Page 23 of Take Her to the Grave

"We are,” he nods. “ The Shadow-Kissed are rare enough, but one who rules as an equal?" His face is filled with pride. "You're unprecedented, my love. Dangerous.Revolutionary."

"Good." I pull him down for a kiss, letting his tongue into my mouth immediately when he presses it against my lips, requesting entry. It takes everything in me to pull back and not let him take me right here and now in front of our sentries, but I whisper against his lips, "Let them fear us. Let them wonder. Let them tell stories about the monsters who rule through partnership instead of fear."

His expression is amused, making me bite my bottom lip. "You’re going to make waves in this world, and I can’t wait to stand at your side through them all.”

I give him a peck on the cheek, taking his hand in mine and guide us through our territory, feeling unstoppable and full of purpose. Every word I wrote was leading me here. Every story was preparation. Every monster I created was just practice for becoming one myself.

But this is better than any story. This is real. This is true.

This is our dark ever after.

Epilogue

SHADOW CROWN

Two YearsLater

My latest novel sits on the desk before me, its black cover gleaming in the candlelight. "Queen of Shadows" by Elena Monroe – my first traditionally published book since the transformation, and my most successful yet. The reviews call it "revolutionary," "darkly seductive," and "a complete reinvention of vampire fiction."

If they only knew.

I trace the embossed cover with a smile, remembering Sarah's reaction to the manuscript. My editor didn't question why I now only work nights, or why our meetings are strictly virtual. She's just thrilled with my "new direction" and the unprecedented sales numbers.

"Enjoying the reviews, my queen?" Torrin materializes from the shadows of our library, his presence making the ancient books pulse with energy. His amusement at the humans' reaction to what they think is mere fiction makes me chuckle. It’s all he talks about every time he gets online to read the reviews. I don’t read most of them these days because I never know what I’ll come across, but Torrin is able to sort through them and provide me with feedback I can use to strengthen my craft.

"They're calling it 'pure fantasy,'" I say, showing him the most recent review I was tagged in. "Apparently, the idea of vampires who can merge with shadows and command darkness itself is 'too far-fetched.' One reader said the connection between the main characters was 'unrealistically intense.'"

His laugh is velvety as he pulls me from my chair, spinning around and onto his lap so that I’m straddling him. "If they only knew how much you held back. How much of our true power you had to obscure to make it believable at all."

He's right. The past two years have shown us that we are far more capable than we could have ever imagined possible. Our blood bond has grown stronger with each passing moon, until we can sense each other across any distance, share thoughts and power with a mere touch, move through shadow as one being.

"Remember when we thought shadow-walking was impressive?" I muse, letting him cup my ass and grip it tightly, rocking me slowly over his growing erection. "Now it seems so... basic."

Through our strengthened bond, we share the memory of our first major discovery – the night we learned we could not just travel through shadows, but become them completely. Merge our essences with darkness itself, existing as pure power. That was also the night we found out that we could share consciousness, experiencing everything through each other's senses.

"You've grown so powerful," Torrin murmurs against my hair. "Sometimes I watch you hunting and can hardly believe what you've become."

I smile, remembering last night's hunt. We don't need to feed often – our combined power means a single feeding can sustain us both for weeks – but we hunt for pleasure now. For the thrill of being or natural, primal selves and the way we move together in perfect harmony.

"Show me," I whisper, pulling back to meet his arctic eyes. "Show me how you see me."

He grins softly as he opens his mind fully to mine. Through his eyes, I see myself as I truly am – beautiful and glowing. My skin gleams like moonlight, my eyes shift between brown and pure black depending on how closemy power is to the surface, and living shadows wrap around me like devoted pets.

But it's more than just physical appearance. I feel his awe at how completely I've embraced this life. How naturally I took to the power, how perfectly we complement each other in every way.

"Your turn," he growls softly. "Show me how you seeus."

I open my mind in return, letting him feel everything – my endless fascination with him and everything that he is, my joy in every moment we spend together, my satisfaction in how we've grown together.

"We've come so far," I murmur, pulling him closer and letting his bulge press into me.

We spend several minutes exchanging memories of those early days – his careful pursuit of me, my awakening to power, our first blood exchange. Everything leading to my transformation and submission to the darkness in the ancient chapel.

"Look at us now," I say, letting shadows wrap around us like a comfort blanket.

"Show me the new skill you’ve been working on," he says, sitting back to give me room. "The one you were practicing last night."

Smiling, I hop off of him, standing as I reach for that well of power inside me. Shadows gather around me, but instead of just moving through them, I begin to transform them. Shaping them and giving them purpose and form.

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