She set the vial and her handbag down on a table. "I know what you did for my mother. I want to thank you. I can't thank you enough, actually. And I understand that you have a duty to protect your kind. It was wrong of me to judge you when you were trying to do the right thing."

"Then you forgive me?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes. Can you forgive me?"

He lunged forward and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, Abby, I love you."

She laughed and hugged him tight. "I love you, too."

"Thank God." He kissed her brow. "I have something hard in my pants."

She snorted. "Your phone?"

"No." He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a large golden disc. "It's a medal of honor. Angus gave it to me."

"Oh, it's beautiful." She took the disc and examined it. "Congratulations."

"There was a big ceremony to thank me for saving the Vamps. And Roman named me his heir apparent. That means I'll be the next Coven Master for the East Coast."

"That's wonderful! You must be thrilled."

He shoved a hand through his hair. "Actually, it doesn't mean much to me if I can't share it with you. I want to be with you, Abby."

"You do?" She set the medal down on the table.

"Yes. And I'll make you happy. You'll see. You can have all the freedom you want. You can work at your old job or here with me. And if you want to live close by, we can buy a house."

"Are you asking me to live with you?"

He stepped back. "Well. Actually, the thing is . . ." He pulled a stress ball from his pocket and squeezed it. "I know how much you value your freedom, but I thought we might have a . . . uh, more binding commitment."

She bit her lip to keep from grinning. "More binding?"

"Yes." He tightened his fist around the stress ball. "Not that I intend to imprison you in any way. I realize a commitment to a vampire could last a really long time, and I don't want you to feel trapped - "

"Are you asking me to marry you?"

The ball exploded in his hand. "Oh God, yes." He tossed the ball on the floor and fell to his knees. "Marry me, Abigail."

She fell to her knees and cradled his face in her hands. "I will."

He grinned. "You'll marry me?"

She laughed. "Yes!"

He levitated them both up onto their feet. "You'll have children with me?"

"Yes."

"And sex on the ceiling?"

She laughed again. "Yes."

"And you'll dance disco with me?"

She feigned a frown. "Now you're pushing it."

He laughed and hugged her tight. "I love you, Scholar. Falling for you was the smartest thing I've ever done."

"I love you, too." She nestled her cheek against his chest. Marry a vampire? It was the craziest thing she'd ever do.

Or maybe not. She glanced up at the ceiling. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

He chuckled. "I'll lock the door."

THE END