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The five-segment circle appears within it, and New York shines brilliant white-silver at the centre. The other territories pulse faintly in answer, one by one, as if something vast has heard the first note of a song and knows the rest will follow.

Valentin rises and pulls me into his arms.

I cling to him as he laughs into my hair, shaking, undone, glorious. ‘I told you,’ he whispers.

I laugh through tears. ‘Do not ruin this by being smug.’

‘I was right.’

‘Valentin.’

‘You were my mate. My salvation. You carry my child. I have rarely been more correct.’

‘You’re fucking impossible.’

‘And loved.’

My heart breaks open. ‘Yes,’ I whisper. ‘And loved.’

His mouth finds mine.

The kiss tastes of tears, blood, hope and the wild, impossible future arriving early. His hands frame my face, then slide down to my stomach, reverent again, trembling again.

Through the bond, I feel him speaking to her. Not words exactly.

A promise. A vow. From a king kneeling before a heartbeat smaller than his little finger.

I close my eyes and let myself hear both of them.

My mate. My daughter. A life, no longer built from running.

Outside, New York glows beneath the moon. Somewhere, Selphine still hates us. And Morrighan still waits inside her Blood Chrysalis.

Somewhere, the other Five Blood are beginning to understand that Valentin Moretti has not merely survived his curse.

He has changed the game.

But inside this room, there is only this. Valentin on his knees again, forehead pressed to my stomach, silver tears on his face.

Our baby’s heartbeat.

My hands in his hair and tears in my eyes.

And a future so bright, so dangerous, so ours, that I finally understand hope is not the absence of monsters.

Hope is loving someone enough to face them together.

Valentin looks up at me, eyes blazing. ‘What now, little hunter?’

I smile through my tears and cup his beautiful, impossible face.

‘Now?’ I whisper. ‘Now we live.’

His answering smile lights the whole Tower.