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e might die in a few months scares me enough to compel me to say things that I might have talked myself into waiting on. You know, waiting for the perfect moment. Yet, there might not be one. A perfect moment.” Jeff was flummoxed. “I’m doing this all wrong. I’m sorry. I’m sure Cian did this much better.”

Samantha stared at the ring in his hand and watched it gradually go out of focus as tears welled. Cian had done it perfectly with a carriage ride, tons of red roses, champagne, a proposal on one knee, and a whopper of a ring. It had all been a charade. Jeff’s floundering proposal had her breathless, speechless, and stunned.

“I forgot to get down on one knee,” Jeff muttered. “Okay, this was probably a bad idea. I’m doing this all wrong. Maybe I should try again later?”

Wagging her head, Samantha managed to say, “No.”

“No?” Jeff visibly deflated.

“I mean, no, don’t ask me later.” Samantha grabbed his wrist before he could draw away. “Not don’t ask me. I mean. Yes.”

Jeff squinted at her. “Okay. Lost.”

“Yes. Let’s get married.” The second the words left her lips, Samantha burst into tears.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry!” Jeff reached out to draw her close.

Behind them, Beatrice meowed with irritation, trying to sleep.

“I’m crying because I’m happy.”

Despite all the insanity in her life, Samantha was sure that she wanted to be with Jeff. No matter what supernatural weirdness was occurring within her or around them, Jeff was her stalwart supporter. He believed so entirely in her, loved her so completely, that she couldn’t imagine not having him at her side. She loved him in a way that brought her an incredible amount of peace. She wasn’t afraid of sharing her future with him, even if it did end disastrously for both of them. As long as she was with him, whatever was left of her life would be worth living.

“Oh, thank God. I know I’m doing this all wrong, but I’m a little frazzled.” Jeff pressed his lips to her hands, then slipped the ring on the wrong finger.

With a little smile, Samantha switched the ring to the proper one. “Engagement finger,” she explained, wiggling her digits. “Marriage finger is the opposite hand.”

“Oh.” Jeff grinned. “I’ve never been engaged before.”

Samantha clutched his trembling hands tightly. “I was, but it was totally not with the right guy.”

To her surprise, Jeff’s eyes were wet with unshed tears. “Samantha, I’m so glad you found me that day at the Spiderhouse. Life has been so incredible since that day. Just being around you makes me so happy. I love you so much, honey.”

Wiping away his tears, then her own, Samantha pressed a tender kiss to his lips. “I love you. You make me happy.”

“I’m doing this because I love you. Yeah, the whole end of the world thing speeded it up a little, but I would have done it anyway.”

Samantha snuggled into him as they fell back on the mattress together. Beatrice hissed and haughtily hopped down off the bed.

“I would have said yes anyway.” Samantha held up her hand so the lamplight could catch the sparkle of the diamond.

“It’s curse free, by the way. Aimee checked it.”

“Then it’s perfect,” Samantha said, grinning. “Like you.”

Combing his fingers through her blonde hair, Jeff grinned. “No, you’re perfect. And a little scary. When I was high on Cian’s blood, I could see your new nature. It was...intense.”

“Did I look supercool? Because Amaliya totally looked supercool.”

“You were beautiful. It was like you had ghostly wings and a halo around your head. Like a goddess.”

Samantha liked that description. It made her feel even more confident in her new abilities.

“So even though Cian was being a total dick when he force-fed me his blood, I’m kinda glad he did.” Jeff’s lips lightly brushed over hers.

“It was mean.” Samantha had been pissed off when Jeff had told her what had happened. Cian had quickly received an earful, though she could tell he wasn’t really listening to her at all. He’d been worried about Amaliya, who had looked somewhat pale and a little sickly after all was said and done. They’d left soon after to go hunt.

“Yeah, but I think I may ask him to do it again in the future. It was reassuring to actually be able to see the magic going on around me. Seeing the ward and your powers made it more tangible.” Jeff exhaled. “I just don’t like the whole blood thing.”