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We fell into a fit of laughter that soon died, and I heaved a sigh.
"You're all I have too," I held his hands. "I love you, and you did save me. You've had my back from the start. You thought of my well-being when you left to become a hunter and what happened with Ian was no different. I love you.”
"I love you," he kissed the back of my hands. "I want the life we always talked about. I want you."
“You already have me,” I smiled. “And we’re going to have everything we’ve wanted. We will. I just… I’m going to need a minute after…”
"I know," he hugged me. "I know, and I'll be here with you."
I hugged him and squeezed as hard as I could. I finally drank the potion to help me sleep, and Dorian held me close. I grew sleepy within seconds, and I tried to fight it. I started to panic that maybe this was the dream and I'd wake up and find myself in that house again.
"I'll be here when you wake up," Dorian whispered. "I promise."
He wiped at my tears, and I hadn't even realized I'd started crying again.
"I'm not going anywhere," he caressed my hair, and I sank faster into slumber.
I believed that even if I woke up and I was in that room again with Ian, Dorian would find me. I could depend on him, I could trust him, and I could trust Isaac too.
Wherever he was, I hoped he was okay.
***
Two Weeks Later
I watched Carla trying and failing to keep Hope still, so Diana had to step in. We were all getting new dresses, and because Nikoli arrived a week ago, he was with us. Hope was such a beautiful girl, a sweet and brilliant child, and she and Nikoli had a great bond.
She took to him immediately and followed him around like a tail, and he adored her.
Nikoli had also been furious when he learned about what had happened. He even broke down. He argued with Dorian and me to never keep secrets from him again, and I only got him to calm down when I explained we didn’t want him to be in danger.
I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to him because of me.
I was at Dorian’s almost every day since what happened two weeks ago and only went to my house on weekends. I didn't even sleep there, so while I hadn't said it to Dorian, I was thinking about putting my house up for rent and moving in with him.
I was practically living there already, and I could wait for him to officially ask me to move in, or I could take the first step.
He was also being so careful with me. If it wasn't for the potions, I wouldn't sleep, and he made sure I had everything I needed to keep me comfortable and my mind off the past. I was sleeping better now without the potions, I didn't want to become addicted, and Dorian was finally okay with me being out of his sight.
Of course, with Nikoli here and because he was trained at his school to fight, he was also my bodyguard of sorts.
I didn’t mind.
Ian was gone, but to Dorian, there were always threats waiting to make an appearance.
Diana sat down beside me with an exhausted sigh. "Don't you want one of those?" She pointed at Hope, insisting Carla made a dress with wings.
"Eventually," I replied, and Nikoli glanced my way before joining Hope and Carla.
Only then did Hope settle down. I continued to watch them, but I could see Diana watching me. She'd returned a few days after what happened with Ian and Isaac, and because of what I endured, she went easy on me and wasn't too mad that I'd kept my past with Dorian a secret.
She got mad that we didn't let her know what was happening, but there was no way I'd wanted her and Hope dragged into such a mess.
The werewolf council was contacted by a vampire royal who didn't care that Ian was dead, but they were adamant that Isaac be left alone. At Dorian's request, the Hunter Organization tried to locate Isaac, but he was nowhere to be found.
I still had mixed feelings about that because I didn't know if he was okay.
Sometimes people come into your lives and carve out a place for themselves with ease. Isaac was like that.
