EPILOGUE || COLE #3
“You’re Cole,” a burly, silver-eyed vampire said, flashing me a wide smile as he approached. A thinner vampire with dark hair, dark eyes, and pale brown skin followed beside him. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I’m sure,” I said, arching a brow.
“Holy shit,” the silver-eyed vampire laughed. “You look just like him. Down to the mannerisms.”
“And you are?”
“Oh, right. I’m Michael.”
I found myself grinning. “You’re Thierry’s progeny.”
“Guilty,” Michael said, beaming back at me. He nodded to the dark-haired vampire beside him. “This is Danny, my mate.”
“You guys were the hunters, right?” Eli asked. “I’m Eli, by the way.”
“Yeah, we were,” Danny replied. “We still are, sometimes. Whenever something really bad pops up. You’re an old soul?”
Eli nodded. “I’m still remembering—but according to what everyone tells me, it takes a while for all the memories to come back.”
“I’ll bet. What’s your oldest memory?”
Eli bit his lower lip. “Um… it was a long time ago. I was a hunter for my tribe. We all lived in a cave and wore animal skins.” He shrugged.
“It was a pretty uneventful life, to be honest. Not a bad one, I guess. Though running water and takeout is better than bathing in a river and having your food try to kill you. I’m not sure how long ago it was, but it was way before calendars existed. ”
“That’s incredible,” Danny breathed, shaking his head. “So, I guess that means you’re probably the oldest person here.”
“He certainly robbed the cradle with me,” I said with a grin. “I’m only eight centuries old, after all.”
“You know that I didn’t have many other lives. Only a few,” Eli said softly, meeting my gaze. “That changed the day we first met. After France, I kept coming back, over and over.”
Silently, he added, I was coming back for you. I can’t prove that, but I know it’s true.
“Are you guys enjoying the wedding?” Danny asked.
“It’s my first,” Eli and I said at the exact same time.
Michael and Danny traded a knowing look, grinning at each other.
“And you two?” Eli asked.
“We’re supervising,” Danny said, his expression darkening fractionally.
I followed his gaze to the dance floor. Godric was dancing with a short, thin vampire with spiky black hair who looked like he might have been of Latine descent.
He was grinning up at Godric, saying something animatedly that I was too far away to hear.
The dark-haired vampire patiently listened, then nodded, which caused his partner to beam.
“Godric and Rico,” Michael said with a sigh, shaking his head. “I’ve seen odd couples before, but when they say opposites attract, they aren’t lying.”
“I still don’t like it,” Danny muttered, watching them with a frown. “But Godric makes Rico happy. And I suppose he’s not as bad as I thought.”
“Jury’s out on that one,” Eli remarked, frowning at the ancient vampire. “I’m not a fan. He’s an ass.”
“Indeed,” I agreed, watching them. “I’m not certain anyone is a fan of Godric.”
“Rico is,” Danny said with a sigh. He nodded toward a blond couple on the opposite side of the dance floor, who were watching them just as intently as we were. “Even Bryan and Tobias are starting to come around.” He paused. “I suppose we can allow more supervised visits—it’ll make Rico happy.”
“Godric is devoted to him,” Michael said, nudging Danny. “And he’s been willing to wait—it’s been the better part of a year. We know he’s serious about trying to be a better person for Rico. He’s willing to do whatever it takes.”
“He has respected our boundaries,” Danny admitted grudgingly.
“Is Rico your progeny?” Eli asked, studying Danny.
“He’s Bryan’s,” Danny said immediately. “But I feel… responsible for him.”
“To hear Rico tell it, he’s got four dads,” Michael said with a chuckle. “Bryan and Tobias, and then Danny and me.” He paused. “And I guess Thierry and Jeremy are pretty invested too. And Nathaniel has been teaching him how to bake.”
“The vampire king has been teaching him how to bake?” Eli asked incredulously.
Danny shrugged. “It’s important to him. He never got the chance to do it when he was mortal.”
“Godric has been learning how to cook,” Michael said quietly, “so that he and Rico can make meals together.”
Eli and I traded a knowing look at that.
Danny, who didn’t seem to notice, rolled his eyes. “Fine, he’s an asshole, but he’s not entirely bad.”
“Fate always gets its way,” Michael said. “We’re living—or, well, I guess, un-living—proof of that.”
“I’m sensing a story there,” I remarked.
Danny and Michael traded another look that spoke volumes. “You’ll learn way more than you ever wanted to,” Michael said a moment later, punctuating it with a chuckle. “After all, if you’re Thierry’s brother, that means you’re family. And you always will be.”
Danny met Eli’s gaze and added, “Both of you.”
“Anyway,” Michael said, taking Danny’s hand. “It was nice to finally meet you guys. We’ll see you around. Soon, hopefully.”
With that, they moved to the dance floor. The music changed to a slow song.
“Shall we?” Eli asked, holding out his hand. “We can be terrible together.”
“When in Rome, I suppose,” I said with a sigh, taking his hand.
“Funny story. I actually had a life in Rome,” Eli remarked, leading us forward. He slid an arm around my waist, his dark eyes meeting mine. “It wasn’t as good as this one. None of them were.”
I pressed a kiss to his lips, feeling warmth spread through me.
Then I laid my head on his shoulder and let him move us to the music.
With Eli here, I didn’t need to be in control anymore.
We could take turns. It was enough to simply be who and what I was in his presence.
The predatory urges—the desire to hurt others—had vanished completely.
I didn’t know what the future held for either of us, but I knew we would face it together.
“Always,” Eli said softly, clearly having heard my thoughts. His hold on me was firm and warm, reassuring and perfect. “I love you, Nicolas. I always have, and I always will.”
I smiled, wonder filling me again at how simple and easy it was to fall for him—all over again. “I’ll always love you, too,” I promised. “Forever.”
THE END