Chapter 495: Kinda Happy Ending
Happy ending? Well, kinda.
Trill and Owen and their Nona were long gone when we returned from Austria, though I wasn't surprised. At least I knew they were doing well and, if Trill's attitude was any indication, moving ahead with gathering the maji army.
At least, I hoped that's what it meant. Because after the run-in I'd had with the Brotherhood, knowing now how deeply they were entrenched in Europe, it felt like we were very quickly running out of time.
Quaid was slightly startled when I reached out to him and thanked him for watching over the Zornovs. Even said "You're welcome," without snark. We were okay then.
Good info to have. Because, honestly, it was hard to know with him sometimes.
I brought home the mummified form of Batsheva, with full intentions of putting her crazy ass out in the sun. But one look in her eyes took me back to the cave and Sebastian, to my own suffering. So, instead, I dragged her down to the basement, stuffed her in a corner.
And forgot about her.
Don't judge me. Served her right.
There was no sign of Ameline, though I was hardly surprised. She clearly had her own agenda, but at least she said she was as opposed to the Brotherhood as I was. If for the wrong reasons, enough to make me worry all over again. And though she'd technically given me what I needed to escape, I was not falling down the hole of "thank yous" with her.
No way in hell I owed Ameline anything.
After a short honeymoon, Sunny and Frank went back to Austria and began to clean their own house. Naturally, I was right about Celeste. She'd managed to vanish, Sunny pursuing her through her blood tie to the family. Didn't matter. I had no doubt I'd be seeing Celeste again.
For about as long as it took to kill her.
I was surprised to find Demetrius had also gone his own way. I didn't try to find him. I had to remember to ask Gram how she knew him and why I had the feeling there was much more to his story than I first thought.
The small metal box of powder I'd retrieved from the back of my closet at the castle went into my underwear drawer with my crystal. For safekeeping.
Who knew when I might need it.
My vampire core eventually stopped clinging and went back to her quiet nature, but never again did she hide and stay silent. In fact, I often found myself waking to deep debates between my magicks, as they watched over me, using philosophy and history to pass the time.
Felt like living inside a very small dorm room with too many roommates sometimes. But I was happy to share all the same.
My crystal was thrilled with its new flavor of power, the clan's touch still inside. I made it a point to keep that fact from Sunny, though I felt certain she wouldn't care.
Okay, was pretty sure.
Sashenka had brought up joining the family again before she left after the wedding and though I really liked the idea of her as my second, knew she was a great choice, I still hesitated about talking to Tallah. After all these years, family was the most important thing to me and I didn't know if I was ready to break up hers, happily and with support and best wishes or not.
Because putting them through the opposite was unthinkable.
Now, more than ever, I knew I needed someone beside me I could trust, someone who would stand by me, protect my family, be there unquestioning and always have my back no matter what. As much as I loved my grandmother, I knew she was right. It was time for her to step down and for me to take over.
I'd never risk her again, and there was a whole lot of risk coming.
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