Page 42 of French Quarter Heiress

I swallow hard, my own eyes stinging with tears as I continue. "We have faced so much together, endured so much pain and hardship and loss. But through it all, our love has only grown stronger, a bond that can never be broken."

I reach out, cupping Elise's face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the tears that spill down her cheeks. "And now, my darling, I ask you to join me, to become my mate in the eyes of the moon and the stars and all the powers that be."

Elise nods, her smile widening as she leans into my touch. "Yes," she whispers, her voice a breathless sigh of joy. "Yes, Beau, a thousand times yes."

I pull her close, my arms wrapping around her waist as I lower my head to the crook of her neck. I breathe in her scent, the sweet, intoxicating aroma of vanilla and jasmine and something uniquely Elise, and feel a shiver of anticipation run down my spine.

And then, with a gentle, reverent touch, I sink my fangs into the soft, yielding flesh of her throat, piercing the vein that throbs beneath her skin. Elise gasps, her body arching against mine as the first drops of her blood hit my tongue, rich and sweet and heady with power.

I drink deeply, feeling the bond between us growing stronger with each passing moment, a connection that transcends the boundaries of flesh and blood and bone. Elise's consciousness brushes against mine, a soft, warm presence that fills me with a sense of peace and belonging unlike anything I have ever known.

And as I withdraw my fangs, sealing the wound with a tender kiss, I know that we are one, bound together by a force that can never be broken, a love that will endure through all the ages of this world and beyond.

Elise sways in my arms, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine, a soft, dreamy smile playing across her lips. "I love you, Beau Leblanc," she murmurs, her voice a whisper of silk and honey. "I will love you until the stars fall from the sky and the oceans turn to dust."

I smile, my heart so full of joy and wonder that I fear it might burst. "And I love you, Elise Delacroix," I reply, my voice rough with emotion. "I will love you until the end of time and beyond, through all the lives we may live and all the worlds we may explore."

I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that is both tender and fierce, a promise and a prayer all in one. And as the candles flicker and dance around us, as the bayou comes alive with the sounds of the night, I know that this is only the beginning of our story, the first chapter in a tale that will be told for generations to come.

For Elise and I have found each other, two lost souls adrift in a sea of darkness and pain, and together we have forged a bond that can never be broken, a love that will light the way through even the darkest of nights.

And though the road ahead may be long and winding, though there may be challenges and obstacles and enemies at every turn, I know that as long as we have each other, as long as our love remains strong and true, we can face anything, overcome anything, triumph over anything.

For our love is a force of nature, a power that can move mountains and part seas, and it will be the guiding light that leads us home, no matter how far we may roam or how lost we may become.

And so, as the moon rises high overhead and the stars twinkle in the velvet sky, I take Elise's hand in mine and lead her forward into the future, into a world of endless possibilities and boundless love.

For we are Beau and Elise, the wolf and the vampire, two hearts that beat as one, two souls that have found their forever home in each other's arms.

And though the shadows of the past may linger, though the scars of our battles may never fully fade, we know that together, we can build a new life, a new family, a new world, one founded on love and trust and acceptance, one where all creatures, great and small, can live in harmony and peace.

And as we walk hand in hand into the dawning light of a new day, our hearts full of hope and joy and unshakable faith in the power of our love, we know that this is only the beginning, the first step on a journey that will last a lifetime and beyond.

For we are Beau and Elise, and our love is a love that will never die, a love that will endure through all the ages of this world and into the next.

And it is a love that will always lead us home, no matter how far we may roam or how lost we may become.

30

ELISE

With Beau’s declaration of his love for me, I find a new sense of freedom and purpose. I feel cherished and adored.

I feel wanted and loved.

It’s an incredible feeling. Now that we’re free from my father’s tyranny, we can be together. We’re mates, bound by a vampire bond. I keep his hand in mine as we make our way through the corridors of his home - now our home.

I pull him into the bedroom eagerly. The moment the door shuts behind us I lock my arms around Beau’s neck and pull him down so I can kiss him.

“I love you, Beau,” I whisper against his lips.

I can feel the smile against my mouth. “I love you, Elise.”

His voice shivers through me, igniting my blood, my soul. I press closer to him, feeling the firm planes of his body against mine, and it sends a thrill through me.

His scent overwhelms me, filling me with a deep yearning that somehow feels like coming home. I release one arm from around his neck and slide it down his firm chest, tracing patterns onto his shirt. His eyes glitter with anticipation, reflecting the moonlight streaming in from the window.

"Show me," Beau murmurs, as if reading my mind.

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