Page 96 of After Darkness Falls

"All right, so I'm actually pretty short on family members, and you look cool. Plus, this place really needs decorating. Are you more of a purple or a green guy, by the way?"

Eirikr blinked.

"You are back," he repeated—just a quiet whisper.

Then she understood. He'd doubted her existence at first, suspecting she was an illusion. A fantasy.

She wondered how many times he'd dreamed of this. Not her, specifically, but someone, anyone, coming down here for a chat. There was nothing in this cave. Nothing at all. He’d been entirely forsaken for centuries.

Regardless of what he might have done, he didn't deserve that. No one did.

"If you could get out of here," she said, "what would you do?"

Eirikr had never lied to her, and although he might have then, he chose not to.

"Destroy the world as you know it. Probably. Although I definitely want to try Starbucks first."

She sighed.

"Fortunately, it's not a matter you'll need to concern yourself with anytime soon, little daughter. I cannot get out of here. Only the witch who cast me out in the first place can undo this spell, and she's long returned to dust."

Chloe nodded and opened the smallest and most important of her three boxes. She couldn't get him out of here, but she could make his life a little more comfortable. She pulled out a bag of synthesized vampire blood.

"I know. Not quite Starbucks."

Eirikr was speechless for a beat, but he wasn't one to remain so for long.

He smirked and reached out for the bag.

"It'll do."

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She didn’t so much as turn to check who’d entered her room when she heard the door open behind her. As if she could mistakehim. His presence. His scent.

Chloe’s eyes remained on her reflection. She looked the same, more or less. Except for the eyes. Sometimes they were dark brown, as they used to be.

Other times, when her throat tightened in hunger, and her fangs popped out…she was someone else entirely. Someone with bright blue eyes and a heart of stone.

“You’re sure you want to stay here?”

She giggled. The sound was utterly unfamiliar. Someone’s voice. A soprano, too suave and seductive.

“So, what, we date for a few weeks and you want me to move in?”

Levi chuckled, wrapped his arms around her waist. “Yes,” he whispered against her throat. “I very much want you in my house, chained to my bed twenty-four seven.”

His mouth touched her collarbone, and kissed its way up to her jaw. She bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

“But I meant, you could move into your home. Skyhall.”

Her home. The black palace at the very top of the hill. She hadn’t stepped inside yet.

Chloe shook her head.

“We’ve made a statement already. The world knows what I am. They know the Eirikrson are back.”

And she didn’t mind that, strangely. She wanted the arrogant, heartless immortals who played with lives casually to be afraid.

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