eager for the transition to be complete and also seemed terrified by what was about to happen. All of that seemed dulled by his need to rush for Rachel every time she cried out with discomfort. Scott clapped a hand on his shoulder and with his other hand, he rubbed Mitch's ears.

Rachel was huddled over, her skin glowing like lava. Then suddenly, she leapt up into the sky and flew in a huge arc, a trail of sparks marking her progress across the dark sky.

"What is she?!" Avi demanded, watching his girl fly above him.

Scott beamed as he watched her pass overhead. "She's a fire faerie. That's the name she chose," he advised.

"Fae and...witch?" Avi guessed and Scott nodded.

"She's gonna be incredibly powerful. You'll be a good match."

"We always were a good match," Avi said wistfully, watching as Rachel shared the sky with were-eagles and werehawks. Scott could only smile at this. Love could make even the coldest souls burn brighter.

Mitch padded around the canyon, supervising all the new activity, while Avi and Scott took a quick moment to feed from their human servants. Scott could never quite explain how much more delicious blood tasted under the full moon, but it was just one of the many weird facts of this new life. Just as he was beginning to come gently down from this new high, Mitch was beside him, once again in human form. They shared a kiss, not too deep though, since Mitch didn't love the taste of fresh blood on Scott's lips.

Just then Rachel returned to earth, and she was stunning to look at. A constant wind seemed to blow her fiery hair back from her face. She looked to be made of fire, and her shape was birdlike but also something more. It was Avi that figured it out first.

"She's... She's a dragon," he whispered. Rachel smiled cryptically with her glowing lips and she knelt at Avi's feet.

"Pretty much all Avi ever wanted in life was a dragon," Mitch said, awed.

"I know," Scott said, unable to stop smiling as the Master and the fledgling became acquainted.

"That was a wonderful thing you did for him. You're a nice guy," Mitch commented. 

Scott turned at the change in his lover's tone. "Is that a problem?"

"No! Not at all," Mitch said. "It just makes me want to do some very not-nice things to you..."

Scott gave a wide smile, his canines sharp and extended. "I'd like to see you try!"

A moment later, they'd both shifted and Scott let out a joyous bark as he ran through the canyon, the dark, sexy cat close on his heels.

The End