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Choking back tears, I could only whimper. I knew in that instant that this was right and I'd been crazy to reject him because of my silly ideas about his obligation. "Translation, please?"
He smiled, his chiseled face had that unarmed, child-like expression again. I imagined this is what he'd look like if he was still human, kneeling before me. "Josephine, there shall be one end for us both; one bond after our vows; nor shall our first love aimlessly perish. I ask for your hand to be my mate, my lover for eternity. Be with me."
He offered the ring to me. A beautiful emerald cut diamond ring sat nestled in his large palm. It was set in platinum, the delicate band surrounded with rubies.
Hesitantly, I reached out to touch the ring. "Stefan...it's too much."
"Is that another no?" Stefan hadn't moved from his knees.
"Yes, I mean no. Yes, I'll be with you," I mumbled. I watched as he slid the beautiful ring on my finger. It twinkled, the red rubies gleaming almost as brightly as Stefan's blue eyes as they watched me.
Without warning, I was surrounded in an instant. His solid arms and a warm wall of muscle pulled me into a rough embrace. His enormous frame swallowed me up, making me feel safe, desired and most importantly, loved.
"I love you, Stefan." I breathed in his scent, closing my eyes against the tears that threatened to spill over. I hugged him tighter. "I love you because you accept all my flaws, my insecurity and manage to love me anyway. You are the other half that completes me, the best part of me.”
His arms trembled as they held me. He didn't loosen his hold, yet I could feel the effect of my words. I’d managed to astonish him.
I knew beyond a doubt this beautiful creature loved me, valued me above anything and everything. And I knew he always would.
"Min hjärta," his voice was soft in my mind.
Before I could ask him to translate again, his mental voice spoke again. "It means my heart. It may not beat, yet it is filled with love for you, vackra."
I dissolved into tears in his arms, soaking his shirt. And he was willing to just hold me and let me have this moment.
Chapter 5
I Remember You
As the dim light of morning peeked around the curtains, the previous night came back into focus. I was alone in bed, Stefan's mind spiraling in the background of my psyche.
We'd stayed on the rooftop until my eyelids drooped and my brain entered the muddled, foggy half-asleep state where I was only partly aware of my surroundings. I'd felt Stefan lift me in his arms, cradling me tightly against him, yet so gently that he barely jostled me as he carried me down two flights of stairs and into our apartment. The cool softness of the bed greeted me, followed by the warm embrace of his arms as he spooned behind me.
Rubbing my hand across my eyes, I sat up and slowly swung both legs over the bed. I felt strangely disoriented and light-headed. Closing my eyes, I inhaled a deep breath, hoping to settle the oddness I was feeling. As I stood motionless in the middle of the room, I noticed I could hear the sounds of papers ruffling quietly in Stefan's office. Concentrating more intently, I realized I could hear the muffled sound of Lukas's voice in the next apartment. Had the latest infusion of his blood increased my ability or was it simply my body changing yet again?
I went through my morning routine much slower than usual. My mind sorted through the differences, the subtle changes I'd experienced. My speed had increased; I was not nearly as fast as Stefan, but my new found agility had caught him off guard at least twice. Mentally forming a list, I added the changes: cooler body temperature, my skin becoming firmer and paler. My vision had become sharper and now my hearing had become keener. Add that to my ability to project my shield outward, it was amazing to think of how different I'd become in the matter of weeks.
With all the strengths I’d gained, I'd suffered a crippling loss: my ability to see the future of humans. It was a double-edged sword. I loathed the ability, blamed it for my inability to maintain normal relationships. It had been an easy scapegoat for me to blame. Now that it was gone, I felt like a piece of myself was missing. I'd used it selfishly when it was convenient for me to have it. Now I silently mourned its sudden disappearance. It had allowed Aidan to catch me unguarded. I'd have to attempt to learn to live without the advantage of predicting human behavior.
A wry smile reflected back at me in the mirror. How quickly I'd adapted to separating myself from what I'd always considered myself to be. Already I was classifying myself as something different than human.
More.
The room came alive when Stefan stealthily entered, our eyes meeting in the mirror. He slouched against the doorframe, his long arms folded across his chest. He was quietly observing me, slipping seamlessly into my mind, an eager witness to my every thoughts and feeling.
"When you were changed, did you lose your ability?" I asked suddenly. Turning quickly, I glanced upwards to look into his eyes. He hadn't predicted my question and his blue eyes unfocused briefly only to refocus and meet my unblinking stare.
"No. My ability shifted from reading humans to vampires. You were the only human I had envisioned in over 900 years." His mouth tensed. He shifted slightly so more of his large frame filled the doorway. "I agree with what you think. You are not human, nor are you a vampire. You are something in between. It could be as simple as that."
Moving to his side, my fingers twirled up the length of his exposed flesh between his wrist and bicep. "Nothing is ever simple with me or with us. It never had and it never will be, Stefan."
An ancient grin surfaced on his lips. It was wise beyond my years, all-knowing and slightly jaded. It was easy to forget everything he'd seen in his long life, the pain and loss he'd encountered.
He unfolded his arms and reached to smooth my hair away from my face. His fingertips slid across my cheek, his eyes following the path his fingers had made. "You are right. It is never easy, yet after centuries you look forward to complications. I searched. I persevered and I found you. You are the home where I wanted to be, only complete with you."
Closing my eyes under his soothing touch, I smiled weakly. "What was my sacrifice? I only waited 28 years to find you. It seems sort of unfair in the grand scheme of things."
"You were alone for 28 years. You had resigned yourself to spending a solitary existence. You atoned plenty." He placed his calloused hand on my cheek. Leaning into his caress, I sighed in happiness. As we stood together, my mind was filled with strange memories. I saw Stefan in his human form, fighting his final battle, sinking to his knees as his opponent's sword breached his chain mail. His lightly tanned skin paled as he watched his blood darken the hand that clutched his wound. Realizing his mistake, he knew he was facing his death at that exact moment.
