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Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. TheEVERAFTER
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. 79
  82. 80
  83. 81
  84. 82
  85. 83
  86. 84
  87. 85
  88. 86
  89. Epilogue
  90. GLOSSARY
  91. TheEVERAFTER
  92. By Amanda Hocking

With my toast finished, I took another long drink of my wine, enjoying the warmth it left in my belly. Then I leaned back on the couch and moved my legs up, lying them across his lap. He smiled at me, and cautiously, he rested his hand on my thigh, barely below my shorts.

“What other things have I been missing out on?” I asked. “From the human world. Rock shows? What else?”

“Oh, that’s a good question.” He thought for a second. “Food, for sure. I know most trolls have tough stomachs, but there’re foods that are allergen friendly and very tasty cuisine. There’s this amazing vegan place in Portland that a lot of the Mimirin students check out on breaks, and they love it.”

“Try more food? All right, I’m up for that.”

“Oh, and beaches. Like, warm sunny beaches with crystal-clear water,” he said. “All sorts of animals, like elephants and pandas.”

“I see nature documentaries,” I reminded him.

“I guess I don’t know then.” He ran a hand through his messy curls. “The truth is that I haven’t seen that much of the world either. But I know there are plenty of amazing places to explore.”

“I used to be so anxious being out in the human world, but they’re not that different than anyone else. Plus, I’ve seen some really beautiful things.” I thought of the wolf pack I saw with Eliana, and a beautiful veil waterfall. “I’d love to see more of it.”

He grinned crookedly. “We’ll start with a vegan place and a rock show.”

“It’s a date then,” I said. “When stuff is straightened out, and we have time.” I yawned. “Sorry. I should be getting home.”

“Or . . .” Pan paused. “You could spend the night here.” Then quickly, “We don’t have to do anything. I can even sleep on the futon.”

I leaned over and kissed him. “We’ve spent enough time apart lately.”

50

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Slumber

He lent me a shirt—an oversized Guns N’ Roses tee—and I went into the washroom to change. When I came out, nervously pulling the hem of the shirt farther down my thighs, Pan had turned off the overhead lights, so the apartment was dimly lit by a bedside lamp. He was on the other side, shirtless, bent over and petting his dog.

“I was just letting Brueger know that he has to sleep on the floor tonight,” he said.

“I didn’t mean to kick him out of bed. Now I feel bad.”

“Nah, don’t worry about him. He doesn’t mind.” He straightened up and smiled over at me. “That shirt suits you.”

“Thanks.” I blushed and climbed into his bed so I could hide under the covers.

Pan got into the bed and clicked off the light. He slid over to me, but not quite close enough to touch. “Do you need me to set an alarm or anything?”