Page 104 of Bite

I huff a quiet laugh, brushing a lock of hair from her brow. “I look forward to the privilege of spending eternity in your company, darling. Though it feels cruel to keep knowledge of this bond contained. He could’ve at least offered us a certificate or something to commemorate the occasion.”

“I’d settle for an insurance plan in case you accidentally eat me,” she fires back, stretching her arms over her head. “Though I guess that’s less likely now?”

“Marginally,” I admit, smirking.

Her cat pads in from the hall, tail flicking, his expression full of feline suspicion– as if he expects hidden danger to be lurking behind every corner. He circles once, then leaps onto the arm of the sofa, yellow eyes flicking between Taylor and me.

And then– unthinkably– he hops straight into my lap.

I freeze.

Taylor snickers to herself. “Wow. You’rein, James.”

I stare down at the creature, unmoving. “He’s never done this before.”

She grins, wagging her brows. “Maybe he knows you’re officially part of the family now.”

I continue glaring down at the cat, muscles locked.

Taylor bites her lip. “You can pet him, you know.”

I hesitate, then tentatively lay a hand on the animal’s back. He arches into my touch, letting out a soft purr. I stroke him again, slowly, with all the caution of diffusing a bomb.

Taylor’s eyes glitter with mischief. “You look like someone just handed you a live grenade.”

“They might as well have,” I murmur.

She laughs so brightly I can’t help but grin. I pet the cat again, a little more firmly this time. He promptly rewards me by hissing and sinking his teeth into the base of my thumb.

I yank my hand back with a grunt and the cat leaps down, sauntering off with his tail flicking in something that looks suspiciously like pride.

Taylor cackles.

“See?” I mutter. “Never trust a cat.”

“Or a vampire,” she muses, grinning.

I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her in as she laughs and wriggles playfully. When she settles, I tilt her head and press a kiss to her temple. Her skin is warm, pulse steady and alive under my lips.

We sit like that for a while, watching the embers collapse in the fireplace, snow curling past the windows in lazy spirals. I can feel the bond in every part of me now– not just hunger or need, but an anchoring gravity I’ve never known. The urge to hunt, to destroy, to obliterate myself in excess…gone. I could spend a millennium with Taylor and never tire of her company. Not even a little.

The silence stretches, and I wonder if she’s fallen asleep. But then she shifts, glancing up at me through her lashes. I study her–reallylook– and something seizes in my chest. Not fear or panic, but awe. In all my years, all my endless nights, I’ve never considered that I could be capable of love. But this… this feels a lot like it.

“You know,” I murmur, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “We may not have a certificate to make this official, but we could do something else. We could get married.”

Her spine stiffens, breath catching. “What?”

“I’ve never thought much of human traditions,” I admit. “But maybe this one makes sense. If you want it, we could do it.”

Her eyes widen. “You… want tomarryme?”

“I want to make you mine in every way possible, darling.”

Her breathing quickens, pulse rising, cheeks flushing. “For real?”

I nod. “Absolutely. Will you marry me, Taylor Holt? We can throw the wedding of the century– an obnoxious amount of flowers, a full orchestra, celebrity guest list…”

“None of that, just you,” she laughs. “And maybe Bex, if you don’t mind.”