A few years later

T ucked away in the veil was a small village of shifters and nymphs. Theo walked down the village's winding road one summer night, pushing his cart as the sun steadily set in the horizon. Nearly every house or cluster of people he passed, smiled, waved, and called out cheerily to him.

He continued his walk up a steep grassy mountainside. On the way up, he passed by a cottage and through the window he saw Jacques sitting on a counter pulling Oliver into a kiss. In their yard, among the stargazer lilies, was Henri's statue.

A short walk later he made it home. He had a small cottage and a yard overflowing with enchanted flowers. There was a small stream that winded through the yard ending at a large pool. Swimming through the waters were blue and purple koi. He wheeled his cart to the backyard where the stained-glass greenhouse twinkled. He parked it but didn't unload. Instead, he went into the fruit trees and followed a stone path he had made.

Eventually, he came upon a hot spring surrounded by slick rocks. He sat down and watched the steam waft off the aquamarine surface. In the middle of the water was a lone blue rose drifting across the top.

A smile tugged at his lips, and he lightly tapped the water, sending a ripple through the surface.

The rose stopped moving, then glided quickly towards him. Once it was near the water's edge, Sebastian materialized. The small blue rose was on his head. Most of the stone and flowers had gone away, but Veil told him a few would always remain like a scar. Sebastian still remained a shifter, but he was now able to control it and not get lost in his animalistic urges most days.

Sebastian was naked as he smiled up happily at Theo. "Welcome home."

"Thank you." Theo caressed his cheek and leaned down, kissing him softly on his head. "You look relaxed."

"I am. I spent the morning with the other shifters. Notice anything different?"

"Looks like you finally figured out how to make your antlers and ears go down." He rustled his hair. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," he said, smiling triumphantly. "Are you coming in with me?"

"No." Theo smirked, then pulled his shirt off and tossed it aside. "But I do want you to come out."

Sebastian eyes slipped into a predatory gaze and in a flash, he pounced, stripping the rest of Theo's clothes off through kisses and giggles.

Soon Theo naked and laying back on a cool rock with Sebastian between his legs as Sebastian fingered him steadily.

"I'm ready," Theo said, pulling him up. "We've done it enough times."

"I don't want to hurt you, though," Sebastian said hesitantly.

Those cute expressions get me every time . He sat up, grabbed Sebastian's face, and kissed him. "Sebastian Adair, I was thinking about you all day. Now hurry up and fuck me before I leave you out here."

Instantly, Sebastian's little furry ears popped out the top of his head and his tail appeared swishing behind him.

"Do you like when I'm demanding?" Theo asked with a laugh.

"Don't make fun of me." Sebastian groaned as small antlers poked out of his hair again. "I can't fully control them when I'm excited."

"Don't be embarrassed, it's adorable." He wrapped his legs around him.

In a tight embrace, they made love as the stars ignited overhead. Compared to when he was claimed, Sebastian was soft and gentle. He placed kisses on the bite mark on Theo's shoulder and purred happily.

Theo felt Sebastian's knot swelling inside of him and gripped him tighter. "Harder," he said breathily, arching up. "Don't stop."

They had done it countless times, but the knotting always made Theo whimper slightly as pain and pleasure blurred together.

Sebastian gently kissing his head and rocked into him. "You're taking it so well."

Theo cried out as his climax washed over him. He shuddered slightly in Sebastian's arms and his face went hot. "I told you not to say things like that." He buried his face in his neck. "I hate when you do that."

"No, you don't. You always cum right after," Sebastian teased. "It's payback for making fun of me earlier."

"You're annoying," Theo said, unable to stop smiling as he looked at him. "I still love you though."

"I love you, too," Sebastian said, nuzzling into him and purring.

The next morning Theo chopped vegetables for breakfast as Sebastian, Oliver, and Jacques chatted at their large round dining table.

The door flew open and banged, announcing Coralie's arrival. She dropped her luggage in the doorway and rushed over to Theo, giving him a hug. She set an empty jaw on the counter, suggesting she already released her fish into the pool outside.

"Morning Dad!" she chimed.

"Morning," he said, relieved to see she made it alright. She had started calling him Dad a few years back, and he found it endearing so he didn't question it. Before he could ask how her travels from the sea were, she rushed over to the table and sat by Sebastian.

"Sebastian! I've been practicing conjuring water. I think I've gotten pretty good." She made a watery orb appear in her hand excitedly.

"Coralie, I told you to do that outside," Theo reminded. He put a large salad bowl on the table between a large bowl of fruit and plate filled with biscuits and took a seat. After an endless winter of only eating meat Oliver, Jacques, and Sebastian rarely ever ate it anymore.

The door clicked closed, and Luna came in holding a bouquet of sunflowers. "Morning everyone," she said with a yawn.

Theo smiled to himself knowing she must've stayed up reading stars again.

After a chorus of hellos, she came over and presented the flowers to Jacques. "These are for you."

"Thank you," he mumbled and blushed. "These are lovely, Luna. We were just about to tell everyone else."

"Tell us what?" Sebastian asked, looking between them. "It's unlike you two to not tell me something."

"Well," Jacques said, taking Oliver's hand and giving it a squeeze. "We're having a baby."

"Ah, congratulations!" Sebastian said, getting up and throwing arms around Jacques. "I'm so happy for you both! When did you know?"

"We found out a few months ago. We told Luna so she could help us pick a suitable name."

"Did you pick one?" Theo asked.

"Henri," Oliver's said, rustling Jacques's hair. "It wasn't a question."

"It's perfect," Sebastian said, hugging Oliver now. "You're both going to be great fathers."

"You and Theo will obviously be family to them, too, right?"

"Without question," Theo said. "Luna, can you grab things to set the table? And Coralie, you can make the eggs since your sister is here."

As everyone chatted about children and finished prepping breakfast, Theo went into the yard. He went through their fruit trees, picking a few that would be good for Jacques and the baby. Now that he knew as a nymph he’d live longer, there was a part of him that wondered what it’d be like to have a baby with Sebastain one day. He pictured a young girl running across the yard with her cousin Henri. There was a quiet rustle of leaves, and he broke away from his thoughts to make sure there wasn’t danger nearby.

Instead of an animal, he saw his parents, all four of them, deep in the woods. They were made of sunlight filtered through the leaves.

He flashed a smile and waved their direction. He was about to call out to them, but Sebastian's voice came across the yard.

"Theo, come on!" Sebastian called. "We're waiting for you to eat."

"Coming!" He turned back toward his parents, but they had vanished somewhere in the morning light. He shrugged it off, knowing he'd see and talk again when the time was right. With a few fruits in hand, he walked back to spend the day with his family.