“Daddy was explaining that if I’m a good girl, one day I’ll get to meet Uncle Killian and Aunt Aimee.”
“Was he now? And is your daddy a good boy?” Sariah asks with a smirk that elicits the most delicious reaction in my body. Oh, how this female knows to keep me on my bloody toes.
“He is the best, Mommy,” Akaoree giggles, playing with the ribbons tied at Sariah’s neck. “He could be better though, but he forgot to pack sweet treats for our walk.”
“Oh, no, that is a grave mistake on his part,” Sariah whispers in false shock. “Does Daddy deserve a little punishment for his misdeed?”
She throws me a tantalizing look under pale lashes, and I choke on my spit. Fifty years and it still feels like day one. Like I’m the arrogant fool who went to kidnap Aimee’s friend only to get his ass handed to him by the most beautiful and maddeningly clever creature that walked this realm.
Only now I wear my lovesick fool badge with pride and honor.
“Hmm,” Akaoree hums, tapping her chubby fingers against her chin. “Maybe a little one, yes. Oh, I know. He can get me a new set of hair bows as punishment.”
Sariah’s giggle chimes like crystal bells as she kisses our daughter, taking her from my arms.
“I will make sure Daddy never forgets your sweet treats, baby. Now come, Soren and Nella will arrive here soon, and we should prepare for the feast in their honor.”
“Nella doesn’t need a feast, Mommy,” our daughter says, rolling her pretty eyes. “She drinks blood like Daddy, duh.”
That attitude will be the death of me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Are you coming, Blaise?” Sariah asks over her shoulder, already walking hand in hand with our daughter.
“In a minute, moonlight.”
She nods, her eyes crinkling at the edges.
“Tell her I miss her every single day.”
“She knows, little pixie, she knows. She misses you too.”
They are a splash of color in the snowy landscape as they glide effortlessly through the old castle gardens, Akaoree’s childish laughter makingthe place feel lighter, full of hope for the brighter future we all wanted for Imiryion.
A pull from within the edges of my scar signals their presence. Soft tendrils of crimson and black curl around my fingers playfully, coiling around each other in an eternal chase.
A light breeze tousles my braids, carrying the ghost of a whisper in that layered voice I always hear, in my dreams and waking moments, too.
“You did well, Blaise.”
My smile broadens as I caress the shadows with my thumb.
“We all did.”
EPILOGUE II
Aimee
Thegentle,warmbreezeof Eimiryia caresses my windswept hair, tickling my nose with the intoxicating scent of honeysuckle and bergamot, and I release a gleeful shriek as we soar above fields of eternal spring. The sky is painted the palest of blues while the clouds we spear through taste like sugared roses.
The male behind me huffs in feigned annoyance, spitting a lock of my hair that slapped his mouth.
“I wish you’d heed my request and braid your hair before we mount K’haram. I am not fond of sampling the scented soap you use to wash your hair every single Godsdamned day.”
“Oh hush, Aeon,” I say, attempting to elbow his side, although I know I will be met just by his shadowy form. “I see you sniffing your lover’s tresses way more often than it would be healthy.”
“That’s different,” he grumbles under his breath.
“Omri,” K’haram chuckles, turning his head to cast us an admonishing gaze, but the crinkles forming at the edges of his emerald eyes betray his amusement.
