32. Ezra
THIRTY-TWO
ezra
And that’s everything,” Rina finished summarizing to the coven about everything with Ravenna, all piled around Willow’s living room in various states of costume. “Well… mostly.”
Willow was sitting on one of the chairs, her feet in Damien’s lap, looking even more pregnant than the last time we’d seen her. Her sister, Luna, had come from the demon realm with her mate, Zain, and their twins. Everyone had cooed over them, eager to meet the new additions to the family.
Because that was what this was: not just a coven, but a family.
Somehow, despite everything, one I’d been welcomed into. Rina slid her hand into mine, curling our fingers together. My mate.
“We’re together,” she said, smiling up at me.
I tucked a hair behind her ear, unable to look away from her.
She seemed even more beautiful now, if that was even possible.
Maybe it was because she’d purposefully pulled the dress to the side just enough that the spot where I’d marked her yesterday. “He’s my mate. Officially.”
I nodded, not sure what else to say.
“That was a lot to absorb at once,” Cait said, brushing her orange hair back. “You really think she was telling the truth about this other coven? That we’re related to them?”
“I don’t know,” Rina admitted. “It could have all been something she made up just to try to rattle me, but… she knew their names. And knew Wendy and I’s great-great-whatever grandmothers were best friends. Which is true. They did found Pleasant Grove.”
Eryne frowned. “Is it possible that she just found a newspaper clipping somewhere and decided to run with it? Just like the one Barrett and I found?”
“Maybe.” My witch sighed. “I don’t know. I just can’t help but feel like this isn’t over.”
But even I couldn’t deny that when you put them side by side, there was some familial resemblance. They shared the same features, though I never would have put that together before seeing them in the same place.
“If this is the same coven that cursed me, it all makes sense.” I’d recalled that piece of information to the group; how I’d put two and two together about Damien being the same demon. “When I’d entered that bar, looking for Luna, they’d somehow known what I was without me even using my powers.”
Willow furrowed her brow. “I want a piece of this bitch.”
Damien pressed a kiss to his mate’s forehead. “Relax, little witch. If she hadn’t, we never would have met.” None of this would have happened without him coming into town, setting off a chain of events that had given me Rina. “And for that, I’ll never complain.”
She settled, relaxing into his hold, and the rest of us shared a look.
“You said she burned in the fire, right?” Wendy asked.
I piped in. “Well, we were a little distracted. By the time Rina had finished healing me, and my vampires had finished off the rest of the coven—” The girls all winced at that. “—there wasn’t a trace of her left. Just ash on the wind.”
It didn’t feel like closure. It felt like we were waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“And what, do you think she’d come here?” Willow asked, worry on her face as she slid her hand over her belly, her motherly protective instinct activated. She already seemed to care more about her unborn child than my mother ever cared for me.
I shook my head. “I have no idea. She wanted to perform some spell to have me under her permanent sway. Ravenna thought we were superior races to humans and wanted to rule over them.”
“No way,” Damien snorted. “That would be horrible. History has proven that, time and time again.”
“Unfortunately, some vampires actually agree with her,” I said.
Not to mention that some of the coven members, Draven, the werewolf, and the Grimm had all disappeared before we’d dealt with them.
“But that’s my problem to solve.” I squeezed Rina’s hand.
“My mother wants me to be at her side, to step into the role I was born for, but I have some strict requirements if I am going to agree.”
“You do?” Rina blinked. This was something we hadn’t discussed.
“I was going to talk to you about it first,” I told her. “We’ve been a little busy.”
“Oh.” She blushed, and then seemed to remember there were a dozen other people in the room with us. “Right. Never mind.”
“I have to say, the biggest surprise out of all of this is you two actually liking each other,” Eryne said, pointing between Rina and I. “I thought you two hated each other.”
“We did.”
“You hated me,” I specified.
She frowned. “Well, you didn’t like me either.”
I shrugged. “No, I just couldn’t figure you out.
” She’d been an enigma to me from the beginning.
I’d never hated her though, not really. I’d hated the idea that she couldn’t stand me, that I might be mated with someone who wanted nothing to do with me, but never her.
I’d never imagined she could actually love me.
Rina waved her hand in front of her, dismissing me. “Semantics.”
I dipped my head against her neck, brushing my mouth over her ear. “That’s my line, belladonna.”
She looked up at me, eyes heated.
Barrett laughed, resting his chin on Eryne’s head. “You made them do it again, sugar.”
“Well, at least one thing’s still right in the world,” she mumbled.
Willow sighed. “Well, it seems like as long as we stay vigilant, we’ll be okay, right, babe?” She turned to her demon.
“Of course, Wil. We’ll keep you safe.” He glanced at the other men.
“Nothing like your friendly neighborhood watch,” Barrett agreed.
I chuckled at the thought of Barrett and Damien walking around in the dark with flashlights like mere humans, instead of the powerful, supernatural beings that they were. Especially considering both of them could see in the dark.
“Should we get back to the party now?” I asked, wrapping my body around Rina’s. “I want to dance with my mate.”
We’d never danced together in all this time, which seemed like a damn shame. I wanted to curl my body around hers, to twirl her around, to make her laugh and smile as I held her tight. They were things I’d never wanted before—things I’d never even dared to want.
The ballroom in my manor had sat empty for years, but for the first time, I wanted to fill it.
Wanted to show Rina off, to declare her as mine in front of all the vampires, because now she truly was.
I’d never stop worrying about her, but she’d more than proved she could take care of herself, and I trusted her.
Plus, she’d earned the loyalty of my vampires, which was a feat in itself.
Rina looked at me, golden flecks in her hazel eyes sparkling as I wrapped a finger around a strand of her hair.
“Dance with me?” I asked her, acting like there was no one else in the room.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she placed her gloved hand in mine. “Always,” she murmured. “All you have to do is ask.”
Good thing I planned on asking her every day for the rest of our long, eternal lives.
ONE WEEK LATER…
The blood moon was high in the sky, a red haze cast over the manor that was full of vampires. Vampires I’d invited here on my terms, wanting to present my mate to them. She was the lady of the manor, the witch I would claim as my future consort, and hopefully soon, my wife.
The ring box was tucked into my back pocket.
Was it too soon?
Absolutely. There was no rush—we would be together for a long, long time. Even if she wanted to get rid of me, I wasn’t going anywhere. Not in a thousand years.
But I still wanted my ring on her finger, my bite on her neck, my name as hers.
As long as Rina said yes, we were golden.
Her eyes met mine as she descended the stairs, red velvet dress hugging every curve of her body, flaring at the hips as it trailed to the floor.
“Wow.” That was Victoria.
Scarlet murmured her agreement.
“Quiet,” I barked at them, wanting to revel in the moment.
Rina’s eyes were locked on mine as she took each step, that silky brown hair cascading down her shoulders. At the end of the staircase, I held out my hand for her, a rush of rightness flowing through me as she placed it in mine.
“You look absolutely beautiful, belladonna.” Beautiful and dangerous. She’d always been both things, but she was even more lethal like this, every bit a vampire’s mate.
“Thank you.” Her eyes swept over my attire. “You clean up pretty well yourself, vampire.”
I leaned into her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling her scent, before turning to the other vampires. “Shall we?”
“It’s your party,” Raven said, her black hair slicked back into a tight bun that somehow complimented her silky, dark green dress. “This one’s all you, Ez.”
I squeezed Rina’s hand as the ballroom doors opened like magic—her doing, I knew, as I looked over and saw the sparkle in her eyes.
“You never cease to amaze me,” I murmured against her ear.
“Just wait until later,” she whispered back.
I grinned. “Oh, I have plans for you later, my witch.”
Her answering smirk told me everything I needed to know. “I hope they don’t conflict with my plans, my vampire.”
We were ignoring the entire room of vampires staring at us, but I didn’t care. Not when this was the exact brand of foreplay that always seemed to make her wound up extra tight.
“Guess we’ll have to see who wins.” I winked at her—because it was always a game between the two of us.
Then I stepped forward into the light, the entire room dulling to a whisper.
“Hello, everyone,” I addressed the room. “I called you all here tonight for a very special announcement. Introducing, my blood mate.”
Rina’s grip tightened on my arm, but I knew she wasn’t scared—she could easily take care of herself.
Especially with the silver dagger she had strapped to her leg, even now.
She didn’t go anywhere without it, and considering it was my first gift to her, it made me a little feral.
I planned to shower her with hundreds more—dresses like this one, gemstones for every part of her body so she was dripping in them, and books.
So many books. Leather bound ones with gilded edges, paperbacks that made her blush, and everything in between.
“It is my honor to present my mate, Rina. She is a witch, the Lady of Darkmire Manor, and my chosen consort.” I turned to her, still holding her hand between us.
“And she is mine.” I let my lips curl up, fangs exposed in warning.
“Though if anyone attempts to harm her, be assured she’s just as bloodthirsty as I am. ”
“How’s that for an introduction?” I murmured in her ear.
She shuddered against me. “A little over the top, honestly.”
I chuckled, curling my hand around her hair. “Then it was perfect.”
Rina pushed my chest. “You’re insufferable.”
“You love it.” You love me.
Her eyelashes fluttered. “I do. Damn you.”
Laughing, I swept her into the center of the room, marveling at the change in me.
A month ago, I had all but resigned myself to being alone forever.
To never have this. When she’d rejected me, I never imagined we’d end up here, together.
I’d worn her down, and somehow earned her love, and this was the end of our journey, but the beginning of our life together.
We were starting a new chapter, and I couldn’t wait.
“May I have this dance, sweetheart?” I murmured into her ear.
She pretended to think about it for a moment, pursing her lips. “I suppose that could be allowed. But only because you’re a very handsome vampire, and I’m hoping you bite me later.” Rina wiggled her eyebrows.
My dick twitched in my slacks. “You’re playing with fire, witch.”
The hand not in mine slid up to my shoulder as I wrapped mine around her waist. “That can be arranged, you know.” The candelabras around the room flickered.
“Best leave the fire-play to the professionals.”
“Fine,” Rina laughed as I spun her in my arms, the two of us moving around the room without missing a step. Of course, it helped that we were perfectly in sync—that I could hear her heartbeat, feel every breath, know every move she was going to make before she made it.
When the music came to a crescendo, I dipped her, her head falling back, before bringing her back into my body, eyes connecting as the music ended.
“How was that?” I asked her.
She peeked around the room. “I could have done without all the people staring at us, but I liked it.”
“Good.” I dropped her hand, and she frowned.
“Aren’t we going to dance again?”
I shook my head. “No.”
Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out the black velvet box.
“Ezra.” Her eyes widened.
“You said all I had to do was ask,” I reminded her as I dropped to one knee. “Now, I know this is mostly a human custom, but your Nana insisted I ask anyway.” And the coven, who had told me they’d disown me if I didn’t.
“Gods, you’re embarrassing,” Rina whispered. “Get up.”
“No.” I grinned. “Rina Margot Hallow, will you do me the eternal honor of being my wife, the lady of this manor, my consort, and my everything?”
Her eyes were glassy. “You’re an idiot, Ezra Darkmire.”
“Maybe. But either way, I’m yours.” I slid the ring onto her finger, not waiting for her response.
She stared down at it, at the black gold band that held a ruby stone. Her birthstone. It was teardrop shaped, surrounded by rose vines and smaller red stones. I’d poured over my options, but was confident she’d love it.
Finally, after a beat longer, her lips curled up into a radiant smile. “Yes,” she whispered. “Gods, who even am I?” She poked at my chest as I stood up, wrapping my arms around her. “This is crazy, but yes, I’ll marry you, my stubborn, ridiculous, perfect, incredible vampire.”
“You forgot how very handsome I am,” I reminded her as I scooped her up in my arms, brushing my fangs over her shoulder. “And what a proficient lover I am.”
“Ew, Ezra,” she groaned. “Don’t say that.”
I laughed. No matter what, our life together would never be dull. “I’m looking forward to a lifetime of taunting and teasing you, Sabrina.”
“I take it back. I’m not marrying you. You’re crazy.”
I glared at her. “No take backs allowed.”
“Where are we going?” She frowned, looking behind us at the ball and all the vampires enjoying the festivities.
“There will be more,” I promised her as I carried her out of the ballroom, back up the stairs, and into our bedroom. The one I’d moved her into after we’d returned and she’d never left. “But right now, I want to get back to those plans I had for you…”
“Oh, vampire, talk dirty to me,” she smirked. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
Rina cupped my cheek, kissing me, the cold metal from her ring resting against my face, and somehow I just knew—everything was perfect.