"Sable—"
Strong arms wrap around me. Damon. My brother. The scent of his cologne—still the same even after everything—brings tears to my eyes.
"Welcome home, sis," he murmurs against my hair.
I return his embrace, studying his face. The tension I'd been carrying about his transformation melts away. His eyes are clear and focused. There is no bloodlust, no struggle—just my brother holding me like he has a thousand times before.
"Look at you," I manage through the lump in my throat. "All vamped up and in control."
He grins, fangs flashing. "Turns out immortality suits me."
Sable makes a strangled sound, pressing herself further into the wall. Her dark brown eyes dart between us like a trapped animal.
Lucian steps forward, his usual snark in full force. "Alright, Bubblegum, time for a Vampire refresher course. Chapter One: You won't go all 'Interview with the Vampire' on our resident angel here. Seriously, look at her—she's like a walking Christmas light. Way too bright to snack on."
His voice carries the subtle resonance of a Maker's command—not controlling, just steadying—like dropping an anchor in stormy waters. Sable's body relaxes instantly, the tension melting from her shoulders as the command settles over her. Her eyes clear, fear replaced by calm understanding.
"Look at you, all paternal and shit," I grin. "Should we start calling you Daddy Vamp?"
Lucian's face twists like he's just swallowed sour blood. "Listen here, Princess Snack Pack, I may be responsible for this baby vamp, but if you ever—ever—call me 'daddy' again, I will personally ensure every Netflix account you touch automatically plays nothing but Adam Sandler movies."
"That's cruel, even for you."
"I contain multitudes of cruelty, sweetheart. Just ask my Xbox after I rage-quit Dark Souls."
I take a careful step forward, like approaching a spooked horse. "Better?"
Sable nods, her fingers twisting in her pink hair. "Yeah, it's... clearer now. Your scent is still like mainlining pure sugar, but I'm not feeling quite so... bitey."
"Bitey is not your best look," Emily chimes in. "Stick to unicorn accessories."
"I can still come closer?" I ask, watching Sable for any sign of distress.
Behind me, I can practically feel Rhyland coiling like a spring, ready to move if needed. His protective instincts are sweet, if slightly overdramatic. Then again, this is the man who once tackled me to safety because I almost walked into a spider web.
"Yeah," Sable manages a shaky smile. "Just... maybe no hugging yet? I'm not sure I'm ready for full contact."
"Daddy Vamp?" Rhyland looks at Lucian like he's an idiot, his deep voice rumbles with a suggestive edge that makes my cheeks heat, "if anyone's earning the title 'daddy' around here, brother, I think Dani would agree it's notyou."
Lucian gasps dramatically. "Was that... did you just make a dirty joke? Quick, someone check if Hell froze over!"
"I've had a lot of practice," Rhyland smirks, his hand sliding possessively around my waist. "Unlike some people who still giggle at the word 'duty.'"
"You said 'doody,'" Lucian snickers, then straightens up. "I mean, how dare you question my maturity? I'm a responsible Maker now. I have..." he thinks for a minute, "Ah yes,adulting skills."
Emily snorts so hard she nearly falls out of her chair. "You spent three hours yesterday trying to teach Brax how to dab."
"It's an important cultural milestone!"
"Cultural milestone, my ass," Emily mutters. "You just wanted TikTok content."
"Hey, my followers expect quality entertainment!" Lucian protests. "Do you know how hard it is to keep up with Gen Z meme culture when you're technically old enough to be their great-great-great-grandfather?"
"At least you're trying," Sable offers, slowly sinking onto the edge of the bed. "Damon still can't figure out how to use Instagram filters."
"The dog ears are deeply unsettling," Damon defends himself. "And why would anyone want to look like they're vomiting rainbows?"
I lean back against Rhyland's chest, savoring the normalcy of the moment. My crazy, supernatural family is bickering about social media like we aren't a collection of vampires, witches, and whatever the hell I am these days.
