Page 22 of Rescued By the Vexed Vampire

She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen, but there was a light in them that hadn’t been there before. “You do?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“If I can find a way,” I continued, my voice steady despite the chaos in my heart, “I want to stay here. In Sweetberry Hollow. I want to make a life with you, curse or no curse. If you’ll have me. Even though I am what I am.”

Bethany let out a soft laugh, her tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I’ll have you. And I love you too…just as you are.”

I leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was soft and full of unspoken promises. It was a moment of clarity in the midst of all the uncertainty, a moment that made everything else fade away.

But then, there was another knock on the door.

Bethany frowned, pulling back slightly. “Who else could it be?” she asked, wiping at her eyes.

“Maybe Rose-Marie forgot something,” I suggested, though there was a sinking feeling in my gut that told me this was something else entirely.

Bethany crossed the room, opening the door cautiously. And there, standing on the threshold, was Delilah.

The evil witch grinned wickedly, her crimson lips curling into a smile that sent a chill down my spine. My heart plummeted as I took in the sight of her, standing there in all her elegant, wicked glory.

“Who—?” Bethany started, her voice laced with confusion.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was about to happen. “Bethany,” I said slowly, “this is Delilah Montgomery. My...boss.”

“Delilah Montgomery?” Bethany repeated, her eyes narrowing. “The devil?”

Delilah laughed, the sound sharp and full of dark amusement. “Close enough, darling,” she purred. “I followed Drake here because I couldn’t trust him to follow orders. And now that the shop is doing well—congratulations on the blood drive, by the way—it’s time for Drake to come back to New York where he belongs. Back to work for Montgomery Enterprises.”

I felt my anger flare, the heat of it pushing back against the icy fear in my chest. “No,” I said firmly, stepping forward. “I’m not going back. I’ve decided to quit and stay here, in Sweetberry Hollow. This is where I belong.”

Delilah’s smile faded, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “You’re defying me?” she asked, her voice deceptively calm. “Even though I own part of your soul? You gave it to me quite willingly, as I recall. We had a deal.”

“That’s right,” I said, meeting her gaze head-on. “And I’m taking it back now.”

For a moment, there was silence. And then, to my utter confusion, Delilah’s lips curled into a genuine smile.

“Good,” she said, her voice soft with approval.

I blinked, completely taken aback. “What?”

Delilah turned slightly, gesturing to someone behind her. “I didn’t come to town alone,” she said, her voice laced with anticipation. “I brought my husband with me. This seems like the perfect time to introduce you—and Bethany—to him.”

A figure stepped out from around the corner, and as he came into view, I felt my heart stop.

He was tall and imposing, with golden hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me. There was an ethereal glow about him, a light that was both blinding and comforting at the same time. And as he stepped forward, I recognized him immediately.

“Gabriel,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Bethany’s eyes widened, recognition dawning on her face. “Gabriel! You’re here!”

Delilah laughed, the sound light and joyful as Gabriel smiled, bent his head to hers and planted a light kiss on her red lips.

“Haven’t you heard?” She continued as she and the archangel circled their arms around each other’s waists. “Opposites attract. We’re two sides of the same coin.”

Gabriel’s expression was warm and reassuring as he gazed at us. “Delilah was hoping you’d reclaim your soul all along, Drake,” he said, his voice deep and resonant.

“Yep,” nodded Delilah. “It only took you two hundred years.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I was too stunned to process what was happening.

“Are you sure you want to be human again?” Delilah asked, her voice gentle in a way I’d never heard before.

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