Page 92 of Silverproof Damsel

Rhys cleared his throat, then glittering azure eyes lifted to hold mine. “I know I don’t deserve you. You and I both know that. I can’t change the past, but I can ensure I spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I love you, Remington. There’s no other woman I see my future with. When I look into your eyes, I see forever. I see our children laughing and playing in the garden while you and I sneak between the hedges to kiss. That’s not entirely true. We’re doing much dirtier shit in those hedges.” The others chuckled or snorted, causing my lips to curve into a smile. “Marry me, Love. Make me the luckiest and happiest bastard in this town. Marry me and let’s start forever now.”

“Yes,” I whispered through the tears swimming in my eyes. “Yes, Van Helsing. I’ll marry you. But I have stipulations. I want you to vote in agreement to allow my siblings to rise as a house. One that stands beside ours. Let us be what we were meant to be. The weapons and the knights who wield them. We must let the past go and look at the future. One we can protect together.”

“Our houses need to make that choice together. I agree that it is time to let the past go and look to the future. That choice isn’t mine alone to make, Love. I’ve made too many choices alone for my house. It’s time we all got together. As a family, as our parents would’ve wanted us to be. We’ve all lost family in the past couple of weeks. I don’t wish to bury anymore, nor do I suspect your family wants to do either.”

“Then yes, I’ll marry you, Van Helsing. I’ll marry you and together, we’ll right the wrongs of the past,” I said, pulling him up for an earth-shattering kiss. One that took the air from my lungs, feeding me his until the room faded into the background.

Rhys Van Helsing was my future. I could see it in his eyes. I knew he’d never allow harm to befall Bullet or me. He’d ensure our child was safe from those who’d seek to use her as a weapon.I knew he was the one I wanted my forever to be with. He’d been defensive at first, but with his walls down, he was the man of my dreams. He was the man I’d spend the rest of my life loving.

Epilogue

Three months later

Thejoyoussoundoflaughter rang out through the halls of the Van Helsing mansion. Glittering, colorful lights lined the walls, adorning the pictures and high hanging chandeliers. Pine and sap drifted in the air, carried by the breeze as family, friends, and allies congregated at the estate.

Low voices drew my attention to Ruger and Daisy, who spoke with Ian and Mikel. Mikel was grinning at Winchester, while Cole scowled at the pair from across the room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Cole was peeved over Mikel’s infatuation with Winnie.

“Something bothering you, Love?” Rhys asked, returning my focus to where he held Bullet Verity in his arms. Carefully, he smoothed over the unruly tufts of ink-colored hair on her head. He’d been smitten by the little black-hair beauty who favored her father in both coloring and appetite. “You look pensive.”

“I think your brothers are attempting to flirt with my sisters.”

“Do you want me to put a stop to it or let them figure it out between themselves?” he queried with amusement lighting in his eyes.

“You’re enjoying this. Aren’t you?” I returned with a smile lifting the corners of my mouth.

Rhys surprised me. He’d been right beside me during her birth. Refusing to allow anyone else to assist, Rhys had delivered his daughter into this world with Talia at his side.

“Considering your sisters seem immune the Van Helsing men? I’m enjoying their embarrassment rather immensely.” Peering down at his daughter, he brought his fingers up to touch the silky black curls on her head.

Even at a month old, it was easy to see that she’d have her father’s jet-black, unruly hair. Her eyes were more vibrant than his, giving me a little hope she’d end up with the color of my eyes. Her bronze complexion was all from her father, but I didn’t mind if she ended up looking more like him. She had her tiny fingers wrapped around both of our hearts from the moment she drew in her first breath.

“Still hogging our little princess, brother?” Cole asked, then slid his hands beneath her tiny head and legs, scooping her up. “That’s my little beauty,” he cooed. “You’re going to break so many hearts. I fear ours will be among that list. Aren’t you, my little moon?”

“She is my daughter. I can hold her for how long I want to hold her. She won’t be dating, asshole. Ever,” Rhys muttered beneath his breath.

“Bullet might be your child, but she likes her uncle Cole more. All girls prefer me over you, brother,” Cole muttered, offering me a wink before he found a chair to sit down in.

“When she’s old enough, she’ll date whoever she wants. As will your sister,” I rebuked. “We’ll raise her right, as you’ve done with Nyota. To know wrong from right and to make good decisions.”

Rhys made a worrisome sound but relented. Pulling me onto his lap, he kissed my neck. “Is that so?” Brushing his nose alongmy jawline, he made a rumbling sound. “I’ll make you a deal, wife.”

Smirking at his willingness to barter, I leaned back into the silent strength of his body. It was hard to believe we were married and happy. It almost seemed like a feverish dream instead of reality.

Rhys and I married in the gardens at the chateau a little less than a month ago. It had been a small ceremony with only our family present. I’d preferred the small, intimate ceremony over a larger one. It seemed fitting that we’d joined our bloodlines, ending the ageless feud between our families.

Winchester had been granted the right to raise a house by the immortals. It had allowed her the right to settle here, among the other immortals.

The long awaited peace we’d craved had come as we awaited our daughter’s arrival. Bullet Verity Van Helsing, arrived during a massive snowstorm, screaming and covered in blood. She’d had a lusty cry and the appetite that went along with it, as well.

Rhys had been enthralled from the moment she was placed into his arms. He hadn’t shied away from fatherhood, choosing to embrace it wholeheartedly. He’d melted for her, as I continued melting for the man he’d become after putting aside the past and embracing the future.

Luckily, Talia had been nearby when Rhys phoned her out of his bloody mind with worry. How she’d been able to understand a thing he’d said was beyond me. He’d almost successfully uprooted his hair as he’d pulled on it through each painful contraction.

From his reaction, you’d have thoughthewas the one about to give birth. After Bullet had been declared healthy, he’d decided we’d have many more babies together. Talia, God’s love her, had thumped him upside his head and reminded him he hadn’t been the one giving birth.

Though she’d been born early, Bullet was healthy and thriving. She had tufts and curls of dark, inky hair, the same darkness as her father’s. Her eyes had been a vivid electric blue, which fit her little cherubic, heart-shaped face.

Bullet Verity was a tiny, petite thing. She’d weighed under five pounds, appearing even smaller in her father’s arms. Rhys used any excuse he found to hold her. Cole did as well, along with most of her other uncles.

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