Page 60 of Bitten By Chaos

“Let’s meet back for the party tonight,” I said as Julian tipped me upright and took my hand. “If you all don’t mind, I’d like to take a long hot bath.”

“Baths don’t take hours,” Binx teased. “But go ahead and have some fun. We’ll take care of the mess and be ready for the reception later.”

Julian lifted me into his arms and rushed us through the woods and back to his house, which we’d been fixing up and redecorating between dress shopping and cake testing.

“I’m sorry about your beautiful gown,” he said, kicking the door closed behind him after carrying me through the threshold.

“It’s okay. At least red was part of the color scheme.” I shrugged with a hollow laugh.

He set me on my feet and backed me against the wall for a kiss. My fingers tangled in his silken curls as he pressed his body against mine.

“This was the first place we made love,” I said as he worked his way down my neck and over the now smooth spot where Elsa had ravaged me.

“I remember each and every time,” he said, palm sliding up to cup the side of my breast. “I was afraid I’d be unable to stop myself that night.”

“I never want you to stop,” I said, gazing into his indigo eyes.

“Well, Mrs. Carver, I believe you are in luck, because I plan to spend the rest of forever pleasing you.”

Epilogue

One year later

Julian’s arms slipped around me from behind to stir the sauce on the stove as he buried his face in my neck.

“They’ll be here any second,” I squeaked as he angled his hips to demonstrate his eagerness to be elsewhere.

“Just giving you something to distract you while we eat.” Julian tipped the wooden spoon toward me for a taste.

“Mmmm, you are an amazing cook,” I moaned. The brandy peppercorn sauce meant to smother our steaks was to die for.

“Keep that up, and the company will have to wait,” Julian promised in his velvety bedroom voice. The slow pulse that still beat since we’d shared blood last night increased, and I smiled.

My theory had been substantiated over the past year between his slow transformation to a similar state to my own, and our increased ability to keep the urges under control. Well, the dominating ones anyway, I thought as Julian’s hands started to roam and pictures of our new, sturdy bed popped into my head.

The doorbell sounded.

“I’ll get it!” Em called, rushing through from the back bedroom toward the door. “You guys cut it out.”

Julian tugged at his shirt sleeves, and I smoothed back my hair as familiar voices filled the entryway.

“Aunties!” Em exclaimed, and I knew she was attacking Hazel and Zoe with hugs.

A playful roar had me laughing as Sam scooped Em over his shoulder and ran her through the house to the table, already set up for the celebration dinner. He dropped her in a giggling fit onto a chair as Lydia, Daphne, Binx, and Karma in cat form joined the rest of us. Poppy poked her head through the open window and brayed until Sam offered her an apple.

Zoe joined me to the side as Julian began plating the food.

“It’s been a year,” she said, searching my face for any signs of distress.

I knew what she was referring to, and it wasn’t my anniversary with Julian. It also happened to be a year since our father tried to redeem himself for all he’d done and sacrificed his life. When I watched Elsa sever his head, I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but my first reaction was relief. And though both Zoe and I had admitted our complicated feelings since, they hadn’t dissipated, though perhaps they’d lessened.

Reaching out, I tucked some of her curls back and smiled softly. “I’m getting there. I try to focus on the dad I knew as a child when I remember him. You?”

“Hazel helps,” Zoe said with a smile and a blush. “It’s been a daily struggle to undertand, my anger is valid because of the choices he made.”

“Dinner time!” Julian announced from the dining area.

Everyone took a seat at the large table we’d added after Julian had rehung the chandelier, “so we’ll always remember when we see it.” And after excited chatter, Julian raised a glass, tapping a fork on its side to call everyone’s attention.

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