Epilogue
CIPRIAN
Two Years Later
“Careful, cara mea,” I murmur as a little bundle of darkness attempts to fly across the courtyard. “Your wings are not ready for that yet.”
My daughter doesn’t listen, too excited by the fluttering at her back to hear me or anyone else.
When she topples over, I jump forward to help her. But she just gets back up and tries again. There’s no question in my mind about where her tenacity comes from. And I allow that thought to flow to my mate as she eats a grilled cheese on a blanket nearby.
I still haven’t tried it, despite her constantly asking me to take a bite. It’s a game between us now, one I refuse to lose.
Emilia’s tenacity comes from you, too, my king, Viviana replies.
Out loud, she says, “We’re planning a visit next month.
” Her words are for Gaby, as she just asked if we had any intentions of venturing into the human realm.
“We can’t take Emilia, though. Her wings are like her father’s and don’t vanish.
While Ciprian could use compulsion to hide her Strigoi traits—like he does for himself—we can’t risk her safety. ”
“Ah, so she inherited her mother’s beauty and her father’s weaker traits,” Marius muses, looking at me. “Seems par for the course where your shortcomings are concerned, hmm?”
I narrow my gaze. “Our daughter has superior traits from both her parents, marking her as perfect in every way.”
He smirks. “If you say so.”
“Just because your wings are inferior to mine does not mean you can insult my daughter,” I growl at him.
Amusement brightens his gaze. “Was that an invitation to spar, Cip? Because that’s how I interpreted it.”
I sigh and shake my head. “I should never have let you stay here.” He owns one of the wings of my palace—a gift I gave him for serving as temporary king in my absence.
Alas, most days, I regret that decision.
Although, having Gaby nearby makes my mate happy. Which helps cool my annoyance at Marius’s constant appearances throughout my day.
He and Gaby finally mated about three months ago, the evidence of which is currently growing inside the female.
Viviana was thrilled.
I was merely… amused.
Gaby certainly made her mate work for her affection, something I enjoyed observing.
But right now, I very much want to take my best friend up on his offer to spar. If nothing more than to have an excuse to punch him in his grinning face.
He still smiles far too much.
Though, in secret, I think I may smile even more.
Because my mate and our child have brought me immense joy.
They’ve settled my soul. Created a new era for the Strigoi Kingdom. And taught me how to love in a way I never knew imaginable.
A love that only deepens now as my daughter attempts to fly into my arms. “Up,” she commands, causing my lips to twist in a ghost of a smile.
“Having a seizure over there?” Marius asks.
I ignore him and lift my daughter into my arms instead. I’ll take him up on his sparring when I return.
Because up means Emilia wants to fly. And just like her mother, I’m a slave to her wishes. I’ll give both of them everything I am. For eternity.
I’m theirs in a way I’ll never belong to anyone else.
“Want to join us, mate?” I ask Viviana as I situate Emilia on one hip.
Viviana practically jumps off the blanket to run for me—very much like our daughter just did—causing me to grin in full.
Marius comments something else that I ignore, my focus entirely on my family.
They’re my life now. My world. My reason for existing.
It’s strange to think that I lived over a thousand years without them. It’s like I was barely alive then. Now, I’m truly breathing. Truly existing. Truly reigning.
“Let’s fly,” I say, embracing my mate and our daughter, then flap my wings to take us to the sky.
Emilia squeals with delight.
While Viviana simply sighs with contentment, her mind completely at ease.
I love you, my fearless queen, I whisper into her thoughts.
I love you, too, she whispers back. My Strigoi King…
Thank you for reading Dark Obsessions…
If you enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Viviana and Ciprian, check out Chastely Bitten. It’s a standalone vampire romance set in a very dark world…