Epilogue
Claire
Three Months Later
I stare at myself in the mirror and I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing.
An actual bride in an actual wedding dress, about to marry a vampire king.
The dress is stunning. The top is a sleeveless corset overlaid in lace with a tiny row of white bows down the front.
Then the skirt widens to a simple creamy satin to the floor.
It’s not too princessy and yet not too simple.
And it perfectly shows off my best features.
It’s perfect. And not too tight, which is perfect considering I’m now three months along.
The palace healer says everything looks healthy.
“You look beautiful, Your Majesty.”
I turn to find Mrs. Vasek behind me, happy tears forming in her eyes.
“You can still call me Claire, you know.”
“Absolutely not.” She adjusts my veil with trembling fingers. “I’ve waited thirty-two years to see that boy happy. I’m not about to start being informal now.”
I laugh and take her hands in mine. “Thank you, for everything. For helping me to pull of this human-style wedding, for the petition, for believing in us, for—”
“Oh, stop that.” She waves me off, dabbing at her eyes. “You’ll make me cry more and I’ve already gone through three handkerchiefs.”
I glance over and see a postmarked card addressed to me.
“That arrived this morning,” Mrs. Vasek says quietly. “From America.”
My heart squeezes. I pick up the card and open it and immediately recognize Derek’s handwriting. Messy as always. Claire — I still think this is insane. But I hope you’re happy. — D
That’s it. Two sentences. But it’s the most he’s said to me since I hung up on him three months ago.
I blink back tears. Progress.
Nikolai has been trying too, sending Derek real information about Krovenia, the history, culture, and scientific studies proving that glamoring is a myth, that Krovenians have lived peacefully alongside humans for centuries. No propaganda, just facts.
“Is any of it getting through?” I asked him last week.
“Well, your brother hasn’t blocked my emails yet,” Nikolai said. “And he hasn’t mentioned to any of his online conspiracy groups that the Vampire King is now his brother-in-law. I consider both of those progress.”
I tuck the card into my bouquet. Derek isn’t here. But in a way, he is.
“Ready?” Mrs. Vasek asks.
I take a deep breath. “Ready.”
The ceremony is held in the castle’s great hall, transformed with thousands of white flowers and soft candlelight.
Every seat is filled with all of the kind Krovenians who were there that morning in our bedroom, trying to keep their King and accept their new Queen.
And Jenna is here too, with her new Italian husband.
The music starts and I begin the long walk down the aisle.
And then I see Nikolai.
He stands at the altar in full black and silver royal regalia, his crown gleaming on his head. He’s looking at me like I’m everything he’s ever wanted.
His fangs extend slightly. He doesn’t even try to hide them.
I almost trip over my own feet.
By the time I reach him, we’re both a little teary. He takes my hands in his, and they’re trembling. The Vampire King, trembling. For me.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi,” he whispers back. “You look...”
“I know. You too.”
The officiant clears his throat. There are quiet chuckles from the crowd.
The ceremony is a blend of Krovenian and human traditions, I requested both, and Nikolai made sure I got them. But when it comes time for the vows, we wrote our own.
Nikolai goes first.
“Claire.” His voice is rough, thick with emotion. “Three months ago, you walked into my study and I rudely called your entire species stupid, criticized your dusting and told you to stay away from me.”
Quiet laughter ripples through the crowd. Mrs. Vasek is already sobbing.
“And in response, you called me an arrogant, condescending asshole.”
More laughter now. Louder.
“You were right about me.” He squeezes my hands. “I was terrified of what I felt for you. I’d spent thirty-two years feeling nothing, and suddenly there you were, making me feel everything. I didn’t know how to handle it. So I pushed you away.”
His voice drops lower, just for me. “And then you left me a note. You walked into a blizzard to save me from yourself. You signed it with love and you didn’t even realize it.”
Oh god. I’m crying now.
His voice rises again, for the benefit of the crowd. “I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt how much you’re loved. You are my mate. My queen. The mother of my child.” His hand drifts to my belly. “I choose you, Claire. Forever.”
The crowd erupts in applause. I’m a happy, tearful mess. This is most likely ruining my makeup, but oh well.
“Your turn,” the officiant says gently.
I take a shaky breath. “Nikolai. I’ve loved you since I was fourteen years old.”
There’s a surprised murmur from the crowd. I smile through my tears.
“I had a poster of you on my wall. Which is deeply embarrassing to admit in front of several hundred people, but here we are.”
Laughter. Sebastian whoops from the front row. Viktor actually cracks a small smile.
“I thought you were just a fantasy. A brooding prince in a magazine. I never imagined I’d actually meet you. And I definitely never imagined you’d be even grumpier in person.”
More laughter. Nikolai’s lips twitch.
“But then I saw who you really are. A king who treats everyone with fairness and respect.” I squeeze his hands. “A man who ran into a blizzard to save me, even though I was trying to save him.”
“Foolish woman,” he murmurs.
I touch his face, my thumb brushing his clean shaven jaw.
“You asked me once if I chose you, knowing everything. The answer is still yes. It will always be yes. I choose you, Nikolai. The fangs, the kingdom, the grumpy mornings, all of it.”
“I’m not grumpy in the mornings.”
“You’re very grumpy in the mornings.”
The crowd laughs again.
The officiant is trying not to smile. “By the power vested in me,” he says, “I now pronounce you bound for life. You may kiss your queen.”
Nikolai pulls me into his arms and kisses me deeply, thoroughly, in front of everyone. His hands cradle my face. My arms wrap around his neck.
Someone whistles — probably Sebastian.
When we finally break apart, the crowd is on its feet, cheering.
“Hello, wife,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Hello, husband.”
He sweeps me up in his arms and spins me in a circle, and I laugh with pure joy.
The reception on the front grounds of the castle is magnificent. Food, music, dancing, and more champagne than I’ve ever seen in my life. Not that I can drink any of it — baby on board — but I don’t mind. I’m drunk on happiness.
At one point, I find Maxim brooding in a corner watching the crowd with sharp eyes. I really like Nikolai’s cousin, despite his dour exterior. When I approach, he offers me a rare, small smile. “You’ve made my cousin happy,” he says. “That’s not easy to do.”
“He makes me happy too.”
“Good.” He pauses, something flickering in his dark eyes. “The family needed this. Needed hope.”
Before I can respond, I see that Viktor has arrived and he’s brought his daughter with him. I rush over because I adore Lily.
Some think she’s a bit cantankerous, which I’ve never understood because I think she’s darling.
Viktor’s daughter is four years old with dark curly hair, big solemn eyes and wears a miniature formal dress with a poufy skirt. She’s clutching a stuffed rabbit like her life depends on it.
Viktor leads her through the crowd, his massive hand engulfing her tiny one. He looks exhausted, but his grip on her is gentle.
They stop near me and Nikolai. Lily peers up at us from behind her father’s leg, clearly overwhelmed by all the people.
I crouch down to her level, making myself small. “Hi, Lily, it’s nice to see you again.” I point to her rabbit. “I love your bunny. Does she have a name?”
She studies me for a long moment. Her eyes are exactly like Viktor’s — dark and serious. Then she yawns, and I see them. Tiny starter fangs have now appeared. Little baby points, barely visible. Oh my god. That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Snowflake,” Lily says quietly.
“Snowflake? That’s a beautiful name.” I smile. “Is Snowflake having fun at the party?”
A tiny nod. And then a smile.
Viktor watches the exchange with something painful flickering across his face. When I stand, he gives me a small nod.
“She doesn’t warm to many people,” he says quietly. “You should feel honored.”
“She’s lovely, Viktor. You’re doing a good job with her.”
He doesn’t respond, but something in his expression softens. Just for a moment.
Then the mask slides back into place, and he leads Lily away to find a quieter corner.
I watch them go, my heart aching. That little girl needs someone. And so does her father, whether he admits it or not.
Nikolai appears at my side and pulls me onto the dance floor.
“I saw you with Lily,” he says as we sway to the music. “She actually smiled at you.”
“Almost smiled. But I’ll take it.” I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. My hand drifts to my bump — our baby, growing safe inside me.
“Happy?” he asks softly.
“Perfectly,” I say. “Absolutely perfectly.”
And I mean it.