Page 69 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

She shuddered, then straightened, back to the Sienna we knew. “Well, now that the witch coven is no more, we can focus on the future. Shall we?”

We all nodded. I was not sure what she was getting at. I could tell the others were waiting as well.

“How many are staying here?” she asked.

“Just us,” I said, gesturing to my lovers.

Sienna nodded. “I am pleased. You will be easy to clean up after.” I had no way of replying to that. “I hope the rest of you will still visit?” They nodded eagerly and their response was almost enough to cause a smile to form on her lips. Almost. “I will leave you to eat in peace. Goodbye for now.”

She moved elegantly as she exited the dining room, leaving us in the silence of her wake. “I’m gonna miss her,” Sophie laughed. Her laughter made the rest of us laugh as well. It was freeing, laughing all of us together. Finally free to live our lives. We were forced together in this curse. The sacrifices born to serve the curse as well. But all I saw when I looked around was happiness and love. We had made our own family within our own coven and even though I had my worries about bringing everyone together, it had worked perfectly. We simply all knew what each other had gone through. It was beautiful to watch the humans come together and learn about their ancestors. Even Colin had talked with each of them, interested in how their time here had gone. We were not all here, of course, but the other vampires and their humans were welcome any time. We still had no knowledge of why some of them had not shown, but we hoped over time we would all be gathered here once again.

“I need to see them before we leave,” Sophie agreed, smiling wide. I had no idea what she and Colin were discussing, but his emotions were warm and happy.

“They’re growing so fast now,” Colin said with a sigh. “I’m going to miss their tiny bodies.” Ah, his chickens.

“You should get more!” Sophie gushed, but Colin quickly shook his head.

“We plan on still living here, but we want to travel as well. I promised the brownies I wouldn’t get more, otherwise Sienna threatened she wouldn’t take care of them in our absence.”

“Why?”

Colin shrugged. “I don’t think she cares much for chickens.”

Sophie looked confused, then shrugged. “She has her quirks.”

Colin laughed at that; Sophie joining in.

“We will take our leave now,” Eric announced, standing with Jaspar by his side. “It was strangely healing being here once again, seeing everyone.”

“It will not be the last time,” James agreed, also standing now, his human Elizabeth by his side.

“Once a year,” I suggested. “We all come together on this exact date and celebrate our freedom.”

They all smiled and nodded, some raising their glasses in a cheer.

“I think that is a lovely idea,” Jacob whispered in my ear.

“I think so too,” Colin agreed, squeezing my hand.

“It feels so quiet now,” Harland said, staring out over the garden. Most of them had left before lunch, only a few staying those extra hours to have more fun with us. It was nearing dinner time and all had now left, leaving us alone once again.

“I liked having them here,” Colin said, hugging Harland from behind. “But I love being here alone with you three much more.”

Jacob grinned at them. “So, where are we traveling first?”

We chuckled, loving how excited he was. “Well, where do you want to go first?” Jacob’s eyes gleamed with pure happiness as he grabbed Colin’s laptop, showing us several locations.

“Let’s sit on the couch and book our first vacation,” Colin suggested, taking the laptop from Jacob. We sat, huddled around Colin who expertly moved between websites. It only took thirty minutes and then our first ever flight was booked, our hotel right next to the beach.

“I cannot wait,” Harland gushed. “We need to order summer clothes!”

“Question,” Colin said, smiling. “Can you get sunburned?”

“We will find out,” Jacob laughed, now looking at bathing shorts with Harland.

“You feeling okay?” I asked Colin, who was staring into the air.

He nodded, then sighed. “I just hoped Sophie and I could’ve made my mom understand.” They had called his parents on video call before Sophie left. His mom had called her own sister an abomination and hung up.