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“That might be a sticking point,” I teased, and Eden pouted.

“That’s the deal breaker?!” Eden snickered.

Chuckling, I swung Eden up into my arms. “Okay then, I shall suffer James.”

Happily, I kissed Eden.

Laughing, Eden wriggled free and ran through the house with me after her.

First, I healed Eden’s scars as she wanted perfection. Eden couldn’t see that she already was.

My darling has been a Vam’pir for a while now, and we couldn’t be happier. The strange fact is: with my blood in Eden, she’s as strong as a firstborn.

I love her so much that it hurts.

Eden feels the same. How lucky can one Vam’pir be?

2025.

Unthreatened, I kept my back to the shadows as he approached. It had been many years since I’d come across another immortal, apart from James and Amelia. My decree stretched to all of England now. England was known as my playground, and I was merciless in killing. Immortals petitioned to visit, and I either allowed or refused. It depended on my mood. I had Eden and our children to protect. Never would I risk their health and safety.

This visitor approached silently and stopped. “Jacques.”

“Tai’moriee.”

“I seek help,” he said simply.

Keeping my back to him, I considered the request. “Are you asking because you gave me warning in Egypt about Ramedes hunting the children? Or because you were the man in the tavern who sent me home in time to save Inka and the rest. Maybe it’s because you saved me from the fire. Do you ask because you gave me your blood to strengthen me in the fight against Ramedes?”

“That and everything else, Jaq.”

“The warning in Rome, the escape in Salem, so many times have I turned around, and you’ve been there, Tai’moriee. Always you, though. Not one of the others.”

“The Tai’moriee were created to watch. To observe. The basic principle was don’t interfere.”

“You created the Tai’moriee, and you broke that rule a good several times,” I said, turning with a laugh.

Curiously, I studied the fellow standing there. He who’d been there since Har’ches fell and we fled alone into the wilderness. So many times in my life, Tai’moriee had interfered. It was as if he couldn’t help himself.

“Of course. Would you have things any other way?” Tai’moriee asked.

I pondered the question.

This immortal had stood by me through everything. Even when Julia died, and he didn’t know why, Tai’moriee hadn’t judged. He just accepted there was a reason I wasn’t ready to discuss.

He trulyknewme. And all these many years, I’d kept his secret. If the Vam’pirs wanted to hate me for Julia, they’d lynch me for this.

“No. Brother, it’s time for you to step once more into the open. Time for you to be seen, for your name to be spoken once again.”

Tai’moriee dropped the hood of the cloak he wore and stared before nodding. “Agreed. You kept my existence hidden, Jaq.”

“We’re brothers.”

“Indeed.”

A smile crossed my lips as I reached out and clasped his elbow as he did mine…

“Welcome home, D’vid,” I said.