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She didn’t know it yet, but she’d just become the mate to the most dangerous vampire in the world.
EPILOGUE
Cian
Several weeks later
I’d never been a male who looked forward to anything, who felt excitement or nervousness. I’d felt yearning, hoping to one day have a mate, to be lucky enough to be gifted such a thing, but I was realist enough to know that probably would never happen.
But it did, and I had the proof of having that hope sitting right beside me as I drove Evie and myself down the long, graveled driveway to her surprise.
“I hate surprises, FYI,” Evie said softly and looked over at me with a teasing note in her eyes.
“I promise ye’ll like it, lass.” I hoped she did, anyway. The fact that I hadn’t asked her input on this particular thing was damn near giving me hives, but I hoped that once she saw it, she’d fall in love and see her future with me.
And then the sprawling ranch-style house came into view as the driveway peaked at the top of the hill. I heard the soft gasp come from Evie, and I couldn’t hold in my smile. My mate was pleased, and it was the best fucking feeling.
The one-story house had a wraparound porch and was surrounded by fifty acres of wooded land, and it even had a small pond behind the house.
I pulled to a stop in front of the porch, cut the engine to the SUV, and just sat there staring at my female as she looked out the front windshield with her large, gorgeously blue eyes full of wonder.
“I’ve never been to a place that had so much space.” She looked at me then, and her shock made way for a beautiful smile that made my heart beat faster.
I didn’t stop myself from leaning in and cupping the back of her head to pull her closer and steal a kiss. The fact that I could do this whenever I wanted to, that I could kiss her, touch her, spoil her unconditionally, had a surge of possessiveness moving through me. It had my wolf stirring in approval.
We finally have her. We’re never letting her go.
And when I felt her tongue pressing gently against the seam of my mouth, wanting access, it took a hell of a lot of strength I was shocked I even possessed to pull away. Because if we started that, we’d never get out of the vehicle.
I was out of the SUV and making my way over to the passenger-side door before she could open it. Then again, she still looked starstruck as I helped her out and pulled her into my arms to bury my nose in her hair and inhale deeply. I’d never get tired of her scent, a sweet, floral aroma that not only aroused me immensely but also had me falling even more in love with her than I already was.
“Let me show ye around.” I forced myself to pull back and took her hand in mine as I led her up the steps and into the house. I tugged her inside, the door already unlocked, an observation she didn’t point out. The house still had a few large pieces of furniture from the first owners, drop cloths covering them to keep the dust off. The scent of artificial lemon cleaner filled the interior, and the sight of gleaming natural wood flooring and framework caught the sunlight that streamed through the large picture window at the rear of the open floor plan.
I let Evie walk through the rooms, marveling at how good it felt to see her smile and know she thought the place was beautiful. Once we left the inside, she walked around the porch until she was at the back. She leaned on the banister and stared out at the pond and property.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered dreamily. “Who owns this place?” she asked softly but didn't turn around.
I followed silently behind her, knowing damn well I had a big smile on my face. I couldn't help it though. Just seeing her happy did incredible things to me. She stopped at the railing and leaned against it, staring out at the several acres of cleared lawn that made way for the pond and then the wooded acreage well beyond that and on either side of the house.
“Cian?” She looked over her shoulder, that gorgeous smile still in place.
I found myself lifting a hand and rubbing the spot right over my heart, and when she saw the act, her expression softened.
“We do,” I finally answered her question.
Her brows furrowed, and she turned around fully. “We do? What do you mean?” She glanced around the property, her forehead creased from her confusion. “Like, I understand what you're saying, but I don’t understand.”
I moved over to her in three big strides.
I cupped her face in both my big palms, my female so small compared to me, so fragile and delicate, even though she had an inner strength that rivaled any fully grown Lycan male. I wanted to keep her safe. Always. I wanted to wrap her up so nothing could touch her, wanted to kill everyone for the simple fact that they may, at some point, try to take her from me. I felt like a lunatic where she was concerned, crazy in my possessiveness toward her. It was like another being housed with me, my wolf allowing it, because this other entity had one sole purpose. Protect Evie and keep her mine at all costs.
“I bought this place for us while we are in the States. I wanted a place for ye, mo ghràidh, somewhere ye’d have a warm bed and land tae roam, tae plant flowers tae grow, where ye could be happy.” I stared into her eyes and felt my heart beat for her. “A place where, while here, you have a home.” Her eyes glistened, and I leaned down just as she closed her eyes. I kissed her lids gently, twin diamond tears sliding down her pearlescent skin. I trailed my lips down her face in featherlight kisses to her chin before dragging my tongue up her cheek to gather her tears and take them into myself.
“Cian,” she breathed, and I sealed my lips against hers, swiping my tongue on her mouth before slipping it inside and letting her taste both of our flavors mixed as one. Because that's what we were now. One body, soul… one entity, because our lives were now eternally linked.
“Although I'd love for us tae live in Scotland too, a home in the woods, I’ll follow ye wherever ye want tae go, Evie.” I kissed her once more before pulling back and looking into her eyes. “Because my home is wherever ye are. Always.”
She exhaled shakily and rested her forehead in the center of my chest. I just held her, my hand cradling the back of her head, the warm breeze bringing up the scents of pine and honeysuckle, sunlight and my mate.
