They were here. We were here.
Tristan stood up and the werewolf transformed into Lucian.
My attention however was drawn to Claire who came up to me, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her arms stretched out toward me.
I fell into her embrace and the instant I touched her I saw it all.
Her as a young woman and a man who looked a little like Tristan.
They kissed under the moonlight, and it was so clear they were in love.
I saw them torn apart then together again years later. Claire’s hair was shorter. They were planning to leave. He pressed his hand to her belly and I kicked. He told her he loved her and she told him the same. He was killed the same night by the wraith demon and he loved her with his last breath.
She went to her sisters who helped her to erase my lineage. It was a blood spell. They gave me the guardians. Then and only then she went to the humans and a part of her died as she gave me away.
I saw it all.
She pulled away a little to cup my face.
“I’m so sorry,” she wept.
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
“I feel like... I failed you and your father.”
I shook my head. “No, he loved you so much, you were the last thing on his mind before he died.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.”
Another power. Something else crossed my mind as I touched her and I reached up to her neck and touched the edge.
“Reveal to me the kiss of love...” I chanted and the glamor she’d placed over the bite marks on her neck became visible.
I didn’t know how I knew to do that, or the words to say but I did. I felt it.
She was my father’s soul mate.
“I loved him too.” She told me.
“I know.”
There was so much to accept and get used to, but I was looking forward to it now.
Like Tristan said I was going to have to feel my way through this. At least I got the chance to.
I looked to him as he came to me and I moved to the warmth and protection of his arms.
“I love you,” he whispered into my ear.
“I love you too.”
Epilogue
Gabrielle
***
One Month later...
I sat with Claire in the sitting room. We were having our last daily catch up session over a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
I’d had the kind of month I expected when I first got to the coven. Me learning all there was to learn and me exploring my powers. There was still so much to learn, but it was time to make some changes.
Tonight I was leaving the castle to move in officially with Tristan.
“What now? What happens now?” I asked.
“Well, we have a council to rebuild I suppose. I think though that it’s time to allow the younger generation to take things over. Shake things up a little bit. Bring in the modern and roll with the times as you young ones say.”
The first council meeting since the very last dramatic one I was at, was scheduled for a week’s time. I knew it was going to be difficult in light of all that happened with Abram. Various investigations had taken place over the last few weeks.
“You’re not old.” I smiled.
“I’m over three hundred years old. That’s old child.”
This was nice. It was nice spending time with her. “I’m twenty eight and I think that’s old.”
“No, it’s not. You’re still a child and you have so many years to look forward to. A long time Gabrielle, make it count.”
“I will. I promise I will.”
“Are you sure we can’t convince you to stay here for a little bit longer. It’s not like Tristan can’t teleport in and out when he wants to see you.”
“I feel like I’m home when I’m with him. Besides I can teleport in and out whenever I want to see you, which is going to be all the time.”
“You’ll come?” She looked worried.
“You’ll get tired of seeing me.”
“Never.”
“Us too, will you come and see us?” Pru asked from the door. She and Juliana stood in the frame looking at me. Juliana still looked a little wary.
At least they both accepted me as their sister. When they were first told it was awkward. As expected Pru was the first to accept me. Juliana took a few days, but she warmed to the idea of me. Particularly after a shopping trip to the human realm where we discovered we had the same fashion sense.
“You guys too.”
“Good, because I won’t have anyone to talk to about guys.”
“You have me.” Juliana pouted.
“Really? I don’t think so. All you do is get on your high horse and if we like the same guy you go after him first.”
“Don’t mind them.” Claire shook her head.
A cloud of darkness filtered in through the window and Tristan stepped out of it.
“Patience is definitely a virtue and I’ve been exactly that. Time to go my lady.” He put out his hand and beckoned me to go with him.
I laughed at the exaggerated look of impatience on his face.
I hugged Claire, then Pru and Juliana.
“I’ll see you guys in a few days.” I took Tristan’s hand and giggled as he swept me up on to the cloud.
“She means next month.” Tristan cut in and disappeared before anyone could say
anything.
I punched him hard in his chest when we landed on his bed.
“You are terrible Mister. I was saying goodbye.”
“My body misses yours baby.” He trailed a line of fiery kisses down my neck.
“You don’t have to miss me anymore.”
“No because we aren’t leaving this room for at least a month.” He bared his sexy fangs.
“A whole month?”
“Yes. Imagine the fun.” He smiled wide.
Imagine.
Oh yes. I actually could... but there was something else on my mind.
I pulled back and looked at him.
We talked about him marking me. He wanted me to wait until I was ready.
“I’m ready now.” I reached up and cupped his chin.
“Really? You’re ready to be truly mine?”
“I was always yours.” I unbuttoned my blouse and backed it down my shoulders then leaned my head to the side to give him access to my neck.
The seduction in his eyes was replaced with deep affection. I could feel it, surrounding us in purity.
He kneeled down and pulled me flush against him. Baring his fangs he lowered to my neck and I gasped when he sunk his teeth deep into my skin.
I thought it would hurt like hell but it didn’t. It felt like making love.
It was a blissful combination of our souls sealing together forever.
I was definitely going to enjoy spending eternity with him.
Tristan, the love of my life.
My forever...
Tempted by The Vampire Page 11