Page 58 of Midlife Demigod Unexpected

The ribbon was stretched across the front entrance of the door, in front of which we all stood for a photograph: Mae, Chloe, Bianca, Jane, Kartika, and me. Smiles brightened our faces and I held scissors in my hands. The warmth of love and light filled me as I stood there experiencing the appreciation of my coven mates.

“In the name of the Dagda I open this pub for all of Cougar Creek,” I grinned.

I cut the ribbon and allowed everyone to come inside. I hadn’t let anyone in since the rebuild had started. We had broken ground, but we hadn’t finished up until after the River Styx had changed course and was now running through the center of Cougar Creek blending with our creek. It made it a bit dangerous, but it had been the easiest way to give Styx a little room to grow, clean the river, and not involve the demigods. The river had grown, giving O’Halloran’s a beautiful river view. We had added a rooftop terrace. After I cut the ribbon, I walked inside the pub past the beautiful, polished wood bar and up a spiral staircase that led to a rooftop terrace. The beautiful forest of Oregon could be seen stretching out across the mountains around Cougar Creek. Down below the Cougar Creek mixed with the Styx, running through the valley.

“You got lucky,” a male voice said over my shoulder.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Ryder, the demigod of monsters,” the man said, giving me a glimpse of his horns before they disappeared back under the glamour.

“You should know you’re now one of us,” he said.

“No thanks,” I said. “I may be a demigod, but I don’t have any plans on leaving Cougar Creek.”

“That’s still the name of the town?” He asked with a smile. “Maybe we should call it Styx Creek.”

“Very funny. I don’t think we’re going to let it be known Styx is out.” I responded.

“And how exactly are you planning to hide that from the demigods?” Ryder asked.

I frowned at him. “The demigods have shown no interest in this place since all the problems first began.”

“Because they weren’t informed except where it mattered with Toern and Mae.” Ryder pointed out.

“So maybe a better question,” I said, “is why aren’t you telling them about what’s going on here or what happened?”

“Because I don’t think they need to trouble themselves with it,” Ryder said. “You seem to have solved the problem fine on your own.”

“This problem cost lives,” I said.

“I know,” Ryder said seriously. “And we thank you for dealing with it. I still don’t understand exactly how you let the River Styx go through, but you’ve managed to keep the portal closed to the Dark Fae.”

“Well, it turned out the Dark Fae didn’t want to come into New Attica.” Kartika walked up. “You know, most Dark Fae don’t like it around here.”

Frank came up behind her, putting his arms around her and holding her tight.

“What are you two going to do now we’ve solved the crisis of Cougar Creek?” I asked.

“Oh, we’re going to stick around a while,” Kartika said, smiling up at Frank, who gave her a kiss. “We’re going to keep the cabin at The Estate and settle in there for a while. The pentacle of time might be gone but I think the creek still needs a pretty strong coven here taking care of the portal.”

Chloe was looking out across the view. “This was an amazing addition,” she said, smiling at me warmly, her new sheriff’s badge shining on her chest.

“You didn’t want to be the sheriff, I’m sure,” I said, “but you know Cougar Creek needs a sheriff.”

“She’s going to be the best one in town,” Antonio said. “Now we can keep all the shifters in town, too, without having any threats of prices on their head.”

Jane and Toern walked up holding hands, one of their furry friends in tow.

“You two can’t go anywhere without a dog, can you?” I asked. “You realize Ryder’s right there and everything is okay. You’re allowed to be out and about in the world? Morel made the sacrifice and the crypt is clean.”

“Oh, I like having dogs around,” Toern said.

Jane looked at me. “And mon cherie can have as many pets as he likes. As far as Cougar Creek goes, we will stay. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world I could take Toern to where he could feel more comfortable and more at home than here.”

I grinned as Mae and Bianca joined us with Branson and Mateus. All of us stood on the deck of O’Halloran’s pub looking out across Cougar Creek with the sun high in the sky, warm on our skin. “Looks like we’re all staying.” I grinned as we pulled out chairs.

“Can I make you something to eat?” Jag asked.

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