“The arrogant, sexy vampire is an astronomer. Who knew?” she said, surprise riddling her tone.
“I never knew my mom, but according to my dad, she believed in the mysticism and symbolism of the stars and planets,” I continued. “That names held power. For example, the planet Jupiter, guardian and protector of the sky, signifies great fortune.” I squeezed her to me, slightly shaking. “Since I was born with the astrological sign of Sagittarius, my mom thought it befitting that my middle name should be Jove, which is of Latin origin and means Jupiter.”
She twisted in my arms until she was gazing up at me with those ball-gripping, electric-blue eyes. “Your mom was right. The name does fit you, Sam. Protector is who you are. But you’re also kind, caring, sometimes an arrogant ass, but mine, and you love unconditionally. I often wonder why you and I are together. I’ve killed vampires like they didn’t matter. You taught me that they do. The good ones anyway. Now here we are, building a family and loving each other.”
I flattened my hands on her soft cheeks. “It doesn’t matter to me that you’re a vampire hunter. The moment I saw you at the nightclub was the very moment you grabbed my heart. I’ve been drawn to your feistiness, your strength, and your beauty, inside and out.” The momentary blackness as I blinked told me my green eyes had changed to silver. “You care for those you love, you see the good in people, and your take-no-prisoners attitude fits us.” Inching away, I slipped my hand into my back pocket.
Layla began to tremble.
I got down on one knee, and her emotions mingled with mine—an outpouring of love, although she was surprised as I presented my mother’s ruby gemstone.
“Layla Aberdeen, would you be my sidekick, the woman who will keep me sane, a partner who will stand by my side and fight for what we believe in and those we love? Above all else, will you love my arrogant ass no matter what?”
She sobbed. “I would love to be your partner, the mother of your children, and to fight to the end of time alongside you. I will always, always love your arrogant vampire ass.”
I kissed her pregnant belly as happiness blanketed me. “Did you hear that, kids? Your mom said yes.” I swayed as I rose, drunk on the emotions bouncing between us, and slid the ring onto her finger. “This was my mom’s ring. She wanted me to have this for my bride-to-be. The ruby is such a perfect match for your courageous and fiery personality.” The ring didn’t exactly fit over her swollen knuckle. “No matter how rough the seas are ahead of us, never, ever forget it’s you and me and that our kids will always come first. I fucking love you, baby doll.”
I never thought I would marry or have kids. But I was the happiest fucking vampire on the planet.
I kissed her with everything I had—mind, body, and soul. I would cherish this woman for as long as I could. I knew she would grow old, and I wouldn’t. I couldn’t say that it didn’t bother me. To a point, it did. But we were living in the here and now, and fifty years wasn’t on my radar.
“I love you, Layla. I would die without you.”
The sound of the waves turned into a banging noise that seemed far away yet so close. Then my body shook.
“Samuel.” My father’s voice seeped in my consciousness. “Son, wake up.”
I lurched upright. “Is it Layla? Is she here?”
The room was bathed in darkness except for the sliver of light creeping in through the crack of the bedroom door.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, glancing at my watch. I couldn’t remember the exact time I came into my room, but I knew at least eleven or twelve hours had passed because it was ten p.m.
I swiped a hand through my hair. “How did you get in here?”
“I have a key. This used to be my room, remember?”
My synapses weren’t firing on all cylinders yet.
My father eased down on the bed next to me and rubbed my back. “I know your pain, son, like it was yesterday,” he said softly, reading my mind and feeling the agony singeing my soul. “Your mom’s death was one of the worst things in my life. I didn’t think I could go on. And the only thing that helped me was knowing I had you and Jo.”
I threw my head into my hands. “I was just dreaming of when I proposed to Layla. We hardly had a chance to start our lives. I still don’t believe she’s dead. It was Rianne’s bite that killed her, right?”
“Damon is pretty sure.” My dad and Webb were the only ones on our team who called Dr. Vieira by his first name. “He’s in the lab now, running tests.”
“Did Agnes tell you about the conversation she overheard between Roman and Adam?”
“She told us about the scientist who died after he was bitten by one of his research subjects,” my dad said.
I leaned my elbows on my knees. “I need to murder Adam Emery. I even want to strangle Carly. I don’t care if she came to us for help or gave us Uncle Patrick’s files. She’s as guilty as Adam is.” Part of me had a soft spot for Adam’s former scientist. Layla’s cousin-in-law, who’d been married to Junior Aberdeen, had helped me rescue Layla from Intech. But she’d done more harm than good even though her goal in genetically altering humans was more to find a cure for diseases than build an army of super soldiers. Regardless, no amount of redemption could make up for the many lives that had been lost.
Dane poked his head into the room. “You’ll have to get behind me if you want to kill Adam.”
After the shit that went down with Layla and then her death, I’d forgotten about the alpha. “You made it out of surgery?”
He felt along the wall for the light switch. As soon as the bedside table lamps were illuminated, I was wincing.
He proceeded to show me the back of his skull. His white hair had been shaved off, and he had stitches. “The chip was taken out successfully. That motherfucker won’t screw with my brain ever again.”
