She closed the door softly behind her, as she had weeks ago when she snuck into his room the first time. But she could see him now, lying peacefully in the center of the bed—the first time he had ever slept peacefully. She crept over to him as she had before, pulling one knee up and then the other, until she was lying next to him, her arm fastened securely over his chest. Sighing, she closed her eyes.
“Valek,” she began when he still did not wake up. “I love you.”
Valek opened his eyes.
Epilogue
Charlotte visited each room one by one in the large house at the end of the town square, biding a “good night” to her newfound family. First Sarah, Lusian, and Dusana, then Sasha, Jorge was the last of the Vampires, then Mr. Třínožka who slept in the study by the fire, ever with his little Edwin. He would create a new burrow for himself in the morning just under the house, so he would always be close. Charlotte opened the door to one last bedroom, left vacant. A small, golden wedding band sat alone in the center of the bed. Charlotte gave a tiny smile. “Dobrou noc, Andela,” she whispered, before closing the door behind her.
She finally skipped back to his bedroom, where Valek was sitting on the edge of the bed, toying with something small in his hands. She ran over and pounced into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek. “What is that?”
“It is your birthday present.” He held up a little silvery whistle to the moonlight. “Belated, of course.”
Charlotte cocked her head and grasped it. “But I already have one.” The thing was beautiful, however. It was intricately done, with the image of a phoenix carved into the sides, embellished in pieces of jet and pearl.
“You don’t,” Valek mused. “It was destroyed in the flames as I wore it. Its pieces must be somewhere in the Regime still.”
“I love it!” She reached behind her neck to clasp the necklace chain.
Valek’s large hands replaced hers as he helped her. It fell just in front of her chest. It was smaller and more delicate than the one she used to have. She continued to study it.
“I had Sarah order it from a human merchant days ago, when we were still in the city. There is nothing enchanted about this. It is meant more as a symbol that I will forever be here to protect you, no matter what happens, Charlotte. No matter how much fire we endure.” He closed both of her small hands in his. He turned the whistle to the backside and read the letters carved there. “We will always rise.”
She smiled as she then fully understood the symbol of the phoenix and lifted her face to kiss him. “Thank you, Valek. I will treasure it.”
“I am never going to let you leave my sight again, Lottie,” he said seriously.
“I wouldn’t want you to.” She nuzzled his chin. They sat in silence for a few moments, thinking privately. He did not cross the boundaries of her mind. “We are safe, Valek,” she reminded him.
“Yes. For now, we are.” He rested his cheek atop her head.
“And you will walk in the daylight tomorrow.” She beamed. “Like the others.”
He smiled. “Yes. I will.”
They were together. Finally. They were the moon and the sun—the light and the darkness—together and to be alone to more.
* * *
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Shayne's first year out of high school, she penned, co-directed, and starred in the feature-length film, The Incubus, a paranormal romance, which obtained distribution and opened in over fifteen theaters across South Florida among popular chains like Regal, AMC, and Cinemark. The Incubus obtained a fan-base of over 100,000 girls online, and has garnered the attention of reporters from the Miami Herald, CBS News, and NPR Radio. Leighton also starred alongside Scream Queen, Tara Cardinal in the film, Legend of the Red Reaper.
Now, 20-year-old Leighton is excited to release her debut young adult novel series, Of Light and Darkness, set in contemporary Prague, as well as penning several other screenplays, a novel adaptation for Legend of the Red Reaper, an original pop/rock album, and acting in various film roles.
Visit Shayne online at: http://www.shayneleighton.com
Table of Contents
Title page
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Table of Contents
Title page
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Of Light and Darkness Page 29