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Coming up to my front door, I dig my keys out of my pocket and stop short.

Ellery’s on my doorstep with her green peacoat pulled tight. There’s snow in her hair, and she hasn’t brushed it off.

The last time I saw her sitting down like that, it was raining, and I stood across the road and did nothing. I won’t make that mistake again.

She gets up.

I wait for the moment she steels herself to let me down gently and disappear from my life.

“I’ve been calling, but…” She holds out her phone as evidence.

I pat down my sweatpants. “Sorry, I must’ve left it inside.”

“My mom’s gone.” Even with my vampire senses, I have no idea what she’s going to say next. “I pulled out of Columbia. And took a job with Roslyn.”

“Ellery, I…” I’ve got the whole speech ready. Rehearsed and perfected. “Stay. Please.”

She lets me finish and waits.

“Nick. Were you not listening?”

I count four heartbeats before her words register. Even then I don’t quite believe them. “You’re staying?”

“Yes, you idiot.”

“You know I can’t leave.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want you to choose this place, this life, because of me. I want you to choose it for you.”

“Nick. I ran from a life that wasn’t mine. I found one that is. Roslyn is giving me three articles a week. Tess is teaching me how to make pie crust. I have an appointment with Hazel to dig through city records in February.” She threads her fingers through my hair. “And yes, I love you.”

I pull her to me and kiss her.

She’s still here. I press my forehead to hers.

“I love you, Ellery Ashford.”

There’s no hammering in my heart, no stuttered breaths. Just hers, going hard enough for both of us, and that turns out to be everything.

Chapter 45

Ellery

Nick once told me he didn’t sleep much, that vampires don’t necessarily have to, but every night I’ve spent with him he’s out before I am. Go figure.

The withdrawal confirmation came through at four a.m. Your enrollment has been canceled. This action cannot be reversed. I’ve read it six times, and it still makes me tingle, which I’m choosing to take as a good sign.

Nick doesn’t stir. He’s not awake, and then he is, all at once, with one hand reaching for me.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I say, trying to hide that he caught me staring.

“That sounds like a lie, Miss Ashford.” He drags me across his chest.

I squirm against the firm cage of his arms but they don’t budge. He presses a kiss to the curve of my neck, and there’s the faint graze of sharp teeth.