Page 23 of Valentine's With A Vampire

A swirl of relief spikes so sharply it nearly makes me dizzy. “And the fear? The panic from last night?”

He nods slowly, gaze fixed on the cobblestones. “Still there, but you’re worth facing it.” He lifts his eyes. “If you’ll have me.”

My chest tightens, tears burning at the corners of my eyes. I swallow them. “I want that,” I whisper. “Despite everything.”

He lifts a hand, palm open in an invitation. I slide my fingers through his. The contact sends a ripple of warmth. We exchange tentative smiles, like two people tiptoeing over thin ice.

Footsteps approach, and I glimpse Bethany’s petite form returning. She halts a short distance away, clearing her throat. “No desire to interrupt, but we have important matters to discuss as well.” Her gaze lands on me with a mixture of warmth and apology. “I owe you an explanation, Vandria. I never meant to meddle so deeply in your life. I had no idea if his match was here, or who you’d be, but I hoped.”

Her lips purse. “I suspected he needed a place like Evershift Haven, and that the festival might nudge him, but I didn’t know you specifically. Your mother and I were friends many years ago, but I had no idea her daughter would be my grandson’s perfect match.”

Declan squeezes my hand as we listen. My pulse thumps. Bethany sets her carpetbag on the ground with a soft thud, rummaging inside until she produces a small crocheted shawl. She drapes it around her shoulders.

“Horace—my husband—passed away a few years back,” she says quietly. “I realized Declan was adrift after he left service when his knee was injured. Not enough to disable him, but too much for him to stay in as a Ranger.”

I glance at him while trying to remember if I saw any scars on his leg. Nothing comes to mind, so it must have been an internal injury.

His grandmother continues before I can ask for details. “I worried he’d go on existing without finding true connection., so I wrote Grizelda and arranged for a subtle push. The day he took that road trip, I wove a tiny enchantment on his GPS. The rest was the barrier doing what it does best—leading him intoEvershift Haven.” She glances at me, eyes shining with sincerity. “I never imagined he’d collide head-on with your path like this, but I’m grateful.”

I tilt my head, letting the confession settle. She left our town for love once, so she knows the stakes. She risked everything to push Declan here. My voice comes out gently. “I’m not angry with you. A little shell-shocked, maybe.”

Bethany smiles softly. “Your mother might have a different opinion once she hears I’m back, especially if it leads to grandbabies.” The older woman glances between Declan and me. “I meddled with the best intentions. If you two want no part in it, no one’s chaining you here, but let me ask you something, Declan.” She fixes him with a piercing stare. “Do you really want to live without Vandria in your life?”

He closes his eyes briefly, swallowing. “No,” he says finally. “I don’t. I’ve already told her that, Gran.”

Bethany’s face lights up, lines creasing in a smile that’s equal parts mischief and joy. She dips her chin as though passing a silent blessing.

Declan turns to me, eyes nervous but resolute. “Walk with me?” he asks, voice husky.

I nod. We drift away from Bethany, who picks up her bag and waves us off, probably heading to see Grizelda or my parents. The festival’s final night hums around us with swirling illusions and dreamy music. We pass booths selling heart-shaped pastries and stands where folks pluck floating candy from the air.

He reaches for my hand again. “Hope you’re not sick of me,” he says, trying for a light tone.

A bubble of laughter escapes me, tension easing. “You still scowl a lot, but I’ll manage.”

He groans good-naturedly, guiding me past a stall decked in pink ribbons. “I scowl because this town confounds me, but I’m starting to see its charm.”

We meander to the fountain at the center of the square, a place that’s witnessed countless festival dances and romantic confessions. Tonight, a gentle glow emanates from the water, shifting from pink to purple in slow waves. A row of lanterns floats overhead, each orb flickering as couples pass beneath.

Declan halts, turning to face me fully. The rhythmic hush of water splashing sets a calming backdrop. “So,” he murmurs, “I’m staying. I can’t just walk away.”

My chest aches. “This place can be home if you let it. The florist in you might adore what we can do with magical blooms.” I arch a brow. “Just think of the possibilities.”

He huffs a laugh, something warm lighting in his eyes. “I’ve already messed around with that pink spray from Grizelda. A few times, actually. Might be fun to stock that in the human-world shop, once I figure out the logistics.”

I lean in. “You’ll put half the normal florists out of business.”

He lowers his voice to a near-whisper. “About earlier... I’m sorry I left you alone after what we shared. I meant every part of it. It wasn’t just festival illusions, and fear guided my freakout, but I never wanted to reject you.”

“I know. It was real for me too.”

He puts his arm around my waist. “If you’ll have me, I’d like to see where this goes. Maybe I’ll grumble and scowl, but I promise I’ll be all in.”

My heart thrums. “I can handle your scowls, soldier boy, as long as you’re scowling by my side.”

A grin cracks his lips. “Deal.”

Instinct tugs me to lean up, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips and gliding my fang over one. He flinches but doesn’t pull away. When we stop kissing, I say, “I’ll never bite without permission. You don’t have to be afraid of what I am.”

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