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Talia’s smile told me it wasn’t good. The witch looked entirely too smug for it to be good news. She’d examined me first, then moved on to Rhys, who looked uncomfortable with the way she poked and prodded him. The frown that marred his lips caused mine to twitch with a smile, threatening to tip the corners up.

“Can you feel your demon-half?” she inquired, which caused the hair on my nape to rise.

“No. I can’t feel his maddening hunger. The need to continually feed has lessened,” he admitted. Turning toward me, he spoke gently as he held his hand out, indicating I should accept. Placing mine in his, I scooted closer to him. “Use your power, see if the curse is invoked.”

“Not her,” Talia stated confidently. “Remington has her own Silversmith cure. She’s carrying your child. Her own, personal Van Helsing.”

My jaw dropped at the realization of what she’d stated dawned on me. That was why the curse had been lessening, then vanished altogether. Rhys’ eyes sparkled as his thumb rubbed over the inside of my palm.

“That explains that mystery, Love.” Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“I can do it,” Winchester stated. As she summoned her silver, the Van Helsings tensed with weariness.

I felt the call to summon my silver as it sang through the air. Closing my eyes, I leaned against Rhys’ solid, powerful frame. The hand I held lifted, revealing silver and black vines slithering beneath my flesh. A small smile played on my lips as I looked over at Winchester, who released her hold on her silver.

She stood beside Cole, a worried look pinching her delicate features. “It’s gone. The curse is gone.”

“I believe you two are the cure. A Van Helsing and Silversmith had to fall in love for the curse to be removed. It’s cause for celebration. You’ve removed the bad blood between your bloodlines with the creation of a child from both. The witch who cursed you wasn’t as creative as I am, though.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth, which gave me pause.

“You cursed us all?” I asked carefully, uncertain how the others would take the news.

Talia had been biased in the feud as the best friend of Verity Van Helsing. To curse one, she’d been forced to curse the other. Whether by choice or by design, it had connected both bloodlines.

“I wasn’t the witch who placed the curse. If it had been me, my grief would have ensured no Silversmith was able to survive it, Remington. I’d lost my best friend. Verity was my person, as Nyx is to you. How far would you go to avenge her death if she’d been murdered as Verity had been?”

“I’d have rain fire down on them,” I admitted without hesitating. Glancing at Nyx, who leaned against Acyn, I smiled sadly. I’d burn the world down for her.

“Indeed.” Talia stood but swayed as she reached for her head, causing all the Van Helsings to rush to her aid. “It’s nothing. I merely rose too quickly. Stop fussing over this old woman. Raven, Morgana, help me to the car.”

“You’re unwell?” Rhys asked, his face revealing the panic he felt. Talia was like a mother to him and his siblings. She’d been so since the day Donte murdered Verity.

Patting his cheek softly, she smiled warmly. “Don’t fret over me, darling boy. I’ve no intention of allowing the reaper to take me anytime soon.”

Raven smiled tightly at me, but there was worry in her violet eyes for Talia. Morgana also held worry pinched over her delicate features. In silence, we watched them as they left the house in a noticeable, slow gait.

Once the witches had exited the room, all eyes turned back on us. Rhys grabbed my hand, then turned to Winchester with a tight smile.

“I’m taking her home with me. You and I both know she won’t be out of danger until she gives birth. I’m certain you don’t wish to hear your baby sister screaming my name, either.” Pulling me behind him, Rhys strolled toward the entryway.

“That’s not happening,” Savage said, stepping in front of our departure.

“Excuse me?” Mikel demanded as he stepped up beside Rhys.

Sig cleared his throat, then leaned against the wall beside us. “I think what my sister is saying is, if you’re taking our baby sister out of here, it’s because she wants to go with you. Remington isn’t a child by any means. Not anymore.” His eyes pegged Savage with that jab. “But if she’s leaving, it needs to be her choice.”

My throat constricted as I turned to Rhys, who merely smirked in response. Slowly, he began to kneel before me. My heartbeat spiked to a dangerous crescendo as he produced an intricate silver band with tiny tendrils of obsidian threaded throughout it. A diamond sat in a rose clasp, shimmering with perfection.

Rhys cleared his throat, then glittering azure eyes lifted to hold mine. “I know I don’t deserve you. You and I both know that. I can’t change the past, but I can ensure I spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I love you, Remington. There’s no other woman I see my future with. When I look into your eyes, I see forever. I see our children laughing and playing in the garden while you and I sneak between the hedges to kiss. That’s not entirely true. We’re doing much dirtier shit in those hedges.” The others chuckled or snorted, causing my lips to curve into a smile. “Marry me, Love. Make me the luckiest and happiest bastard in this town. Marry me and let’s start forever now.”

“Yes,” I whispered through the tears swimming in my eyes. “Yes, Van Helsing. I’ll marry you. But I have stipulations. I want you to vote in agreement to allow my siblings to rise as a house. One that stands beside ours. Let us be what we were meant to be. The weapons and the knights who wield them. We must let the past go and look at the future. One we can protect together.”

“Our houses need to make that choice together. I agree that it is time to let the past go and look to the future. That choice isn’t mine alone to make, Love. I’ve made too many choices alone for my house. It’s time we all got together. As a family, as our parents would’ve wanted us to be. We’ve all lost family in the past couple of weeks. I don’t wish to bury anymore, nor do I suspect your family wants to do either.”

“Then yes, I’ll marry you, Van Helsing. I’ll marry you and together, we’ll right the wrongs of the past,” I said, pulling him up for an earth-shattering kiss. One that took the air from my lungs, feeding me his until the room faded into the background.

Rhys Van Helsing was my future. I could see it in his eyes. I knew he’d never allow harm to befall Bullet or me. He’d ensure our child was safe from those who’d seek to use her as a weapon. I knew he was the one I wanted my forever to be with. He’d been defensive at first, but with his walls down, he was the man of my dreams. He was the man I’d spend the rest of my life loving.