Dorian took her face between his hands, gazing into those eyes.
Bloody hell, his life had changed so much in these last few months.
Charlotte had crashed through him with a force, bringing him out of the darkness and into the light, bringing him back to love, back to his family, back to himself.
Together with Rogozin’s help, they’d eliminated Chernikov and dismantled his entire organization, quashing the immediate threat of the demonic takeover of New York City. They’d slaughtered much of House Duchanes, reclaiming Renault’s assets for the crown, which Dorian was in turn funneling into projects toward the betterment ofallsupernaturals, guided by the new council they were just beginning to build.
After the Armitage Holdings acquisition became official, Isabelle followed suit, accepting Dorian’s offer to become the Redthornes’ bonded witch. In a new twist on an old tradition, she’d chosen to keep a workspace in the crypts next to Colin’s, but live in her own home in Phoenicia, which was just fine by Dorian. He was more than happy for he and Charlotte to keep Ravenswood mostly to themselves.
Gabriel and Colin had established permanent residences in the city. Colin opened a pediatric practice in Manhattan, even as he still worked tirelessly to further their father’s research, and Gabriel had made good on his promise to rebuild the club formerly known as Bloodbath—it would be opening in just two weeks.
Slowly, piece by piece, the Royal Redthornes were rebuilding.
But not all of the changes had been good, and may things remained shrouded in darkness and mystery.
Despite Gabriel’s constant pressure, the Duchanes witch Jacinda was no closer to the cure for the curse Chernikov had placed on them for their father’s treachery. The partnership with Isabelle had helped stave off the worst of the effects, but Dorian and his brothers were still struggling with light sensitivity and mental fog. They had to feed more often, and the tattoos faded quickly, despite Isabelle’s best efforts to replenish them. It wouldn’t be long before Charlotte and Aiden showed similar symptoms.
All they could do was keep searching. Keep fighting.
After the battle at Bloodbath, they’d searched the city for days for signs of Duchanes, but it seemed the elusive enemy had fled once again. Dorian had no doubts he was still working behind the scenes, gathering his followers for another attempted coup. While his alliance with the Rogozin demons had certainly bolstered their numbers, Dorian had no illusions that the Redthorne Royals were safe.
That they wouldn’t have to fight for the crown again. For each other.
They’d already lost one brother to this battle. They wouldn’t lose another.
For Dorian, the pain of Malcolm’s death was as sharp as it’d been on that rooftop last month, and though they’d searched his room and belongings for an explanation, Dorian never found answers to the questions he sought. They haunted him still. Had Malcolm betrayed them after all, or had he been working to protect his family all along, sowing seeds of discontent only to gain trust among their enemies? Had he truly intended for Dorian to kill him, just so they could summon Azerius?
Now more than ever, Dorian believed the strange presence he’d felt in the crypts every time they discussed the blade and the Book of Lost Souls was Malcolm, quietly lurking in the shadows, plotting in silence to save them.
To honor his promise to their mother to look after his brothers.
But Dorian would never know the truth, and not everything in life could be wrapped up in a neat little bow.
He’d always found it disingenuous to only remember the best of a man in his death, as if the darkness had never existed. Ithadexisted, and it was as much a part of Malcolm as it was a part of all of them. Discarding it might’ve made the memories brighter, but it would’ve been another lie. And lies were a part of his father’s legacy Dorian was more than ready to bury.
So for now, he would love and honor his brother as a Royal Redthorne prince, remembering the light as well as the dark, embracing the former, slowly working his way toward forgiveness of the latter.
He took in the sight of the dining room again.
Yes, so much had changed.
And now, Dorian’s life was about to change again.
“I’ve got a proposition for you, love.” He slid the scarf from Charlotte’s shoulders. “Two options.”
She gave him a soft, devastating smile.
“Option one.” He tied one end of the scarf around her wrist and leaned in close, his lips blazing a trail of hot kisses from her neck to her ear. In a dark, deadly whisper, he said, “I tie you up and doverybad things to you tonight.”
Charlotte let out a sigh of pleasure, already melting beneath his teasing words. “And option two?”
“Option two.” He kissed his way down her throat, then back up again, grazing her earlobe with his teeth, his cock already throbbing for her touch. “I tie you up and do very bad things to youeverynight, for however bloody long eternity lasts.”
At this, Dorian tugged the scarf forward and brought her hand to his, then gently slid the ring on her finger. It was a stunning red diamond in an antique setting, as rare and beautiful as Charlotte herself.
“Marry me, my vampire queen,” he whispered, dropping to his knees and pressing a kiss to her hand, his throat tight with emotion. “Be my immortal forever.”
She stared at the ring, tears spilling down her cheeks, her heart banging wildly in her chest.
