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Rylan co?”

“I’m shaky and exhausted and overwhelood Really good” I hesitate “Lizzie?”

“Gone I’ back at so what the rest of the clans are now that you’ve taken over” AtEvaluating Traditionally, there’s a year grace period when so to bolster our defenses and alliances and ensure we’re too strong to reckon with”

“Oh,” I say faintly I’ve never heard of a grace period, buttiht-fisted with infor I intend to change I drag in a breath “I guess we need to get started on that soon

“To can wait until to to celebrate the fact that we’re alive and on”

I findslowly as he leads me to the bed “I kind of like that plan”

“I thought you ht” He smiles down at me and, for the first time since I met him, it’s completely joyful and free of reserve “I love you, little dhampir”

“I love you, too”

“Forever”

I go up onto my toes and kiss him “Forever”

19

Four years later

I sain” I pick upopen the door, power at reets me stops me short

Rylan is sleeping in the rocking chair, the twins in his arms They’re still little, only three e to see how ragged they can run the four of us I’ood kind of tired They’re sleeping for once, so they aren’t the source of the smoke