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It would’ve been fucking scary, actually, if I didn’t trust Eden like I did. If I didn’t know in my very bones that she was nothing like my father.
“Well,” said Eden, “Lucky for me Esposito was there. He brought me food and water, and he died trying to help me escape.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears. She took out a tissue and noisily blew her nose. “Thank you for telling me.”
“It’s the truth.” Eden chewed her lower lip, looking like she might start crying herself. “He put himself in between me and the vampire who kidnapped me, trying to buy me some time to run. It almost worked, too, except I had nowhere to run to.”
Mom’s face went tight with horror. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. For everything you went through.”
Eden managed a smile. “I’m fine now, though. Good thing I’m tough.”
Suddenly, I couldn’t bear her being even a few inches away from me, so I pulled her onto my lap. “Yeah. She is. Although if I could stake that bastard all over again, I would.”
Eden brought her mouth to my ear. “Can we tell her?” she asked in an undertone. “She could use some good news.”
I nodded.
Eden turned to my mom. “We’re mated. Talon claimed me, and I accepted.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom’s mouth dropped open. Then she was on her feet, teary-eyed but beaming. She rounded the table and enfolded us both in a hug. “I’m so happy. I never thought I’d live to see Talon claim anyone.”
“You’ll come to our mating ritual?” Eden asked. “It will be in the spring, after our little guy is born.”
Mom straightened, her face crinkled with joy. “Oh, baby, I’d be honored to.”
“But don’t tell anyone, okay? Even my mom and dad don’t know. We want to tell them in person.”
“I won’t,” she promised.
We left soon after that. Eden was silent on the drive to the castle, but as I helped her out of the SUV, she rose on her toes, framing my face in her hands.
“Talon? I want you to listen. Are you listening?”
I eyed her, puzzled. “Yeah.”
“I am not your mother, and you are not your father. We get to write our own story. We may mess up, but that’s on us.”
I gripped her wrists, my gaze moving over her earnest face. Gods, I loved this woman. No, I fucking adored her.
Sincerity poured from her. I felt it in my soul, where our bond was anchored. In that moment, I realized I still hadn’t let go of that last, small doubt.
I swallowed thickly—and let myself believe. In Eden. In us. In our future.
“I will,” I said. “I will.”
She gave a satisfied nod and brushed her lips over mine. “Good,” she murmured.
I dragged her closer, eating at her mouth, drinking in her sweet Eden taste. When I released her, it was only so I could get her somewhere private and kiss her some more, only this time, we’d both be naked.
“How’d you get so wise?” I asked as we walked up the castle steps, hand in hand.
“Is that wise? Seems like common sense to me.”
“Then I wish everyone had your kind of common sense. Because you’re absolutely right. This is our story, and you’re the only one I want to write it with.”
“Oh.” She sucked her lower lip in. “You say such nice things.”
“It’s not nice when you mean every word.”
