Flight of the Falcon (Byrdes of York #1)

27. Epilogue

Epilogue

Hugh

“ T hat’s the last of it,” Hugh said as he stood in his empty flat in Manchester, taking in the views of the hills in the distance, and the canal below him for one final time.

“Are you sad to be leaving?” Falcon asked, coming up and putting his arms around him.

“A bit,” Hugh replied, leaning back into his lover’s embrace. “It’s time though, this part of my life is over.”

They had one last quick look around the flat before Hugh locked it up for the last time. It had sold quite quickly, and they were going to drop off the keys to the estate agents on their way out of Manchester. He was sad leaving this place as it had been a great area to live and a good place to be when he’d been employed by Swales’s Agency, but it was time to move on. His new life in York with Falcon was where he wanted to put his efforts now.

The removal van they’d hired was packed with his things. Where they were going to put it all he didn’t know. The flat above the bookshop he now shared with Falcon wasn’t that big. Some of it would fit, the rest would go into storage until he decided what to do with it.

“Dinner at Dad’s tonight,” Falcon reminded him, and Hugh smiled. He always enjoyed dinner at Francis’s place. The siblings sometimes reminded him of squabbling children, but they all loved and looked out for each other.

“How’s Robin?” he asked.

It had been six months since they’d awakened Malik the sleeping vampire and Robin had been his almost constant companion whilst he was recovering. He’d taken him out, shown him modern day York, introduced him to new technology and encouraged him to meet with Andrew at Leconfield Hall to compare notes. Then, just over a week ago, Malik said he had to go. He had to check on something and it was urgent. That was it, he was gone. There one minute, gone the next. Robin had wandered around for a couple of days looking as though someone had stolen his favourite toy.

“He says he’s okay,” Falcon replied. “Said Malik had texted him and apologised for leaving suddenly and that he’d see him soon.”

“Does he know why he went?”

“I don’t think so. If he does, he’s keeping it to himself.”

After a quick stop to drop off the keys, Hugh manoeuvred the rented van out onto the motorway and sped up to match the flow of the traffic around them. He hoped Robin was okay. He’d come to like Falcon’s little brother, all his brothers really, since meeting them.

Falcon reached across and squeezed his hand, not letting go until Hugh had to change gear. He turned to smiled at his lover, his thoughts going to the ring in his pocket that he and Imogen had picked out a couple of weeks ago. All he needed was to find the right time to ask the man he loved to marry him.

Hugh found he was happy properly for the first time in many years. He could almost shout with joy, but instead, he reached over and joined hands with Falcon again. He was so glad his erstwhile employer had sent him to watch over Falcon Byrde. Navigating the traffic with ease and familiarity, they made their way back to York and their future life.

Hugh pulled up in Stonegate in the dark December evening. It was cold and beginning to rain, the shops around them were mostly closed, but there were still a some people around, looking for somewhere to eat or get a drink. York’s tourists never stopped coming, even in winter.

Falcon’s brothers joined them at the truck and began moving things into Fal’s shop. Those going into storage stayed in the van, and Hugh would take them to the storage place in the morning.

After saying goodbye to the brothers, he and Falcon entered the flat above the bookshop. It looked a lot less neat than it normally did, but Hugh was glad to have his things around him.

Falcon had headed straight for the kitchen to get dinner under way and Hugh began unpacking boxes that belonged in that room. He stopped to watch Falcon for a while, then grinned.

“Hey,” he said, dropping to one knee.

Falcon spun around and gaped when he found him on the floor.

“Hugh?”

“Falcon Byrde.” Hugh coughed, the emotion getting to him. “I love you more than anything. Please say you’ll marry me?”

Falcon dropped to his knees and grabbed Hugh, pulling him in tight. “I love you too, baby. It would be my honour to marry you.”

Hugh pulled him in until he was straddling his knees, then he was kissing the man he loved with all he had. He pulled away after a few moments and smiled at his fiancé.

“It’s going to be a great life,” he whispered into Falcon’s ear. “I’m so glad I get to spend it with you.”