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Epilogue
Queen
Six months later…
Every person inside the room stops the moment we step through the gallery’s doors. They’re watching. They’re murmuring amongst themselves about my coming out, and it’s hard to keep the smile from my blood red lips.
Theodore’s hand on the small of my back tenses a bit, his muscles coiling as one man in particular looks me up and down, lingering on the low neckline of my Venetian style dress with a dip in the front that stops at my belly button.
It’s sexy while classy. White to symbolize the innocence he adored about my humanity in this life.
It also shows off my tattoo; a similar piece to that of my king’s that encompasses from sternum to just above my mound. The dark wings of an angel stretch—are open in all their glory while adorned with beads of crystals and pearls. Yet, the focal point is a large red ruby which hangs from the longest necklace and stops a few inches from my clit.
The only color on my pale skin.
Just like Theo’s tattoo appeared when he took the throne, mine came the day he bit me. The day my mate gave me back my life.
“Down, love. The show first...” I trail off while turning toward him, my hand skimming down the front of his black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone. I flick each onyx stud on my way to the waistband of his slacks, then finger his Cartier belt with the gold buckle. “But after, you can do as you please while I help Tero and Marcia after my parents’ visit.”
“Such a lovely couple,” he remarks, knowing my punishment will outweigh his. A public death in the name of art. They fought me on this, cried and begged for their lives, but my heart held no empathy for two people who used a defenseless child for monetary gain. “Aren’t you glad I had your birth certificate tampered with when they gave you up? You could’ve been Hilary Burgess.”
“That they are, and yes. That name doesn’t suit me one bit.” The bold red carpet we walk through has security on both sides, preventing the press from coming closer. Each of them wears the emblem of the vampire monarchy, a golden pin across the right lapel of their all-black tuxes. Both male and female, they stand straight while looking ahead with serious postures and a bit of hunger on their faces.
They won’t attack, though.
Not tonight. Never in a public event.
The clear path leads to a set of wide, white marble stairs that leads to the upper floors, and no one moves until we reach the very last step and into my exhibit. Every square inch is bathed in black, the few light sources coming from the glass dome ceilings and the strategically placed soft white lighting above each piece.
The perfect mixture of innocence and sin.
Light and the dark.
The two marry together in a way that sends chills down the spines of those who have seen the final product. Because I’m not hiding who I am anymore.
He embraces me as is, and I do the same.
Every piece, the paintings I did while human of an unknown man, fills the different areas side by side with its sinful counterpart in animal form.
My king’s reign.
Tero’s deadly poise.
Marcia’s strike.
Meera’s knowledge.
Elise’s greed.
Isabella’s sight.
My touch.
We are the seven deadly sins, and I've embraced my truth. Hold it close to my heart because it is a part of me. I won’t deny it. Us.
What home will always mean.
