Page 138 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Celine steps forward, looking at me like she’s witnessed a miracle. “Crimson buried herself with you,” she says. “She pulled you back up, just now.”

I turn back to Crimson. She’s looking down at me in that familiar way. Like she’s remembering me. Like she’ll never look away.

“Yousavedme,” I whisper.

“You saved me first,” she answers. Then she wraps her arms around me, bending down so her lips caress my forehead. “And I’m never going to lose you again. I promise you.”

Happiness blossoms in my chest, and I press into her, warm tears pooling in my eyes.

I don’t know what happened, and I don’t understand it.

But I don’t care.

All I care is that I’m with her. That I’malwaysgoing to be with her.

“I love you, Roslyn Night.”

“I loveyou, Paige. My sweet rose.”

CHAPTER 50: A SUNSET AND A CELEBRATION

Paige

The sun sets in a sea of colour: pink, orange, and blood-red hues like a painting across the sky.

A special moment, just for me. I take it in, reveling in the art of a beautiful night. After my near-death (or my actual-death?) experience, I’ve been trying to appreciate moments like this.

With a peaceful sigh, I lean back against my chair. I’m sitting at a table in the courtyard, surrounded by blossoming rose bushes. Somehow, they bloom all year. I wonder if it’s magic.

I take a bite of my steak. I’ve started asking Clarance if I can eat out in the garden. Ever since we got back from the hotel, I’ve noticed that I don’t mind the cold so much. And my steak is so rare, it’s almost uncooked.

Murad consulted with the other vampires and witches about how I could have survived my ordeal. They determined that it must have had something to do with the fact that Crimson buried herself with me, that she pulled me up out of the earth while the magic of the vampiric turning process was still working, and so I stayed alive.

Well,mostlyalive. In addition to the cold bothering me less and my sudden appetite for undercooked meat, I’ve noticed that I prefer to stay indoors during the day.

Although I stilllovea beautiful sunset.

Suddenly, I sense her presence beside me. I always seem to know where she is, nowadays.

“Crimson,” I whisper happily.

“Good evening, sweet one,” she whispers, leaning down to kiss me. She holds a box in one hand. “And happy birthday. I have something special for you.”

“Oh, but it isn’t even my birthday yet!” I protest.

“It will be, at midnight,” she counters, sitting down beside me at the table. “And I have another surprise for you then. But first…”

She sets the box down in front of me. I’m about to argue again, but then I stop myself. I used to think I didn’t deserve nice things, that others showing me affection and care meant that I was being a burden. But I’m trying not to think that way anymore. And the more I allow myself that grace, the more comfortable it becomes.

“This is so thoughtful of you,” I tell her, as I open the small box. Then I gasp. It’s two twinkling, diamond earrings. They perfectly match the ones on my collar. “Oh, Crimson, they’rebeautiful…”

“Not as beautiful as you,” she says, reaching up to caress my cheek.

I lean into her touch, savouring this moment. “I don’t need all of these things, you know. I only need you, my king.”

“I know, sweet one,” she answers. “But I want to show you how much I care for you. How special you are to me.”

This time, I initiate our kiss, weaving my fingers through her short hair, pulling her toward me. My tongue dances along her fangs, and I feel a warm heat pool inside of me.