Chapter 22
Audrey
“Are you still sure you want to do this?” Arran asks me for the umpteenth time, his forearms resting on his thick thighs.
From across the bedroom, I spin around and fist my hands on my waist. “Listen, stud. I know you mean well when you ask me that, but it’s a little insulting after all these months. Thought you knew me by now.”
Arran winces. “I’m sorry. I think the question has more to do with me, than it does you.”
“Explain.” I park my butt on the edge of the bed and fold my arms over my chest.
Everything is set for tonight. I picked the date because it’s my birthday tomorrow and I stood by what I said, never wanting to be thirty-three. I also decided on where I want Arran to bite me, wanting everyone to see the claiming mark on my neck.
More than enough blood has been prepared to replace what Arran will drain from me. And after sunset, Tilly will come over to keep an eye on me in case things go awry.
Fidgeting with the hem of his kilt, Arran can’t quite meet my eyes as he says softly, “This decision, becoming a vampire, wanting to spend eternity with me… it’s a really big commitment. And, I guess, I still feel unworthy of your love.”
“Ah,” I say, instantly dropping my guard as I understand where he’s coming from.
I pad over the cool stone floor and sit in his lap.
“If it helps, I’m not doing it solely for you.
Don’t get me wrong, you’re pretty great.
But, so is Starry Hill. And I really like living and the idea of taking care of my nieces and nephews and their kids too.
Plus, I’ll get all the advantages of super sight, scent, hearing, taste… ”
“Strength,” Arran adds, easily maneuvering my body until I’m straddling him.
I fling my arms around his neck and wiggle my eyebrows. “I have some ideas for what I want to do with that new power.”
“You have my full consent to do whatever you want. But don’t tell me now, surprise me with it later,” Arran says, his hands gliding up and down my sides.
“Okay, Mr. Adventurous,” I purr. In a more serious tone, I add, “I’m excited for everything that’s yet to come, and doing it all with you.”
“Me too. As long as the sun shines in the day and the stars at night.” Arran leans forward and gives me a long kiss. Pulling back again, he says, “As soon as you’re healed and used to your new body, we’ll go apply for our passports, then we can really start planning our first trip.”
Apparently if you change species, you need to get a whole new set of documents.
Since Arran hasn’t had any form of identification ever, he suggested he’ll apply for his too, so that if we were so inclined, we can go visit other creature-friendly towns like Willow Glen, or those even farther away.
Arran doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve secretly been researching all the places he’s told me about from his youth.
Though his old castle isn’t in use anymore, I’m planning to take him there, back to his rugged mountains and stormy dales, to his old home on the mainland.
I’m hoping it will give him some of the closure that he’s never gotten.
I’m still in the process of contacting descendants of his clan or anyone who could tell us about the area’s history since Arran left. But there’s no rush for any of this.
Tonight, I’ll start my transition, and tomorrow, my healing begins. Then we have the rest of our immortal lives together for everything else.
Arran tilts his head to one side, a secretive smile pulling on his lips. “Will you come downstairs with me?”
“Why?”
“Don’t argue. Just say yes.”
“Oh, you’re bossy. Fine, but you have to carry me.” Placing the back of my hand against my forehead, I feign fatigue. “My delicate human legs need rest before you drain all the blood from my body.”
“Audrey,” Arran scolds through a laugh, which turns into a mild groan. He doesn’t protest any further, simply scoops me into his arms and carries me toward the stairs.
Tonight, our sweet but chaotic little Anita will once again be staying with Pack Morgan while I’m transitioning.
Our home doesn’t feel the same without her, but we won’t be able to give the pup the attention she deserves while our focus is elsewhere, and we know that the fox, wolf, and panther shifters adore playing with her.
Arran is quiet as he carries me into the foyer, everything looking gloomier than usual here.
Did we forget to open the curtains today? Why does it feel off?
I cling a little tighter as Arran turns toward the parlor and I squint into the darkness.
Suddenly, bright light floods the room as the curtains are thrown open and a myriad of creatures shout, “Surprise!”
I scream, my hand flying to my chest as I try to make out everyone who’s in front of me.
Tilly, Bodin, Ren, Maisie, Shinsu, Nori, Beryl, Calixta, Aurelius, Peregrine, Viggo and Juniper are all gathered in the parlor, the entire room decorated for a birthday party.
“What is all this?” I ask, staring at the cake and balloons and party hats on their heads.
Then, my eyes fall on the banner across the back wall.
Happy Forever Thirty-Two!
Nori comes over and places a crown on my head and a sash across my body saying “Birthday Girl”. “Since you’re not going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow, we thought we’d bring it to you a day early. We know how you feel about turning thirty-three, so we made sure not to mention that anywhere.”
Maisie makes jazz hands next to a big black cake decorated with delicate red roses and intricate calligraphy marking my forever age.
“From tomorrow you’re not going to appreciate human food as much, and you need your strength before all the fucking and feeding you two will be doing tonight.
So naturally we thought we’d come to help.
Not with the fucking, but the feeding. But not the blood feeding, I mean the human feeding before the blood feeding—”
Ren clamps a gentle hand over Maisie’s mouth and pulls her against him. “Happy nonbirthday, Audrey.”
“Thank you, guys,” I say, still not quite believing what’s happening.
The cake is delicious and it’s so satisfying to know that after today I won’t have to worry about my blood sugar again. Yes, there’ll be other types of struggles, but if I can handle diabetes, I can handle whatever life throws at me.
I completely lose track of time as I spend the afternoon with my friends. Any niggle of worry or nerves I had are totally forgotten as they keep me distracted, filling me with so much love and attention.
Around sunset, I’m passed around the whole gang, each one hugging me with a word of encouragement whispered in my ear.
I know I’m essentially dying tonight before I’m brought back to life, but if the latter part weren’t to happen, I can’t think of a better way to spend my last day as a human.
In front of our ruby-red door, I lean my back against Arran’s chest while we wave our friends off as they return to their own homes.
“When did you plan the birthday party?” I ask, basking in the last rays of sunshine my human body will ever feel.
“When I knew you were certain about becoming a vampire and not wanting a thirty-third birthday.”
I whirl around in Arran’s arms. “So you’ve been fake asking me if I’m sure this whole time? Every day, twice a day, for months?”
Arran winks at me, sending a swarm of butterflies off in my stomach and dispelling my shock. “You set the standards really high with the festival and my legacy book. If I want to surprise you in turn then I have to think really big.”
I pull on the laces of his shirt. “You can definitely consider me surprised.”
“I have a nonbirthday gift for you also,” Arran says, clicking the door shut behind us and leading me into the kitchen.
“More surprises? If I hadn’t promised you eternity already, then this is one sure way to get me to do so,” I say as he directs me into a chair.
Arran opens one of the cupboards I never use and takes out a box with a big red bow and places it on my lap.
I don’t even try to be cool about it, instantly reaching for the bow and undoing it.
My jaw practically hits the floor as I lift the silver chalice up and inspect the tiny details.
It’s heavy in my hand, but comfortably so. Elaborate filigree decorates the wide base and moves up the hexagonal stem. The knop in the center is heavily embellished with engraved leaves which shift into tiny little roses around the base of the cup.
It’s unique and special and better than anything I would’ve picked myself.
Arran explains, “You mentioned once that if you were a vampire that you would sip blood from a chalice like a Gothic queen. I don’t know if you’d be up to it on your first day, but I wanted to be prepared for whenever you felt ready to assume your role.
Because you, Audrey, you’re the queen of this castle, and me. ”
“You’re crazy,” I say through tears and laughter. “And I fucking love you, Arran.”
“I love you too, more than I’ll ever be able to express.”
Tilly, now dressed in her scrubs, comes down from the guest wing and joins us in the kitchen. “I know we’ve talked about this before, but I just want to remind you of how everything’s going to work tonight.”
My heart starts pounding a little faster, but as I look at two of my favorite people in the entire world, I know this is the right decision, and everything that’s about to happen is going to be okay.
Tilly, keeping things very professional, uses her nurse voice as she explains, “Arran will drain every single drop of blood from you. The venom from his fangs will keep you alive, but only for so long. In order to speed the process up and lessen any discomfort, I’ll give you a blood transfusion through an intravenous line.
If you’re awake at any point, you’re welcome to also drink blood.
Don’t try to fight your new instincts. I have enough units here to replace everything in your body and then some.
The hopes are that you’ll be raring to go by dawn. ”