Epilogue

                                    

                                          


                          
Two weeks had passed since the blood sacrifice. Some days it all felt like a dream. 
                          
A really morbid and gory dream. 
                          
However, I had the scar of the god's symbol that had been carved into my abdomen to remind me it was real. I had hoped that it would heal and disappear with time but so far both Talon and I bore the scar from the sacrificial ceremony, looking like it would be permanent. 
                          
Thankfully the scar was white and not blood-red or black, though it made me feel a little ill every time I saw it. I was like it was a reminder of the god himself, who was still out there plotting chaos and destruction. 
                          
No one had heard or seen from Morgana and Crnobog which told us they were laying low, planning their next move. I would be lying if I said his harrowing white eyes hadn't frequented my nightmares. 
                          
I was just happy to return to 'normal' life.
                          
I was living at Talon's Woodcreek estate now. Zara and Elias had stayed for a week, to finalise details with the High Council. They had returned home up north now, making us promise to come up and visit soon. 
                          
I missed living with Ava but she was of course welcome at the Ravenswood estate and regularly came over to visit. Though I suspected it was becoming more about seeing Alistair than it was to catch up with Talon and I. 
                          
Alistair and Ava had grown rather close during their team up to rescue me from the Witches' Council. After Alek attacked Ava that night Morgana came for us, Al vowed to look after her and that he did. Ava had told me he had given her his blood to heal her and blushed profusely. I had laughed and waggled my eyebrows, knowing firsthand what having a vampire's blood in your system did. But back then we'd had ancient laws forbidding our kinds from any sort of dalliance or even friendship hanging over their heads. Laws that now no longer existed. 
                          
When Talon and I had been taken, Alistair and Ava had miraculously managed to convince the Ravenswood's royal family and the Witches, including both the coven and High Council, to work together in stopping Morgana and Severus. 
                          
They deserved a medal. 
                          
Then that night, when Al had been controlled by Crnobog, he almost killed Ava, which explained why he had been so reluctant to look at her, much less approach her. 
                          
He avoided her for a while after. I could see that he felt horrible and ashamed but it was obvious they both really liked each other. I convinced Ava to come round one night to the house when I knew Al would be around. After some wine and some friendly pushes they seemed to move past this. They made each other laugh and often went off on tangents discussing surfing and sports which made Talon and I roll our eyes. 
                          
Al promised to teach Ava to surf and she said she'd try and make a charm that would bring good weather; more waves his way. 
                          
I didn't have the gift of sight like Bridget or Lavinia, but I was pretty sure they would be joining us on double dates soon. 
                          
They, at least, wouldn't have to hide their relationship like Talon and I did for months for fear of persecution. With the new peace in place, witches and vampires were not enemies, we were allies. We could be friends and more. 
                          
It was a strange time indeed. While of course there was still some fear and apprehension, witches no longer feared the Children of the Night to be the bloodthirsty monsters portrayed in our history books. 
                          
When witches and vampires saw each other in public, there was no longer a threat of an enemy but a respect for a supernatural comrade. 
                          
Zara and Elias, of course, were doing a mighty fine job in ensuring vampires all around the country understood the new harmony, as were the Witches' Council spreading the word to all witches. There were of course some teething problems which were to be expected. It would take some time for the new order to settle and be accepted, but we had hope.