Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
LAUREN
We’re still glowing—both literally and metaphorically—when Remus and I head back inside. Romulus stays awake this time, which is new and slightly disconcerting, but also kind of perfect?
The family swarms us immediately. Abaddon sweeps Remus into a crushing hug that would probably kill a normal person. Hannah’s asking a million questions about what happened up there. Little Raven is trying to fly directly into the glowy light coming from my chest until Kharon gently redirects her.
Remus recounts the whole thing—the Devourers, the sun, the battle. The way he tells it, you’d think he was describing a particularly exciting afternoon instead of, you know, a literal apocalypse.
Romulus rolls his eyes a couple of times from the back of Remus’s head, but he’s also smiling. Actually smiling at his brother’s theatrics instead of looking like he wants to murder everyone in the room.
Progress.
Eventually, the excitement dies down. Ksenia and Kharon take baby Luna (who’s been remarkably chill through all this chaos) upstairs for a feeding. Abaddon stands, stretching his wings.
“Well,” he says. “I think it’s time we took our leave. Thank you, Vlad, for your hospitality. We will never forget your kindness in this time of need and consider you true allies. Should you ever need—”
“Oh, not quite yet.”
The voice comes from the doorway.
Vlad steps into the room like he’s making an entrance at a ball. His silver hair catches the light. That sharp smile is already in place.
“That one—” He points a claw-tipped finger directly at Remus. “—struck a blood oath with me, the terms of which have not been fulfilled.”
Oh shit.
Everyone freezes.
“What are you talking about?” Remus’s glow flares brighter, his voice hardening. “We struck a bargain.”
“What did you give in exchange?” Abaddon’s voice could freeze lava.
“Hey, go easy on him.” Romulus speaks up—actually defending his twin, which, wow. “He just saved the world, remember?”
“Something my blood may have helped with,” Vlad interjects smoothly. “It may have fortified him beyond his own abilities. Allowed him to take on the Devourers and actually defeat them.”
“Then you already got paid,” Abaddon growls.
Vlad just smiles wider. “That’s not how a blood oath works.”
“I gave you information,” Remus says. “That was the deal.”
Vlad laughs—a sound like breaking glass. “Only a fool would think the eldest living vampire would give his own blood for mere information. No, by imbibing my blood, you made an unbreakable pact. You and all your blood kin are bound to me until the debt is paid.”
Phoenix has gone pale. “It’s true,” she whispers.
“That’s bullshit—” Remus starts, but Vlad cuts him off.
“Your family is bound to me in blood until the debt is satisfied.”
Abaddon’s jaw clenches. “And how, exactly, do we do that?”
Vlad turns to look at Layden. “Simple. You give your brother Layden to my granddaughter in marriage, so she might bear me an heir. Only then will the blood debt be considered paid.”
The room explodes.
Phoenix spins toward Vlad. “Grandfather!”
I’m shocked too. Vlad has been shooting death glares at Layden this entire time, and now he wants them married?
But looking at the calculating gleam in Vlad’s eyes, I get it. He knows exactly how powerful this family is now. An alliance through marriage—a grandchild with angelic blood—would be quite the coup for his vampire dynasty.
Layden steps forward, his face unreadable. “I will do it...” Phoenix’s mouth drops open. “If she accepts.”
Phoenix stares at him. Opens and closes her mouth. Looks between Vlad and Layden and back again.
“I— I— You don’t have to do this.”
Layden takes her hands in his, looking into her eyes with an intensity that makes me feel like I’m intruding just by watching. “We both know I do.”
“He does,” Vlad confirms cheerfully. “And so do you, dear.”
Phoenix blinks several times.
Then, finally: “All right. I accept.”
Wait, what just happened?
“Excellent.” Vlad claps his hands together. “You’re all welcome to stay the month while we prepare for the blessed nuptials.”
He looks around at his sons. “Now, I’m starved. It’s feeding time. Come on, boys. Let’s see if there are any looters breaking curfew.”
I shudder and step back as several vampires grin and follow their grandfather out.
Remus immediately puts himself between me and them, wings flaring.
“I’m so sorry,” Phoenix is saying to Layden. “I had no idea he would—”
“I don’t look forward to being in-laws with him,” Abaddon says dryly. “But nothing forges a true alliance like a marriage. If you’re both willing.”
“We are,” Layden says firmly, actually blushing as he glances at Phoenix, who nods emphatically.
“Well then.” Hannah beams, looking shell-shocked but relieved. “Looks like we’re going to a… wedding?”
Remus’s arms come around me from behind. “I don’t know about you,” he murmurs in my ear, “but I’m ready for some alone time.”
“Me too,” Romulus echoes.
I struggle not to giggle as the light in my chest flares in response. Oh wow that tingles.
“Brothers,” Abaddon calls toward them as they start steering me toward the door. “We need to have a long chat soon. About what happened up there.”
“Fine,” Remus growls over his shoulder. “Just don’t come knocking too soon if you value your life.”
Abaddon’s chuckle follows us down the hallway.
And as Remus carries me toward our room—toward our future, our forever—I catch a glimpse of myself in one of the many mirrors lining the corridor.
I’m glowing. Literally glowing from the inside out.
But that’s not what makes me stop and stare.
It’s the look on my face.
The girl looking back at me isn’t scared or uncertain or resigned to whatever happens next. She’s not waiting for permission or hoping someone will finally choose her.
She’s radiant with power and purpose and absolute certainty.
She chose this. She claimed this.
She’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.