Page 65 of Maddie

“No, silly.” She grinned. “Thank you for coming back.”

A smile spread across his face. How could he have stayed away from this alluring female who constantly made his heart race? “You don’t have to thank me for that either. It was the only logical choice.”

“You could’ve taken the cure,” she reasoned, a guarded look slipping into her features.

“No,” Noah said firmly. He wanted to erase that look from her face forever, wanted her to knowwhyhe’d come back. “Becoming a vampire wasn’t something I could’ve predicted, but I’ve never felt more like myself than I do now. You’re here and I think… I mean, Iknowthat I’m falling in love with you, Maddie.”

Her lips parted as though she must’ve misunderstood what he said.

“Bloody hell, after all we’ve been through, I might as well just say it. I love you, all right?” He rolled his eyes and smiled.

She blinked rapidly for a moment, a tinge of nerves building in his chest while he waited for her to say something.Anything. Did she not feel the same way? It was okay if she didn’t—they could work up to that if she gave him the chance.

“How could I not love you, too, immortal?” Maddie finally said, her honey-colored eyes brightening as she took his face between her hands. Warmth spread through him while she pressed her lips to his forehead, his nose, his mouth, his neck, just before whispering in his ear. “Now, how about you help me make a new hat and ask me more of your wonderful, inquisitive questions.”

“Only after I make love to you one more time.”

“Fine, immortal. Fine.” She laughed as he hauled her into his lap, then her laughter was replaced by beautiful gasps of pleasure when he sank into her once more.

He would never get tired of her sounds. He would never get tired ofher. She was something unexpected, but somehow he knew, she was his messy, unpredictable, wondrous, immortal match, nonetheless.

Epilogue

Maddie

A hat was still like a heart.

But now Maddie’s heart was full of more than her love for hats, her sister, and Ferris. It had opened up to something new,someonenew, something wondrous. A new kind of love. With Noah.

She didn’t know what was next, though. The four of them were still hidden below ground in Ivory. As for Alice, she was safe. Noah had snuck out once, only briefly, to check on her in Leeds.

Maddie glanced up from sewing and leaned into Noah, who was reading a book. Mouse sat beside Ferris on the floor, playing a game of chess with him. Her caterpillar, Des, rested at the edge of the board, silently watching them. Ferris hated the game, but he did it for Mouse. After a month away from the Ruby Heart Palace, her sister still hadn’t smiled like she used to.

One day, she will again.

Maddie brought up her scissors and cut out several Queen of Night tulips that she’d drawn into the thick fabric. She was making a hat for her sister in an effort to cheer her up. For weeks, Maddie made do by using fabric from one of the beds and breaking it apart over and over again to reshape. Then while checking on Alice, Noah had retrieved materials for Maddie to make a few hats. After that tiny gesture, Maddie had given him the utmost pleasure. He’d returned the favor—her body unintentionally heated at the reminder of that night.

“Do you want me to help you with that?” Noah whispered in her ear and set down his book.

Maddie tilted her head. “You want to do it right here in the open?”

His cheeks pinkened, but his eyes still sparked with desire. “I meant with the hat.”

“So boredom made you turn to hat-making then?” She grinned. “Take this.” Pressing a needle in between his finger and thumb, Maddie placed the fabric in his other hand.

He lifted her and sat her in his lap, making her laugh. Together, she helped Noah weave in and out of the fabric, even though he didn’t need the help—she just wanted to keep touching him.

A knock sounded at the door, echoing throughout the house. Everyone stilled. Ferris stood, grabbing the gun he kept beside him.

Maddie leapt off Noah and grasped hers from on top of her backpack while Noah retrieved his from the bedroom. Weaponless, Mouse padded toward the stairs, unafraid.

Then another knock came, familiar. A knock Maddieknew. The same one she and Ferris had shared at the safe house back in Scarlet.

Jolting forward, she raced past Mouse, in case it wasn’t who she believed it to be.

Maddie held her gun tightly, aiming it upward, as she swung open the door to a female with black hair and brown eyes, wearing jeans and a raggedy old Dracula T-shirt.

“Is that the way you greet a friend?” Ever arched a brow, her gaze focused on the gun pointed at her face. “Next time”—her long fingers touched the tip of Maddie’s weapon and brought it to her chest—“remember to aim for the heart.”

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