Page 117 of Nearly Dead

“You’re up early,” Costin murmurs, his arms encircling my waist from behind as he finds me in the living room.He presses a kiss to my shoulder, and I lean into him, savoring the cool strength of him.

“Big night,” I remind him.My stomach is in knots.“Paul and Diana are coming.”

He tenses slightly but says nothing.After everything that’s happened, he’s still wary of my connection to Paul.Not jealous.We’re beyond that now.But concerned about the pain reopening old wounds might cause.

“I need this closure,” I say, answering his unspoken worry.I can’t seem to stop pulling the humans into my orbit, but I have to say goodbye.A final-final-finalgoodbye.Hopefully one where no one tries to kill any of us.“We all do.”

His lips find my neck and fangs tease my skin.“I know.I’ve arranged everything as you asked.There will be extra security.No one unauthorized in or out.Human snacks are prepared.They’re on the dining table.”

The penthouse apartment is neutral territory, not Costin’s underground lair or my family’s estate.Somewhere Paul and Diana will feel safe, where a child won’t be overwhelmed by supernatural energy.Plus, there are no secret tunnels leading to the underground city.I’m not taking any chances that goblins might try to sneak in, or elves decide suddenly to revolt.

“Thank you,” I say, turning in his arms to face him.“For understanding.”

His smile is gentle.“I’ve had centuries to learn patience, Tamara.A few more hours are nothing.”

“Is that what you tell yourself about the wedding?”I tease, referring to Astrid’s insistence on planning what she calls,“an appropriate ceremony befitting the Devine name and the master vampire.”Three weeks of preparation already, and she’s talking about months more.

“I’d marry you tonight if you wanted,” he says seriously.“No witnesses, no ceremony.Only us.”

The intensity in his gaze makes me shiver.“Don’t tempt me.Astrid would never forgive us.”

He laughs, the sound still rare enough to feel like a gift.“Then we wait.After all, we have forever.”

Forever.The word doesn’t scare me anymore.

The doorbell rings, interrupting our moment.I feel a flutter of nervous anticipation.“They’re early.”

“Do you want me to stay?”Costin asks.

I shake my head.“This is something I need to do alone.”I press a kiss to his lips and glance down his naked body.“Besides, I think you should probably put some clothes on before you greet guests.”

He chuckles and nods in understanding.

“If you need me I’ll hear you.”He vanishes in a blur toward the back of the apartment as I move to answer the door.

Paul waits on the other side, Diana half-hidden behind him.He looks better than when I last saw him, though there are new shadows in his eyes.Diana peers around his leg, her face lighting up when she sees me.

“Tamara!”She breaks free of her father’s protective stance and launches herself at me.A backpack drops on the floor behind her.

I catch her, careful of my strength, and hug her close.The amulet hangs around her neck, its magic a familiar vibration against my skin.“I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too.Did you know I got to see real wolves?”Her excitement bubbles over.“They were huge.And they let me pet them!”

I raise an eyebrow at Paul over her head.He shrugs as he lifts the backpack from the floor.“Sully and Anthony’s idea.They know how important she is to you and thought she should understand that part of your world.Sully said something about the pack protecting their own.”

So Sully had visited them?That’s surprisingly sweet.

“Sully’s funny,” Diana says.

“Oh, uh, sorry, come in,” I say, stepping back as I realize I’m blocking the entrance.

Paul hesitates at the threshold and glances at Diana “Is he...?”

“Giving us space,” I tell him.

He nods and enters, his hand protectively on Diana’s shoulder.

“Nice place,” he says, taking in the modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows with their spectacular view of New York at twilight.Diana bounces ahead to explore the penthouse.

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