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The sun feels like bathwater washing over my skin. I’m aware of every wisp of wind, every individual bird call. I smell the papercut on the tall detective’s right forefinger and hear the blood pumping through his veins.
Will takes my hand and squeezes it reassuringly.
“We were here together all night,” he says. “I’m just grateful we decided not to sleep in the main house. Such a terrible tragedy.”
“Ms. Greyson,” the short, round, balding detective says. “Can you corroborate your fiancé’s whereabouts during last night’s animal attack?”
“Absolutely.” I meet Will’s tender gaze. “He never left my side.”
Epilogue
William
One year later...
Mariah’s attorney withdraws a stack of papers from his briefcase and sets them on the glass table in front of her. I stand off to the side, among the plants in the conservatory, watching. Making sure she’s safe.
Not that she needs my help with that these days.
“Once again, Mrs. Durant,” the lawyer says, “I am terribly sorry about what happened to your family. I can’t begin to imagine what this year has been like for you.”
“It was an ordeal,” she says calmly. “But we’ve managed.”
He hands her a pen and shows her where to sign and initial. “Out of curiosity, what do you intend to do with the vineyard now that it’s yours?”
“We’re reverting some of the fields back to pasture and building a new horse barn.”
Both the vineyard and the estate sat in probate for almost a year following the tragedy at Red Cliff, during which time Mariah and I stayed at her old house in Baltimore. She showed me where she went to school, the record store where she once worked. We fucked in her childhood bedroom, surrounded by posters of her favorite bands, more times than I can recall.
Hunting was easier in the city. More people, more crime, less scrutiny. Mariah only gave into her bloodlust once. That was a long and grueling night for both of us. I had to hold her down for five straight hours to stop her from massacring an entire clinic full of people.
That was also the night I gave her one of the most intense orgasms of her life.
My cock perks up every time I think about it.
Baltimore was a fun diversion, but it wasn’t home. We knew we would return to Red Cliff, now the Greyson Estate, as soon as the dust had settled.
The house stood empty for months. The vineyard shut down. When we got back, one of the first things Mariah did was change out the dead plants in the conservatory for live ones.
The first thing I did was make her my wife.
We married in the twilight realm, with Katherine officiating. The ghosts were more than happy to celebrate with us. Mariah and I danced and made love for days following the service. After which, I took her hunting on Virginia Beach.
I reached out to an old vampire contact who helped me regain access to my wealth. We hired new staff, including a farm manager, and set about transforming the property into the horse ranch of Mariah’s dreams.
The only unfortunate thing about coming home is occasionally running into Chastity and her children. Thankfully, with Isabella and Katherine on watch, they almost never come into the house. One of the most satisfying exchanges I’ve yet to witness involved Isabella whispering something to the doorman, after which, he informed the Radcliffs, “I’m afraid your invitation to this soiree has been rescinded. Please escort yourselvesoffthe premises.”
Edward has yet to make an appearance on the estate. Disposing of his head a great distance from his body seems to have trapped him in some kind of spiritual limbo.
I hope, wherever he is, he’s wrapped in chains.
Mariah and her attorney finish up their business in the conservatory and say their farewells. As soon as he’s gone, she pretends to faint onto the chaise lounge.
“Why didn’t you tell me being immortal would involve so much paperwork?”
“Darling, I knew if I told you, you would’ve asked me to make you a ghost.” I lift her into my arms and kiss her, sliding my hand into her back pockets. She rocks against me, humming with pleasure.
Just like that, I want her again.
