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47 | epilogue

paris, france - five years later

Sweat pours down my back. The fluorescent opera house lights burn my eyes, but I hold my smile, legs burning.

The audience erupts into applause and cheer. In my periphery, I see the curtains lowering, and as soon as it brushes the stage floor, the whole cast rushes into place, ushering me to the middle. We all hold hands and the curtains rise again.

Somehow, the people have gotten louder. The applause rings in my ear. We all take a bow, smiling. Flowers and teddy bears are thrown on to the stage, despite the strict rules not to.

"Let's have another round of applause for the star of the show, Raine Kaliskaus!" The announcer's voice reverberates through the opera house. My co-stars kiss my cheeks and squeeze me with tight hugs. My smile brightens. My smile is real.

I made it.

After the show is over, and people are exiting the theater, I pull my hoodie over my costume and throw my bag over my shoulder, saying goodbye to the rest of the cast before darting away.

My legs are still shaky and sore, but I run as fast as I can, anxious to get to my family.

I see a familiar head of blonde curls. At the sound of my footsteps, he turns, green eyes twinkling. His wife, Ava, stands next to him, holding my two year old nephew in her arms.

Before I can take a step forward, my vision is obscured by bushy black hair. Lilah throws her arms around me, squealing. "You were amazing out there!" she gushes, cheeks pink. "And so beautiful!"

"Thank you," I say, squeezing her hands. Merrick comes up behind her and gives me a fist bump.

Rowan wraps me in a hug. "You did awesome, Raine."

I kiss his cheek. "Thanks, Rowan." Ava embraces me, squeezing me in a tight hug. I gasp when my nephew places a chubby hand on my shoulder.

"How's my favorite nephew?" I coo, scooping him up in my arms. "My Jacey."

"Waine," Jace coos, his eyes a carbon copy of my brother's. His tiny arms wrap around my neck as he buries his face into the crook of my neck.

My older brother rolls his eyes. "He's your only nephew, dumbass."

I eye Ava's swollen belly. "In a month he won't."

Rowan smiles cheekily. "You won't have to worry about that. Ava and I will be having lots of children."

"Easy for you to say," she shoots back. "You're not the one pushing babies out of your vagina."

The thought of my brother trying for a baby disgusts me. "Ew. Please never talk about that in front of me again."

They both chuckle. "Raine," Rowan says. "I think someone's waiting for you."

I hand Jace back to Ava before turning my head.

My boyfriend leans against the wall, a bouquet of white roses in his hands. I smile at him, and before he has time to smile back, I'm running and throwing my arms around him.

He catches me with ease, big arms wrapping around my waist. I feel his lips brush my ear. "Hi," I murmur.

"Hi," Arrow whispers back. "You look beautiful, Raine. You looked stunning out there," he strokes his thumb over my cheekbone. "I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

I blush. Four years of dating, yet this man could still make me blush, easy. He hands me the roses, and I inhale their flowery scent before looking up at him. "I'm so proud of you," Arrow grabs one of my hands and brushes a featherlight kiss against my knuckles. "So proud, sweetheart."