Epilogue- Abi
Abi
“Iknew it! I knew you’d get kidnapped!”
I shifted my phone from my right hand to my left as I adjusted how I sat on the bench attached to the circular picnic table.
“As I pointed out when I first told you about the incident, you thought I’d get kidnapped instead of actually getting a job.
Me getting kidnapped had nothing to do with being a house manager. ”
“The point is, a mother’s instincts are never wrong!”
I leaned against the table—one of a couple that occupied the little corner of the block which made up the tiny but cute Richmond Park. “How long do you intend to keep on telling me this? It’s been weeks since I was kidnapped.”
“I’m going to be reminding you as long as I live! As a mother I want my children to be safe, and you were not safe!”
While listening to another admittedly deserved lecture, I twisted on the bench, looking for Beckett.
He was still where I’d left him about a dozen yards away, standing on the sidewalk at the edge of the bridge. He was surrounded by Algoma locals.
We’d been on our way to North Water Bakery & Deli for ice cream when he’d gotten waylaid.
It had started with Lina, who wanted to tell him she suspected her grandmother had a crush on one of his earlier Kinge identities.
Then Maria Josè wanted to see his fangs, and after that I knew escape would be impossible, so when my mother phoned, I took the call.
Beckett had gone public not only with supernaturals, but with human locals, too.
He’d taken the plunge back when explaining the Josephine situation to the local police—with my support, as I figured that was the best PR time to announce the truth.
(I mean, really. “Man reveals he is vampire to save locals from rogue supernatural”?
The Curia Cloisters lawmakers would froth at the mouth to have good publicity like that!)
“—and Beckett is the only reason why I haven’t driven up to Algoma myself. Goodness knows you’ll be safe with a powerful vampire at your back,” my mother said as I tuned back into her lecture.
“What do your motherly instincts tell you about Beckett?” I asked, curious.
My mother—my entire family, actually—had talked, video-conferenced, and chatted with Beckett for hours ever since the Josephine situation. (Beckett had insisted on it. He wanted them to know he took my safety seriously.)
“Your new boyfriend? I’ll admit I was reluctant at first.”
“Because he’s a vampire?”
“No! Because he put my baby in danger!”
“He didn’t really. I did that all on my own.”
“Yes, yes. I’m well aware you’re the biggest danger to your own health. At any rate. The more I’ve observed him the more obvious it has become that if I want you to live to see age forty, he’s the greatest hope I have.”
“Are you calling me incompetent?”
“No. Quite the opposite. You’re so competent that you ignore your own wellbeing to achieve your goal. You did it with your corporate job, and you did it again with this whole vampire-kidnapping ordeal,” my mother said.
I watched Shannon and Jonas join the two von Stiehl employees in chatting with/cornering Beckett on the edge of the bridge. “Huh,” I said.
(I mean, she was right. What else could I say in response?)
“So what do you think of him now?”
“He’s winning me over with his good manners and careful treatment of you. Bonnie has talked a lot about how handsome he is and how proud she is of you for snatching him up.”
“Bonnie also asked him if he was sure he wanted to date me or if he fell for me just because I’m the first woman he interacted with after living like a hermit for so long.”
“She was testing him. She’s concerned about you, too.”
“She has a weird way of showing it,” I grumbled.
Beckett stared at me over the top of Jonas’s bald head. His expression was neutral despite the humans clamoring around him, but I recognized it as a cry for help. “I need to go. Beckett is getting overwhelmed.”
“Carry your pepper spray!”
I smiled at the familiar warning as I hung up, then stood up and ambled towards the bridge.
Shannon was the first to spot me, and a beaming smile bloomed on her lips. “Abi! There you are! We were just asking your sweetie how he feels about full moons.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s a werewolf thing, not a vampire thing,” I said.
“Abi!” Lina shoved her way past Beckett to wrap me in a crushing hug. “It’s delightful to see my savior again! You still need to take me up on my invite to come back to the winery for free tastings!”
“I’ll be sure to do that,” I said, intending to never cash in on the favor.
Maria Josè also swooped in to give me a motherly hug. “Yes, we’d love to see you at the winery again. Besides, you must meet Dawn. She’s back at work, and we’ve told her all about you. She’s very anxious to meet you.”
I curled my toes in my sandals, warmed by their kindness—even if wine wasn’t my thing. “She was one of Josephine’s victims, right?”
“Yeah.” Jonas grinned at me. “You’ve got all kinds of folks thankful for what you and Mr. Kinge have done, so we’ve decided you’re considered an honorary local!”
Shannon winked at me. “That kind of thing usually takes at least a decade or two of living here, if not longer!”
“Thank you. That’s a huge compliment.” I tilted my head as I considered Beckett. “Does that make Beckett something beyond a local?”
Beckett raised his eyebrows.
“That is a good question,” Jonas said. “Which reminds me, Beckett. If anyone from the Kewaunee County Historical Society drops by your home, you should hide. They’ll probably consider you an original historical source considering how long you’ve lived in the area.”
Lina nodded emphatically. “Wise words.”
Beckett fidgeted and glanced at my hand.
Guessing by his body language, I stepped out of the huddle Lina and Maria Josè made with me to stand by Beckett and slip my hand through his.
Beckett immediately threaded his fingers through mine and caressed my hand with his thumb, making the innocent gesture feel much more intimate than I would have thought possible.
Shannon, Lina, and Maria Josè exchanged amused looks, before Lina—the elected spokesperson, apparently—enthusiastically clapped her hands. “We ought to let the lovebirds get on with their date night! It was good to see you two local celebrities.”
“Yes, remember to stop by the winery!” Maria Josè said.
“Huh?” Jonas said.
“Come on, Jonas. We’re leaving.” Shannon nudged her coworker down the sidewalk.
“But why?” Jonas asked.
“We just are.” Shannon gave Beckett and me a wave before she dragged Jonas off across the bridge.
Maria Josè and Lina set off in the opposite direction, heads tilted towards each other as they chatted together in lowered tones.
That left Beckett and me standing together, rapidly blinking, feeling as if we’d just weathered a storm that had swept in and then abruptly left. (A very kind storm, but still a storm.)
“People are very friendly in Algoma,” I said.
“They are.” Beckett tugged on my hand as he took a step forward, leading me to cross the bridge.
I, however, stayed standing where we were.
“Is something wrong?” Beckett asked. “Do you no longer want your ice cream?”
“I do, but before I pig out, I wanted to let you know that I’m ready.”
Beckett blinked. “Ready for what?”
I took a deep breath. “To try having you drink my blood.”
Beckett stared at me.
“Remember, it was your suggestion because you can secret a chemical compound in your saliva—”
“I know why I suggested it,” Beckett said. “I’m merely thrilled you’re already prepared to try it.”
The heavy topic broached, I felt comfortable enough to start walking. “I did some deeper reading on the topic in the vampire book you gave me—I like to be mentally prepared for new experiences.”
Beckett swung our clasped hands as we crossed the bridge. “I never would have guessed based on your emotional attachment to your Algoma guidebook.”
I gravely shook my head. “Guidebooks are serious business.” I grinned at my vampire, who smiled back—his pronounced fang teeth glinting in the dusty evening sunlight. “How was it being mobbed by the locals?”
“It wasn’t too overwhelming… at first,” Beckett said. “Everyone is very pleasant and eager.”
“Yeah, I think they’ll be more likely to ask you to pose for pictures, kiss babies, and confirm historic facts than anything else—publicity stuff. Although I expect they’ll brag about you to all the surrounding cities that don’t have powerful vampire lieges.”
Beckett snorted, but we’d crossed the bridge by that point and almost caught up with Shannon and Jonas, who had run into Christopher.
When Christopher saw Beckett he gave him a sweeping bow. “Liege,” he said. “May the moon never set on your excellence and the night stretch on so your strength continues to endure.”
Jonas squinted, looking from Christopher to Beckett, and scratched the top of his scalp. “Christopher, my dude, did you spend the weekend binge reading poetry again and forget to sleep?”
“It could also be whatever tea he’s been drinking recently,” I said, knowingly.
“Sorry, did you say tea?” Shannon asked.
“Never mind that. Christopher, remember next week we install more security cameras!” I brightly said.
Christopher sighed dramatically. “Technology—it whispers sweet promises of an easier life like that of forbidden magic, but in the end it is only hollow oaths and a price paid with sweat. And cursing.”
Jonas draped an arm over Christopher’s shoulder. “We all know you don’t like technology, bud. It’s okay.”
Shannon checked her phone. “As much as you dislike technology, we did use our phones to place a takeout order with China Moon about fifteen minutes ago. Our food should be ready now, so we’ve got to run.”
I waved the duo, now trio, off. “Goodbye again.”
“Bye!” Jonas called as he hurried after Shannon.
“Fare thee well, Liege. Liege’s dear One.” Christopher solemnly bowed, then strode off after his friends, catching up with them quickly with his long legs.