I wanted to cackle madly.
Virion patted us awkwardly in a ‘There, there, you gushy, helpless people, can you please get off me now?’move, and I laughed. “Virion, all the hugs for you. All the hugs. As a matter of fact—” I looked around at all the staff and the guards surrounding us. “Doesn’t he deserve hugs, guys?”
They agreed that Virion needed hugs, because soon, Virion was in the middle of the biggest hug pile known to man, women, children, and paranormals. At least 50 people surrounded us, smiles and smirks and relief showing on their faces, as we all hugged Virion.
And Mesmer, funny, awesome Mesmer, said, “Still glad you didn’t fight me, boy?” in his deep, full gargoyle voice.
Virion sighed and then laughed. “Lesson learned.”
Epilogue
That evening I sat with Draven in the Great Room. We were cuddling by the fire, Zian was somewhere at our feet, and I was so drowsy that I was struggling to stay awake.
It took a lot out of a girl to be healed, and then have an epic battle on the front lawn.
And then a hazy thought came to mind, and I sat up, suddenly so awake that I could even math right then. And I don’t math. Ever.
“Draven...” I hesitated, cleared my throat, and then said, “You killed the other vampire.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes?” I could see he knew where I was going with this because his eyes were laughing at me.
“So, you’re now King of the Vampires.”
He nodded somberly.
I blinked.
I blinked again.
“What does that make me?”
“Right now?”
I nodded.
“Nothing.” He slowly drew something out of his pocket, and I blinked at the gorgeous opal and tungsten band. My building freak-out softened into muted joy. It was exactly something I would have picked out myself. I didn’t like rocks on my fingers. “But if you agree to marry me, you can be my queen.”
His face looked earnest and serious. His eyes were brightened by the fire dancing in front of us, the flames kissing our faces. He held the ring out to me, and I slowly reached for it, slipping it onto my ring finger.
“It fits.” I looked at him. “That means I get to keep it, right?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid you only get to keep it if you marry me.” He said this as though he was very sorry to break this news to me, but he just couldn’t do anything about the terms of this agreement.
I wanted to bust up laughing, but managed to keep it all in.
“But it fits so well!”
Draven’s eyes danced, and he bit his lip, clearing his throat. “I had it sized to fit you perfectly.”
“And I have to marry you to keep it?” I asked, as though I were just making sure of the terms of the deal.
He nodded seriously.
I sighed. “Then I guess I’ll have to marry you. I really like the ring.”
We looked at each other, and then the joy cracked us wide open, and we smiled and laughed, and heoomphedas I launched myself onto his lap, kissing his face wherever I could reach.
He laughed at me, and just went with it.
