Page 84 of Vampire United

Finally, Gabby steps forward. “Well, I think we need to get back to our world. We’re going to have a lot of cleaning up back home.”

Quietly, Gabby and Colt hug Maddy and Caleb before they leave the mansion. Marlowe and Rachel follow. One by one, their allies exit the mansion, returning to their lives and their homes, until only Kenna and Cora are left.

Kenna turns to Cora. “I have to make checks on the shifters out there. Many of them have recovered enough to leave, but there were a few which were more mutilated than the others.”

Cora nods once. “I’ll help you.”

Then Caleb and Maddy are left alone in the living room as she still stands with his arm around her waist.

“It’s over,” she says, wonder making her whisper.

“It’s all over.”

“What do you mean?” She turns to face him, and he loops his arms around her, clasping his hands behind her.

He smooths her hair back from her face and puts his cheek against hers. “We’re both human again.”

It takes a moment for the gravity of this truth to sink in.

“No more blood lust?”

He straightens and shakes his head.

“No more super hearing?”

He shakes his head again.

“No more super speed, no more vampire anything?”

He grins. “No.”

“No more undead, huh?”

He chuckles. “We both have beating hearts again.”

“I think I like that most,” she whispers. She loves how he makes her heart pound in their more private moments together. “It’ll be an adjustment.”

“What will?”

“Getting used to being just human again.”

He presses his lips to her forehead before speaking. “Well, you’re still a warlock, and I’m still a hunter with Fae magicking through my veins, so there’s that.”

“True, but that’s going to be normal compared to what we’ve been living lately.”

“Agreed.”

Maddy angles her head up as Caleb leans down. Their lips meet, brush, caress in a tender, aching touch. It’s a touch of love. Of gratitude.

Of anticipation.

Caleb pulls back an inch, a smile hovering at the edges of his beautiful mouth. “You ready to go home?”

“I think so. We should get back to Mercy City and Veritas and then…and then…”

“And then?” he repeats.

Maddy smiles so deeply, it brushes her soul. “And then the rest of our life.”