He leans over me, his long, hard body pressed against mine. "You're my wife now. Forever and always."
"Forever isn't long enough," I whisper. "But it's a start."
There are no more words. Not for a very long time. This isn't like the first time, the wine induced coupling that led to our child's conception. It's not even like the second time, the frantic lovemaking inspired by a world out of time. This time, it is us, fully present and together, fully committed and in full memory of who we are and what we want in this life.
It is more than sex. More than physical need and desire. It is loosing myself in the pure joy of this bond I share with a man I can now call my husband. It is the connection of our skin, the rapid fire of nerve endings as our hands explore each other, the incredible and indescribable feeling of being one with someone my soul is so bonded to. I loose myself in him. In us. In our joining. In our oneness.
For those hours of exploration and love making, we are the only two people in the universe. Nothing else exists. Nothing else matters. I am completely absorbed by the love I have for this man, and I can see the love he has for me in his eyes. I've never seen him more at peace. More happy. More alive.
When we are spent, our legs draped over each other's, my arm reaching over his broad chest and his arms wrapped around me, I sigh deeply, content at last.
In letting him go, I have found him again.
"There's one more part of the contract we must fulfill before my mother will be free," I whisper against his chest.
I can hear his heart beat accelerate. "We can do that later."
I look up at him, into his eyes. "I'm not afraid. You're not a monster. It doesn't have to be a curse."
He blinks slowly, letting my words sink in. Then he nods and adjusts our bodies so that he's leaning over me again. "Are you sure, Arianna? There's no going back from this."
I pause, my hand falling to the gentle curve of my stomach. "Will it hurt our baby?" I don't want to wait, but I will for her.
"No. Our child is already part vampire and will not be hurt. But you need to be sure… for yourself."
"I'm sure. I'm ready to take the Blood Oath. I'm ready to become one of you. And with us both carrying the blood of the Fae and vampire, we can be a unified force of unity for all of our people."
He nods, and I sit up. "What do we need to do?"
"It's a blood exchange." He bites his wrist and holds it to my mouth.
I place my lips against the blood and feel a sharp prick against my neck.
And then it begins.
EPILOGUE
"I love you, Arianna Spero. I love you."
—Fenris Vane—
I shouldn't be this nervous.
But still, here I am, shaking in my silk and satin white dress, like a fall leaf about to face winter.
I'm surrounded by opulence, in a dressing room the size of a large apartment. Carved wood accented with silver and gold furniture create an elegant, warm vibe, and everywhere there are flowers in full bloom. Yami is sniffing a bouquet recently brought in, his eyes closed as he inhales deeply.
I haven't seen Fen since this morning after our hunt. Being a vampire has taken some getting used to, but now… now I relish the moments running free in the woods with my husband. Shortly after we were both whisked away for matters of state, and planning.
I can handle the politics. The party planning is another story.
This is the first moment I've had alone in the last six hours, and I decide to follow Yami's lead and breathe in the smell of fresh flowers.
It's stunning to me that it's already been a year since the night Fen and I said our vows under the starry sky beside the river. This is our anniversary, but it's also so much more.
It's the day we celebrate with family, friends, and our kingdoms.
It's the day we come together in the eyes of all who know us.
I'm lost in thought when the door to my room cracks open, and Kayla walks in. "They're here," she says with a grin.
My pulse quickens in excitement. "Bring them in, please."
Kayla is dressed in stunning layers of gold and silver and looks as much like a bride as I do. I'm determined to follow the human tradition of tossing the bouquet, and I'm totally going to cheat and use magic to make sure Kayla catches it. She and Tavian are next in line for this particular dance, if that sparkly ring on her finger is any indication.
Kayla smiles at me and her phoenix preens on her shoulder. "You look beautiful. But you're missing something."
She sets down a golden box and opens the lid. "A proper queen needs a proper crown. One of her very own."
My eyes fill with tears when I see it. It's stunning. Gorgeous. It's gold and silver, inlaid with gems that sparkle in the firelight. The design has an elemental feel to it. And in the center is a stone that glows with a soft silver light. A light I've seen before.
"I harvested the metal and gems from both Inferna and Avakiri, and for the center stone…"
"You used the guardian's heart. The moonlight steel." My father's heart.
She nods. "I thought it fitting, and that he would approve. You have done the impossible. You have defeated the Darkness that ensnared this world, and you have brought peace between the vampire, Fae and Shade. You are the unifying force of our world. He gave his heart because he saw into yours, and it was worthy. It always has been."
Now the tears are flowing, damn it all.