Page 26 of Midnight & Memories

“You must drink from me after I drink from you, and then you go into a dark sleep to complete the transformation.”

“I see,” Poppy said with a nod. “Do you do that often?”

Ridge propped his head into his hand.

“No, I don’t because changing a human is not something my kind takes lightly. When you are a fledging, the desire for blood is at its strongest. Some that have been turned can never control their thirst, and they must be destroyed.”

“Oh. Is that your reason for not changing me all those years ago?”

“Yes. I couldn’t bear to destroy you, but if I had to, I would, for humanity’s sake. A rogue vampire can wipe out civilizations within a short week. Back then, Armand, a dear friend of mine, sired Kate. Kate was young, too young to be turned. Destroying her was the hardest thing for any of us to do. That was still fresh in every vampire’s mind. And the thought of losing you like that devastated me. I was glad when you told me that you wanted to remain human. But, in the same token, once I lost you, it devastated me anyway.”

Poppy’s eyes widened.

“I had no idea. But I don’t think that I’d do that.”

Ridge raised a brow.

“What exactly do you mean, Poppy?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I’m not letting go of you this time. And if that means that you have to turn me, then that’s a risk I’m willing to take. This week apart taught me I love you, and nothing—not even another lifetime has made me forget you. I want this to be forever.” She said as she motioned a hand between the two of them.

Ridge palmed her cheek.

“I love you too, my darling.” He said as he kissed her forehead. “But you’d really want to change? For me?”

“Not for you. For us.”

Epilogue

It had been a whole year since he stumbled across her profile on the Titanic II group. And it’d also been a year since he turned her into a vampire. She’d spent every night since in his arms, and Ridge couldn’t be happier. Well, if he were honest with himself, something else would make him even happier—she just had to say yes.

He palmed the velvet box in his pocket as Poppy smiled at him and reached for her ticket to set sail on the Titanic II. She handed it to the attendant to embark on the large ship and grabbed her suitcase from the floor to head towards the cabin with Ridge.

“You ready, dear?” She asked as she popped the key into the electronic lock of the door to their cabin.

Ridge smiled ear to ear.

“I’m more than ready for our second chance at enjoying each other on the Titanic.”

He cupped her cheek, led her into the cabin, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“I’m also more than ready for a second chance at forever.” He said as he placed a small box in Poppy’s palm. “Miss Poppy Lee, I was lucky to have known you in one lifetime, and I thought that was it for me. But fate has brought us together once more. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Oh, Ridge! Yes! YES! I will marry you!.”

Ridge smiled and placed the three-carat princess cut ring on her finger.

“Merry Christmas, my love!”

“Merry Christmas, Ridge.”

The End

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