Page 66 of Fangs

Tears slip free before I can stop them. “I thought I lost you. I destroyed the mirror. I trapped you—”

One second I’m on the stage; the next I’m in his arms, lifted as if I weigh nothing, the world tilting. He cradles me against his chest, and the scent of him—night, leather, power—floods my senses.

“You brought me home.” He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles, lips lingering. “You broke the curse, Lucille. Your blood. Your love. Your voice calling me back across dimensions.” His eyes meet mine, crimson fire and something deeper. “You are my anchor to this reality now. I will always find you. I will always answer the call in your blood.”

A broken laugh escapes me. “That is—that is a lot of pressure.”

His mouth curves. “You are the beam of sunshine in my darkness. The fire in my endless night.” His free hand settles at my waist, possessive, claiming. “I have waited three thousand years for you, Lucille. I will wait three thousand more if I must.”

“No.” I grip his arms, feeling the solid muscle beneath the leather. “No more waiting. I’m here. I’m yours.”

His eyes blaze. “Say it again.”

“I am yours.”

He pulls me tighter and his mouth finds mine.

The kiss is fierce—hungry, desperate, possessive. I taste victory and relief and three thousand years of loneliness poured into a single moment. My fingers dig into his shoulders. The shadows around us seem to lean closer.

He releases me just enough to step back. The loss of his heat is immediate, almost painful.

He drop to his knees.

One knee on the stone floor. Raven hair cascades forward. Crimson eyes burn up at me with an intensity that steals the air from my lungs.

“Lucille.” His voice cracks on my name. “I have walked this earth for three thousand years. I have seen empires crumble and stars fall. I have never—not once—felt anything like what I feel for you.”

My heart pounds so hard I’m certain he can hear it.

“You called me across dimensions. You broke my curse with your love. You stood naked before an army of predators and screamed my name.” He reaches for my hand; his fingers tremble. “I want you at my side forever. I want to claim you as my mate. My queen.”

The crimson fire in his eyes intensifies until it feels like it could brand me.

“Will you marry me, Lucille? Will you bind yourself to me for eternity?”

Tears stream down my cheeks. Words refuse to form.

“Yes,” I breathe against his mouth. “Yes. I will marry you. I will be your mate.”

His arms crush me against his chest. His mouth claims mine again.

The shadows rise around us, sealing us in a cocoon of living darkness.

I’m home.

Bound

Smoke and a storm of bats explode around us. Dust rushes up. We land in the highest chamber of the tower, iron-bound windows staring out over a dense, moonlit forest. Rose petals blanket the floor like crimson snow, candles flickering in silver sconces.

I brush a petal from my shoulder. “Cheesy.”

His mouth curves into that devastating smirk. “I was going for seductive.”

“Then next time, skip the bats.”

He steps closer, catching my chin between his fingers. “I’m a vampire in a spooky tower. Roses and candles are basically required by law.”

I meet his gaze, my pulse hammering.