Vampire Blood (Vampire Bite #2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Annika

Several months had passed since everything had happened. The town was slowly being rebuilt, piece by piece, like a puzzle coming back together. There was still so much to do, but the sound of hammers and laughter in the distance made it feel like the world was starting to heal. The wounds were fading, even if the scars remained.

I stood by the window, staring out at the busy streets below. It was early morning, the sun still soft, casting golden light over everything. The air was fresh, cool with the promise of spring. Everything felt… right. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this kind of peace, this kind of contentment.

As I watched the townspeople work below, I didn’t even hear him approach. But I knew it was him. I felt the weight of his presence behind me, his steady, comforting aura. His warmth seeped into the air around me.

“You’re up early,” Lucas said quietly, his voice a deep murmur.

I smiled, not turning to face him just yet. I was still taking in the view, letting it sink in. “Just thinking,” I murmured back.

His footsteps were light on the wooden floor, and soon I felt his hands gently settle on my shoulders, his fingers brushing against my skin. I leaned back into his touch, the comfort of his presence settling into me like the morning sun.

“Thinking about what?” His breath was warm against my ear as he spoke, and I could hear the quiet curiosity in his voice.

I finally turned to look at him, his face illuminated by the soft light streaming through the window. His dark eyes met mine, and there was a tenderness there that made my heart skip a beat. He had been my rock through it all. Through the chaos, through the loss, through everything.

And now, standing here with him, it felt like we had found something worth fighting for. Something real.

“About how far we’ve come,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “How much we’ve rebuilt... together.”

Lucas’ lips curled into a soft smile, his thumb gently tracing my cheek. “We’re still rebuilding,” he said, his voice so full of warmth, so full of certainty. “But we're stronger now. And we have each other.”

I nodded, my hand reaching up to rest on his chest. The steady beat of his heart was all I needed to remind me that we had made it through, that we had survived.

“I know,” I said, and this time, I was sure of it. “And we’ll keep going. Together.”

Lucas’ gaze softened, and he pulled me into his arms, holding me close. I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. It was a small, simple moment, but it was everything.

“Together,” he repeated, his voice a vow.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. There was one more thing on my mind, something that had been tugging at me for a while now.

“I’ve been thinking,” I began, my voice soft. “I’d like to visit my mother again. To see her... to really talk to her, after everything that’s happened.”

Lucas paused, his gaze searching mine. I couldn’t quite place the emotion in his eyes, but it softened as he processed what I’d said. A part of me feared he might want to keep me here with him, that he might be reluctant to let me go, even if only for a short time. But instead, his voice was steady and full of support.

“Of course,” he said. “You should go. But... I don’t want you to go alone.”

I blinked in surprise, unsure if I heard him correctly. “What?”

His hand gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin as he looked at me with such sincerity. “I’ll go with you. I think... I think we both should go.”

“You want to go with me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, a soft smile pulling at his lips. “I do. I’ve been too close to losing you, so I’m not letting you out of my sight any time soon.”

It sounded like a joke, but I knew that it wasn’t.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief flood through me. “Thank you,” I whispered, the gratitude in my words more than just for his offer. It was for everything he had been to me.

“Anytime,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “We’ll go together, whenever you’re ready.”

“Great,” I said, a little apprehensively, wondering if this could be the right moment to tell him what I had been meaning to for a while now. But so many things had happened, preventing me from doing so. “Because uhm… there’s something that I need to tell her, but before I tell her, I think you should know it first.”

“What is it, my love?” he asked softly.

I took a deep breath, my fingers nervously brushing against my stomach. It was subtle, but the change was there, and it had been for some time now.

I couldn’t hold back the smile that curled on my lips, the happiness bubbling up inside me like a flood. “I’m pregnant, Lucas.”

The words left my mouth, and for a split second, everything froze. I saw his eyes widen in shock, then something else, something warm and utterly joyful.

“Pregnant?” His voice was hoarse, almost a whisper as he stepped toward me, his hand reaching out to gently touch my stomach. It was a soft, almost reverent gesture, as though he were trying to make sure this was real.

I nodded, my heart soaring as I watched him. I could see the joy spreading across his face, his smile growing wider, and I knew, in that moment, everything had shifted.

“I thought... I thought maybe I was imagining it, or it was just the stress of everything we’ve been through,” I continued, the excitement building in my chest. “But the truth is, it’s real. We’re going to have a baby, Lucas.”

His eyes shone with something unrecognizable. It was hope, love, a new kind of purpose. And then, without a second’s hesitation, he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against him.

“A baby,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Annika, this is... this is everything.”

I laughed softly, feeling the tears threaten to spill over, but they weren’t from sadness. No, they were from the sheer joy of this moment, the realization that something beautiful was starting. Together.

“Are you happy?” I asked, my voice trembling just slightly. I needed to hear it, needed to know that this would be just as magical for him as it was for me.

“I’m more than happy,” he said, pulling back to look at me with a look so full of love that it almost took my breath away. “I’m overjoyed, Annika. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my entire life.”

I smiled, feeling warmth spread through me, deep and true. This was it. This was our future, together. No matter what challenges we faced, we would face them as a family.

“You’re going to be an amazing father,” I whispered, resting my head against his chest.

“And you’re going to be an amazing mother,” he whispered back, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

We stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a moment, letting the reality of the news sink in, both of us basking in the warmth of our happiness. But then, of course, Lucas’s mischievous grin slowly crept onto his face, and I knew he was already thinking of something to say.

“So,” he began, his voice teasing, “have you already thought of names? I mean, I was thinking we could name them after a great hero, someone like—”

I raised an eyebrow, already knowing where this was going. “Like who? A great warrior or a mighty ruler?”

He smirked, clearly amused by the idea he had in mind. “How about Lucian for a boy? Sounds strong, doesn’t it? The name of someone who commands attention.”

I rolled my eyes, nudging him playfully. “You mean you want to name them after you, don’t you?”

“Why not?” he said, utterly shameless. “Lucian would be a perfect name for our son.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his confidence. “I suppose that wouldn’t be too bad. But I think we should consider something a little less... narcissistic.”

He chuckled, then pretended to think. “Alright, alright. What about... Annabelle, for a girl? It’s elegant, regal even. Definitely suits a little girl born from someone as amazing as you.”

My heart fluttered at the thought, but I couldn’t resist teasing him. “Annabelle? Is that your way of telling me I’m a princess?”

He winked, grinning wide. “You could say that. After all, I’m the king, and you’re the queen of my heart.”

I laughed, playfully shoving him away. “Stop it! We can’t name our child after royalty, Lucas. They’ll grow up with expectations of grandeur that they’ll never be able to meet.”

He leaned in closer, his grin softening into something more sincere. “Fair enough. So, what do you have in mind, then? I’m all ears.”

I thought for a moment, feeling the weight of the decision settle in. “Well, maybe... something simple. Strong, but simple. A name that will make them feel grounded, like they belong.”

He tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. “Grounded, huh? You mean like something from nature? A name that feels… earthy?”

“Exactly,” I said, feeling my heart settle into the idea. “Maybe something like Aiden for a boy. It means fiery one. I like the idea of our son having the strength to face whatever life throws at him.”

Lucas’ expression softened as he considered it. “Aiden… I like it. Strong, fiery… but not too over the top. I can get behind that.”

I smiled, glad to see him on board. “And for a girl, maybe Lila. It means night, or dark beauty.”

He looked at me, eyes filled with admiration. “Lila… it’s perfect. A name that feels as beautiful and mysterious as you.”

I smiled, a warm blush spreading across my cheeks. “You always know how to flatter me.”

Lucas chuckled, then pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I think we’ve got two good options now. Aiden or Lila… either way, they’ll be perfect. Just like you.”

I rested my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothing me, grounding me. I felt the life growing inside me, the weight of it both humbling and thrilling. Everything felt so right. Everything had led us here, and now, in this moment, I knew that this was where we were meant to be.

“I’m so happy,” I whispered, my voice soft, yet filled with all the emotion I couldn’t quite express. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

He held me tighter, his arms wrapping around me as if he were afraid to let go, even for a second. “Me too,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair. “I didn’t know it was possible to feel this complete.”

Lucas pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes, his expression tender, filled with the same deep affection that had carried us through everything. “I love you,” he said, his voice steady, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

I could hear him say it over and over again and never get tired of it. He made my heart so full, so peaceful, so beloved.

“I love you too,” I replied softly, my heart swelling with every word, threatening to burst at the seams. “More than you could ever know.”

He kissed me then, gentle and slow, as if savoring the peace we’d found. In that kiss, I could feel all the promises of our future, all the unspoken dreams and hopes we would build together.

As we pulled away, I looked out over the town. I couldn’t see the damage anymore. I couldn’t see the scars from the battles we’d fought. All I could see was a future. Our future. And in that moment, I knew that everything would be alright.

We would build it all again, brick by brick, together. And nothing, not even the darkness we had faced, could take that away.