Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
His kiss makes everything inside of me still.
His kiss makes me feel I’m safe. I’m loved. And I’ve finally found where I belong.
Epilogue
IT’S THE SAME CAVERN for our second wedding, but this time, it’s Pastor Jim who marries us, and unlike before, there are more people in the crowd that I know, and all of them makes my heart feel so, so full.
My mom Cristine is dabbing her eyes like always. Abigail is with her father, and they both look so happy. There’s everyone from home, too. Mrs. Lyme. Cook Arlene. All the maids and the guards. The other Mafia Kings. And Celine, who winks at me as she catches my bridal bouquet, which causes her guardian to betray his emotions for the very first time with the slightest of winces.
I didn’t think life could get any better after this...except it does.
I’m not sure how this is even possible, but when Devyn says he’s prepared something special for our honeymoon—
“This can’t be true,” I whisper.
“It is.”
“I can’t believe—oww!”
My beloved Mafia King of the South has just flicked me on the forehead, and it stings!
“Do you believe it now?” he drawls. “Or would you like me to do it again—”
“I believe you,” I say hastily.
And I do, really.
99% of me knows this is real, in the only way that people marked by Hewhay’s can experience, but...the 1% of me is just...
Gobsmacked.
Like, wide-eyed, open-mouthed, unable-to-breathe kind of shock because...seriously?
How in the world are we in Silver Mist?
As in...the very same coastal town in Maine where Olympus Bewitched takes place.
As in...the same magical town where the mist never quite lifts, and the light has a silvery quality that makes my photographer brain itch for a camera.
And...look!
Isn’t that...isn’t that Panda’s Diner?
As in the same diner where Blair and Paul first—oh my gosh, oh my gosh!
I look at Devyn, he nods, and I nearly squeal.
The couple seated at the counter is really Blair and Paul!
In the flesh!
I can’t believe—
Huh?
My world has suddenly turned dark, with Devyn covering my eyes from behind.
“I think you’ve already stared at another man long enough, Your Majesty.”
Oh, this man is just too cute.
When he lifts his hands, he’s already standing in front of me.
“Eyes on me, queen. This is our honeymoon in case you’ve forgot—”
It’s my king’s turn to grunt, and my turn to surprise him as I raise myself on my toes, cup his face, and stop his words with a kiss.
THREE MONTHS LATER
THE BALCONY OFF OUR bedroom overlooks the kingdom.
Amber light spills across the landscape—always amber, always warm, like this world refuses to color-correct itself no matter how many times my brain tries. In the distance, the city glitters, a sprawl of lights and life and people who have no idea their king is standing on his balcony at midnight, arms wrapped around his wife like she might float away if he lets go.
Devyn’s chest is warm against my back. His hands are clasped over mine, both of us resting them against my belly in the cool night air...and that’s when we both feel it.
A flutter. Tiny. Impossible.
How in the world—
Devyn goes completely still...even as his hands remain on my belly.
And then...we feel it again.
A kick.
From within me.
We move at the same time, Devyn spinning me around even as I’m also quickly turning to face him—
“Did you feel that?”
We say the same words at the same time.
And laugh also at the same time as both our eyes start to sting.
“It can’t be,” he says hoarsely. “I can’t—I told you, I can’t—”
But I’m thinking of Hewhay.
Of the surprise I accidentally chose.
Of Devyn’s own words: We will never have children here.
Here.
In his world.
But Silver Mist isn’t his world. Silver Mist is somewhere else entirely—a pocket between realities, a place where the rules are different, where mist and magic blur the edges of what’s possible.
Where Hewhay’s surprises have room to grow.
Another kick.
Stronger this time.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he whispers back.
The kingdom glitters below us. The amber light spills across the world. And somewhere, in a bookshop that exists between realities, I imagine Hewhay is smiling.
Surprise.
THE END
Dear Reader,
1613H (FRIDAY) 26 DECEMBER 2025
Cavite, Philippines
Before anything else, a blessed Christmas to everyone, and thank you for picking up a copy of this book. Readers like you are one of our greatest gifts from God, and it is through your support that He channels His blessings and provisions, which consequently enables us to provide a safe and loving place to call home to over twenty cats, all rescues, and several of them suffering from lifelong medical conditions.
If you are new to my work, I write both contemporary and paranormal romance, and occasionally write cozies and PWF as well. I started over a decade ago in steamy romance, but I am now slowly transitioning to writing sweet romance.
My greatest inspiration for this book is C.S. Lewis, not because his was a portal fantasy as well, but I’ve just always loved how he was able to convey so much about his faith in God without actually ever mentioning His name. And so that was what I wanted to aim for with this book.