I can’t wait to spend roughly one-third of our time there.
The rest will be spent rotating between the apartment Sheena gifted us at the Colorado compound and my estate in the celestial realm. Ciprian can see his family, and Riven will be in a more central location to check on Hyacinth.
We’re planning to move the orphaned angels into the new home Sheena is creating for displaced young supernaturals. If they ever decide to return to the celestial realm, I’ll help them do it, but as of right now, they’re adjusting to life on Earth.
I’m least excited about the time we’ll spend at my estate, but it’s necessary.
I don’t trust thethatshanot to fuck things up while fixing what my father broke. They’re all claiming coercion to justify their inaction, but I’ll be keeping my eye on them in case anyone decides to follow in S’lach’s footsteps. My father’s blood has been cleaned from the courtyard, and the staff’s contracts died with him. Most of them chose to stay on, but as long as they’re working for me, they’ll be well paid and free to go whenever they want.
It’s going to take time to get over everything that happened. I’ve forgiven Gavin for his part in the duel. He was trying to save his only son, but Malach is having a harder time moving past it. Hopefully, we’ll both be able to heal, but until that happens, I’ll be doing my best to let the good memories breathe alongside the bad.
I’m most excited for my slice of normal here in the Fringes.
I’m going to keep dancing at the Fang, but on my own schedule. I still enjoy the rush, and until the day I don’t, I’ll be climbing the pole to my heart’s content.
My stiff nipple brushes against Riven’s shirt, and I sigh. “Where’s my top?”
Someone tosses it to me, and I slide it over my head reluctantly. “I’m riding my bike over.” I bend down to grab the trash can with the journal inside. “Let’s go.”
We make our way outside and down the stairs, piling into an assortment of vehicles loaded with boxes. Ciprian’s fancy SUV, Luca’s rusty sedan, and my gorgeous bike. I shove the trash can in the top case and put my helmet on. The motorcycle still makes me feel like I’m flying when I open her up on the back roads.
“Can I hitch a ride?”
I toss Ciprian his helmet and shake my head at his wide grin. “I won’t go slow for you,” I warn him. “You’ll be scared again.”
He shrugs. “I know, but I’m into it, and it’s good for me to get scared occasionally. Keeps me humble.”
I roll my eyes. Ciprian is many things but humble isn’t one of them.
We head for the house, and my excitement builds.
Alistair has been overseeing the renovations, transforming the old home into something that works for all of us. I haven’t seen it in weeks because Ali remains obsessed with keeping secrets, and he’s figured out the best way to get his fix without pissing anyone off is to call everything a surprise.
Crafty vampire.
I park my bike in the circular gravel driveway and plant the kickstand. My stomach flutters.What if I hate it?I can’t lie to him, and I’ll feel like shit if he’s disappointed.
Climbing the stairs to the porch, I inhale deeply.
The door flies open, and I’m whisked up like a bride in a black-and-white movie. It could be romantic, but Ali is moving too fast for it to be anything but an abduction.
Everything blurs around me.
The bedroom door slams, and Ali locks it with a definitive click. Yep, that confirms it—I’ve definitely been abducted. “This is not going to be a popular choice,” I say.
My lips twitch as he wrenches my helmet off and drops it on the wooden sidetable.
His eyes are red, and his fangs are hanging over his bottom lip. “I don’t care,” he snaps. “I need you. What took so long?”
I crash into him, tossing him on the bed and crawling up to straddle his waist. “You’ve got me now, what are you going to do with me?” I kiss him, letting myself get carried away by his endless intensity.
Voices rumble in the stairwell, and a key slides into the lock. The door swings open, and everyone files in. The trash can is tucked under Ciprian’s arm, and he’s already reading my journal. He glances up briefly to say, “This is bullshit, Ali.”
Malach crosses his arms. “You made us promise to follow this plan?—”
“A tour of the fucking house, followed by fucking in the house,” Luca adds.
“Who cares if he lied?” Riven shuts the door behind them and nudges Luca with his shoulder. “We can be flexible about the order of the fucking, can’t we?”
