Page 77 of Vampire Blood

I blinked. “A cat?”

“Yes, a cat,” she repeated. “To keep the mice away.”

That was it. I couldn’t help myself. I laughed, loud and full, and fell back against the mattress, pulling her down with me.She let out a startled sound before dissolving into giggles, her hands pressed against my chest.

“A cat,” I said, still chuckling. “Shelves, herbs, jars, and a whole new pantry. Are we building a cottage or a fortress?”

“Both,” she declared, poking me in the ribs. “And it’s going to be perfect.”

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as her laughter softened. She fit against me like she always did, like she belonged there.

“I think it already is,” I murmured, brushing my lips against her hair.

She didn’t answer right away. Her breathing slowed, and I could feel the way her body relaxed against mine. But I knew her mind was still spinning with more plans, more ideas, more dreams for the life we were building.

And I wanted to build every single one of them with her.

Her fingers traced lightly over my chest, and she suddenly spoke. “And you?”

I swallowed, letting the warmth of her touch steady me. “I just want this. Right here.” I tilted her chin up, meeting her gaze. “You and me, Annika. That’s all I’ll ever need.”

Her eyes softened, and she leaned up to kiss me. It was a slow and lingering kiss, filled with every unspoken promise we’d made to each other.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Annika

Several months had passed since everything had happened. The town was slowly being rebuilt, piece by piece, like a puzzle coming back together. There was still so much to do, but the sound of hammers and laughter in the distance made it feel like the world was starting to heal. The wounds were fading, even if the scars remained.

I stood by the window, staring out at the busy streets below. It was early morning, the sun still soft, casting golden light over everything. The air was fresh, cool with the promise of spring. Everything felt… right. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this kind of peace, this kind of contentment.

As I watched the townspeople work below, I didn’t even hear him approach. But I knew it was him. I felt the weight of his presence behind me, his steady, comforting aura. His warmth seeped into the air around me.

“You’re up early,” Lucas said quietly, his voice a deep murmur.

I smiled, not turning to face him just yet. I was still taking in the view, letting it sink in. “Just thinking,” I murmured back.

His footsteps were light on the wooden floor, and soon I felt his hands gently settle on my shoulders, his fingers brushing against my skin. I leaned back into his touch, the comfort of his presence settling into me like the morning sun.

“Thinking about what?” His breath was warm against my ear as he spoke, and I could hear the quiet curiosity in his voice.

I finally turned to look at him, his face illuminated by the soft light streaming through the window. His dark eyes metmine, and there was a tenderness there that made my heart skip a beat. He had been my rock through it all. Through the chaos, through the loss, through everything.

And now, standing here with him, it felt like we had found something worth fighting for. Something real.

“About how far we’ve come,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “How much we’ve rebuilt... together.”

Lucas’ lips curled into a soft smile, his thumb gently tracing my cheek. “We’re still rebuilding,” he said, his voice so full of warmth, so full of certainty. “But we're stronger now. And we have each other.”

I nodded, my hand reaching up to rest on his chest. The steady beat of his heart was all I needed to remind me that we had made it through, that we had survived.

“I know,” I said, and this time, I was sure of it. “And we’ll keep going. Together.”

Lucas’ gaze softened, and he pulled me into his arms, holding me close. I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. It was a small, simple moment, but it was everything.

“Together,” he repeated, his voice a vow.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. There was one more thing on my mind, something that had been tugging at me for a while now.

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