Chapter 20
Audrey
For the next three months, I don’t get turned into a vampire. Instead, Arran and I take advantage of the benefits of his bite and fuck every chance we get.
But not tonight.
Tonight, the guys are out practicing for the Stewart Games while I’m hosting a few of the girls at the castle.
“Anita,” I gasp, bending down to wrestle my favorite vibrator out of her mouth. “I thought I told you no more of Mommy’s toys?”
Thinking it’s a tug-of-war game, the pup growls and doesn’t let go.
“Daddy likes this one too much for me to give it to you. Sorry, girl,” I say, finally freeing the toy from her jaws. It’s not beyond repair, but it can do with a very thorough wash and sterilization before it meets any sensitive human body parts again.
I don’t even know how Anita got her paws on it. I’ve moved the special toy box in our bedroom out of reach of the curious pup so this won’t keep happening.
Unless we didn’t put it back this morning after I used it on Arran. Oops. Guess I can’t fault Anita for this one.
A week after our evening of big feelings and confessions, I headed back to Cape Easton to officially quit my job and pack up my life in the city.
But this time, I didn’t get on Shinsu’s boat alone. My sweet Arran joined me.
It was his first time stepping off the island in four hundred years and it was an honor that he did so with me—for me.
Watching Arran take in the new world was an experience in itself. He clutched my hand tightly as he took in the tall and shiny buildings, his eyes hopping from one thing to another as sights and sounds bombarded him.
It was never part of my plan to linger too long in the city, so I hurried us along to my quiet apartment before Arran could get too overwhelmed.
Anita stayed in Starry Hill with Pack Morgan, while Arran and I spent the weekend packing up all my belongings. Of course my vampire boyfriend sniffed out my box of toys and tested a few on me, but I was happy to teach him which types of toys could be equally effective on his anatomy.
We’ve since made frequent use of our special collection and I’ve successfully managed to get Arran to a point where he’s needed three blood bags to replenish himself in a single night, even while supplementing directly from my veins.
Even though I couldn’t quite manage to walk normally the following day, I consider it a very successful, very memorable night.
Doing one final sweep of the parlor, I make sure there aren’t any other adult toys tucked under a cushion or hidden behind a chair leg, then head to the kitchen to check on the platter I’ve prepared.
It’s not long before I look out one of the windows and spot the first guest strolling across the hill, the setting sun limning her red curls with its golden rays.
Excitement bubbles through me and shoots straight to my feet, directing me out of the bright and airy kitchen, through the foyer, and to the castle’s front door.
“Nori,” I say, welcoming my old neighbor into my new home. “Glad we can continue old traditions in new locations.”
It’s almost unfathomable that Nori and I met in an elevator in our shared apartment building years ago and slowly became friends.
Of course fate would have it that she’d come to the island my cousin just so happened to live on, leading to Nori bumping into her childhood best friend, Shinsu, after more than twenty years.
And the cherry on top of it all is that Shinsu and Arran are good friends too and now we all get to hang out whenever we want.
“Hi, Audrey,” Nori says as she wraps me in a hug. “I always knew you’d find your way to Starry Hill and have your own happily ever after.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, accepting the freshly baked bread from her.
“Yup,” Nori says, her eyes soft. “You were always meant for a place that can appreciate all the love you have to give.”
“Even when it’s wrapped in a prickly package?”
Nori bumps me with her shoulder. “Especially then. Because everyone knows there’s not even a trace of fakeness to the way you love and care.”
The words mean a lot to me, because I know I can have a sharp tongue sometimes. My humor tends to lean dry and I’m very direct when I speak—qualities not always appreciated by everyone.
Nevertheless, I care deeply for my friends and everyone on this island, and knowing they see it and appreciate it without me having to dull my edges is unbelievably encouraging for my future in Starry Hill.
My future at Arran’s side as we love and lead this wonderful community for centuries to come.
Marisol is next to appear in front of the castle’s ruby-red door, a color Arran insisted we paint it after he felt particularly inspired one day.
The shade also happens to be the exact same as the one on my lips tonight, the same as the one I managed to get smeared all over Arran’s cock before he left to meet the guys.
“You look beautiful,” Nori says as she greets Marisol.
The siren’s long legs are clad in tight black pants and a slinky blue top the same color as her eyes crisscrosses over her back. Three proud bite marks decorate Marisol’s neck, each from one of her mates.
The possessive claiming marks have me reaching a hand toward my own neck and the healing twin punctures I got earlier this afternoon.
After we exchange hugs and a plethora of small talk, I finally remember my manners and take the offered wine from Marisol and usher them both into the kitchen.
Marisol tucks her long black hair behind her ear. “Nori, you’re positively glowing. How’s the pregnancy going?”
Nori rubs her tiny bump. “Good. Morning sickness has stopped, thankfully. And I’m happy the festival is close because I’m starting to show and I don’t want to be too big for the ceremony.”
I pour Marisol and myself a glass of wine and hand Nori some sparkling grape juice.
“You’ll look gorgeous no matter what. But what I think we all need to acknowledge is the amazing things this pregnancy is doing for your tits.
They’re looking real lush. Can you imagine how good they’re going to look in the wedding dress Peregrine made you? ”
“Whose tits are lush and amazing?” Maisie asks as she pops her head into the kitchen.
“Must be mine,” Tilly answers, following closely behind with a shimmy.
“Where’s Orion and Calliope?” Marisol asks, craning her neck as if the babies are going to walk in by themselves, never mind that they’ve not even started solid food yet.
“With their grandma Calla, and Annamae, and Lucille,” Tilly says happily, reaching for a glass of wine.
Juniper, Calixta, and Beryl arrive not much later and soon the kitchen is buzzing with happy chatter.
Dusky pink light fills the room as the sun disappears behind the rolling hills, my heart happy and full as I look at everyone gathered in this massive castle I get to call my home.
This is my clan, my family. This is who I’m choosing over my mortality, the dream and vision of my and Arran’s future alive right in front of me.
My throat tightens with emotion and I swallow against it before I raise my glass. “Cheers, friends. Happy to have you here.”
We all clink glasses then load our arms with platters of food and head to the parlor, laughter ringing out as Anita circles our feet and we try not to spill any wine.
Tilly watches me light a couple more candles throughout the parlor and asks, “You still adamant about not getting a generator for the castle?”
My answer comes easily. “Yup. I like that the castle feels frozen in time. It feels sturdy and dependable, like a living slice of history. You know it’s stood strong over all this time, and you can depend on it to remain as such for many more centuries.”
“Like Arran,” Juniper remarks, lifting Anita into her lap for a cuddle.
Dark ink swirls cover the purple-haired woman’s arms and I know better than to think they’re tattoos. Viggo must’ve painted her with his special kraken ink, marking Juniper up the same way Bodin’s tusks always mark Tilly’s chest and neck.
Come to think of it, everyone else carries some kind of mark from their partner too.
Marisol has her claiming bites, Maisie with the red outline of Ren’s tail where it wrapped around her throat, Nori and the hickeys she tries to hide with her hair, Calixta sporting dark maroon tusk marks across her chest, and Beryl with an ever-present indent on her thigh where her wife’s tail currently rests.
Calixta draws my attention back to her with a wave of her long black nails. “You ready to also be called a ‘living slice of history’ one day?”
I fold my arms over my chest and fake a sulk. “Hey, even when I’m a vampire, I’m going to be keeping up with the world.”
“You still sure you want to do that?” Beryl asks, her tone kind, inquisitive, and free of judgment.
I finally take a seat on the couch and chuck a cube of cheese into my mouth. “Don’t you also start. Arran asks me that at least twice a day, and the answer is still yes.”
Nori twirls a red ringlet around her finger. “Are you nervous about becoming a vampire?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I think it could actually be less burdensome than being dependent on insulin. Must say I’m looking forward to not injecting myself multiple times a day and calculating carbs and timing meals.”
Tilly lays a hand on my shoulder. “You’re right. It’s going to take up much less mental space than you currently use to manage your diabetes. And you know I’ll be here to monitor you throughout the transition and give any support you might need afterward.”
Once Arran truly accepted that I’m serious about turning, he told me about his own transition and how hard it was for him not to understand what was happening to his body.
The very next day we went to see Tilly and talked the whole process through with her. She gave us a list of things to expect and prepare for and it’s done wonders to put everyone at ease about what’s to come.
Calixta’s lips lift into a smirk. “Glad you’re doing it soon. You know you’re not getting any younger.”