Epilogue
“What word am I thinking of?” asks Lucas, lounging on our bed.
I meet his gaze in the mirror as I finish brushing my hair. “The same word you’re always thinking of.”
“You need the practice, Skye. Come on.”
“It’s just going to be sex .”
“It might not be.”
“But it will be.”
His lazy smile…the vampire is too handsome for his own good. “But it might not be.”
Over a month has passed since the showdown with Marc. The house has mostly been set back to rights. Though, we still find shards of broken glass and stray cushion feathers here and there. Henry likes to call it war confetti.
Lucas has been to several board meetings, and the overhaul of The Boulevard Hotel is ongoing. Things seem to have calmed down in the city of angels. For the moment, at least.
“You haven’t asked about the jewelry box sitting on your bedside table,” he says, reaching for same.
Turns out he was right about owning more belongings. The vampire seems to have limitless resources. And he’s been showering me with gifts. I feel like an undead Cinderella. In the space of a couple of months, I have gone from desperately needing to ask for a raise, to independently wealthy with a ridiculously rich boyfriend.
We’ve barely spent a moment apart since reaching our understanding and acknowledging our attachment. I don’t know how Rose and Samuel handle a bond like this. How they managed to go for years living in separate countries. Guess it eases with time. Or perhaps you grow accustomed to the way it has its hooks so deep in your heart, there’s no escaping it. But Lucas and I stay as close to each other as possible. I still don’t know if soul mates are real. I just know I’m happier with him by my side.
The only upset during the last month came care of photos taken at my funeral. Helena sent the parcel. It was my decision whether to view the shots or not. Leave them for a decade, maybe, when the hurt wasn’t so close to the surface.
My curiosity won out in the end. I hate how my family are grieving me. The sorrow on my mother’s face will stay with me for the rest of time.
How my ex turned up and ugly cried at the service is wild. I mean, he dumped me. My best friend Nicole should have accidentally tripped and pushed him into my open grave. It’s the least he deserves.
But Henry was right about the funeral being an end to that life. There’s a certain comfort in knowing it is done, and my friends and family are hopefully moving on now. I don’t know. Life and death are so complicated.
Apparently, as I’d hoped, my parents are buying a house on the beach with the life insurance payout. And I’m glad to hear it.
But back to the here and now.
Lucas tosses me the red velvet box from the side table. And I actually manage to catch it. “What’s this?”
“Open it and see. Then tell me what word is on my mind.”
I have been practicing reading minds and emotions. Strengthening the ability is going to take some time. But I no longer need to wait for the word to appear. I can now usually search it out on my own. Something which will, no doubt, come in use in this new life.
Inside the velvet box is an antique platinum and solitaire diamond ring. And it is awe inspiring. The sort of thing royalty wore in days of yore.
I don’t know what to say. He’s given me necklaces and bracelets and earrings. But this is the first time he’s presented me with a ring. The thing is…it looks like an engagement ring. I highly doubt he intends for us to get hitched. Lucas has been single for well over a millennia. While we’ve been officially dating and living together for a whole month. A really great month. But still.
“I picked it up from Cartier in London near the start of the last century,” he says, calm as can be.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Hmm. I am glad you like it. Read my mind, Skye.”
And if the word he’s thinking is either sex or penis , I am absolutely throwing the velvet box at him. Not the ring, though. It is far too pretty to be so abused.
I search for the quiet corner in my mind and then reach out to him. It’s like there’s a tentative bridge between his brain and mine. I don’t know how else to describe the sensation.
His emotions find me first and shock the shit out of me. The man is actually nervous, despite the cool smile on his face and the at-ease body language. Being the Woodsman taught him to show a strong front at all times. To allow no vulnerabilities and to hide his fears. Never has he been nervous about a damn thing since I’ve known him. At least, I don’t think he has. But he definitely is now.
Because the word he’s giving me is marriage .
My carefully styled eyebrows reach for the roof. “What?”
He just watches me.
“Wow…”
And he still says nothing.
The sensible thing to do would be to wait for a year or two. To give ourselves time to ensure this is something lasting and real. But fuck that noise. “You know I love you, right?”
He cocks his head. “No. I didn’t know. I suspected it. But I am happy to hear the words from your lips.”
“You really want to get married?”
“I thought it might be something you would enjoy.”
“Something I would enjoy?” I smile. “Lucas, you don’t have to hide your heart from me.”
“ You are my heart, Skye. There is no hiding from you as much as I might like to.”
Yeah. I don’t know what to say. Because he has just delivered the most swoon-worthy line I have ever heard. Seriously.
Meanwhile, not knowing what to say is not a problem Henry is having out in the hallway. “Did she say yes?”
“Surely she would,” Benedict’s rumbly voice comes next. “Our sister is a very sensible woman, and the old man can support her in more than adequate comfort.”
“Such a romantic way of looking at things. They love each other,” says Leilah. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
“How many of you, exactly, are listening at the door?” I ask, sliding the ring onto the appropriate finger.
“We’ve got Nico on the phone,” reports Henry. “He wants an update. Yes or no, sweetie? You wouldn’t believe the engagement party I have planned. Fireworks, champagne fountains, llamas, you name it.”
“Llamas?”
The corner of Lucas’s mouth has curled up some. And his gaze is glued to the ring on my hand. “Skye’s answer is yes.”
A hearty round of applause comes from the hallway. Having a happy family is a good thing.
Lucas is standing behind me in the blink of an eye. He wraps a hand around my ponytail and brushes his lips over my neck, making shivers race up my spine. His other arm wraps around my middle, anchoring my back to his front. One of the absolute best places in the world to be. I mesh my fingers with his and hold on tight. Tight enough that he couldn’t get away if he tried.
“You don’t have to read my mind,” he whispers in my ear. “The next word is forever .”
“ Forever .” I repeat with a smile. “I like that word.”
Continue reading for a sneak peek of TEXT APPEAL.