Page 143 of Wedlock

“I know, I don’t expect to forget, but I’ve forgiven you. And he’s not hard to love; he looks like his father. How could I not?”

“It’s a lot to take in,” he says, leaning back and tilting his head, forcing me to look back up into his eyes. “But it means all our children will be raised with privilege and take their rightful place in the world among other vampires, and with each other as support. In the long run, they’ll be safer than trying to hide amidhumans. They’re too special, and their needs are too great for that to be effective as they grow older.”

“I know,” I sigh, “Yin and I have come to the same conclusion. That’s initially why I offered you the chance to have Talon in your life once I die.”

“But this way I can be a part of his childhood,” he says gently, “and all the children can be together. And you and I don’t need to part.”

“But we’ll only have two human lifetimes,” I whisper. “That hasn’t changed, Falcon. I’ll never let you bite me. Can you truly accept that?”

“Yes. I’ll just have to ensure our time together will hold enough memories to satisfy me for all eternity.”

I close my eyes and lean my head once again into his chest as his arms tighten around me.

“I have to talk to Yin.”

“No need,” she says, walking up from behind us and standing to stare out to sea, her expression resigned, “Unmei no akai ito.”

110

“Wolf?” I shout down the line, the noise from the children running in and out of my study as they explore their new home, drowning out his words.

“Yes,” he says louder, “How did the meeting with the Queen go?”

“It’s tonight.”

“Ah, I thought Angie wasn’t going to move back until you’d dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s. From the chaos in the background I deduce something changed?”

“We had to speed up our plans after the Queen ordered our attendance. Angie, Yin, and the children moved in tonight.”

“I guess I lose the wager,” he chuckles.

“Christ, don’t ever mention that. The last thing I want her to think is that she was a bet.”

“We both know she was always more than that,” he snorts.

I glance up at a commotion near the fireplace to see Tiger and Talon wrestling. It appears as though Tiger is trying to push Talon’s head into the flames.

“Boys!” They look up, Tiger guiltily, Talon furiously determined.

“Get out or I’ll push both your little asses into the fire!”

Eyes wide, they rise and zip from the room as Yin sticks her head around the corner and glares at me before closing the door firmly.

“Fuck. When that’s reported to their mother I’ll be in the doghouse already, and it’s only been seven hours,” I groan.

“Hang on, Yin moved in too? You’re in for a world of pain with that one.”

“It wasn’t my idea,” I growl.

“Just eat the bitch.”

“If only,” I sigh, “I’ve already ordered Japanese for the next month. I can only hope sublimating my hunger will work for the time being.”

We both laugh, although I’m not joking.

111

I clap as Suzume flies around her new bedroom, and reach up to catch her mid-flight for a cuddle.