She sniffed, trying to hold the tears back. Failing. “I’ve loved you for so long,” she confessed.
“And I’ve loved you—only you.”
“Why didn’t you say something? Why—”
He smiled at her. Her na**d phoenix covered in ash smiled, and it was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. “I don’t remember you mentioning love until a few hours ago.”
“I-I was scared.” Scared that he wouldn’t feel the same. That he’d . . . pity her.
“I’m a monster. I’ll always be.” His voice roughened. “I didn’t think you could ever truly—”
She pushed up onto her toes and kissed him again. “You’re no monster. You’re the man I love.” The man she’d gladly spend an eternity with.
Sirens wailed in the distance. Firefighters, probably. Even the humans out there wouldn’t be able to overlook this blaze.
It was time to leave. Explanations about a vengeful siren and a phoenix gone mad wouldn’t exactly go over well.
They’d slip away. Vanish. Rumors would cover the blaze. Rumors covered everything in that city.
She caught Dante’s hand and pulled him toward the SUVs that were waiting. Vaughn had flashed some fang to make sure they had two rides waiting for them. The humans hadn’t been in the mood to fight him.
Dante was strong and solid beside her. Trace wasn’t killing anyone.
And the flames were dying away.
It was time for a fresh start. With no one hunting them. No one looking to destroy a phoenix, a vampire, a werewolf, or even a siren.
They could start fresh.
And they could just live.
A life with love . . . and plenty of fire.
EPILOGUE
“Dad!” The bellow echoed through the house.
Cassie glanced up, her mind still on the sample beneath her microscope. Jamie came barreling into her lab.
Not a scared, shaken fourteen-year-old any longer. Her “son” was bigger, tougher, and at sixteen, he thought he was ready to take on the world.
“Where’s Dad?” Jamie asked. It had been a full year before he started to call Dante Dad. The first time he’d done it, Cassie wasn’t sure who’d been more shocked.
Probably Dante.
But he and Jamie had grown close, so close. The wall that Dante had used to keep everyone out was gone. Burned away. Heck, he even went out with Cain every now and then to, uh, literally light up the town.
“He said I could get my driver’s license today.” Jamie’s smile was huge. “He and Uncle Vaughn are supposed to take me.”
She used to be afraid of power-mad phoenixes. Now she trembled at the idea of Jamie behind the wheel. “Well . . .”
“Let’s go!” Dante said, coming into the room. A wide grin lifted his lips. “Vaughn’s got the ride ready.”
Jamie whooped and rushed back up the stairs.
So carefree and happy . . . but that, too, hadn’t been easy. They’d all had to struggle to get where they were.
But we’re happy. And no one will take that from us.
Dante didn’t follow Jamie up the stairs. Her phoenix filled the doorway, and his gaze focused on her.
There was love in his eyes. Always now, love.
Maybe it had always been there, just buried beneath the fire.
“You okay?” he asked her.
She gave him a little nod.
He crossed the threshold and went to her. Pressed a kiss to her lips, and then his hand went to the curve of her stomach—and to the little life that was growing there. “And how’s my princess?”
His whole face softened as he felt the kick against his hand. A very powerful kick. A princess ninja?
He looked back up at Cassie. “I’ll protect her. I swear I’ll keep her safe.”
Her hand covered his. “I know you will.”
“I . . . love her already. Because she’s part of you.” His lips brushed hers.
Damn the phoenix. He kept making her want to tear up.
“Do you think . . . she’ll be more like me?” Dante whispered against her lips.
A girl who could toss fire when she was angry.
“Or more like you?” Another kiss.
A girl who could control all those near her with just a whisper.
“I—”
“Dad!” Jamie’s bellow.
“See you tonight,” Dante told her, giving her the smile that always made her heart race a little faster.
Then he was gone. Rushing up the stairs.
Her hand stayed over her stomach. She already knew just what her little girl would be like. She’d tell Dante soon enough.
Daddy’s little princess was going to be . . .
Fire—a phoenix.
Control—a siren.
A deadly combination.
The world wouldn’t know what hit it.