When she held out her hand, he heeled off his boots, shrugged out of his shirt, then sat on the edge of the bed.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, that’s all.”

Drake kissed her, then brushed a feather-light kiss across his daughter’s downy cheek.

Elena felt a tug at her heart as she watched Drake kiss their daughter. “I was missing you.”

“As I miss you,” he murmured, “whenever we are apart.”

“Tell me the truth. Do you think our daughter will be like you?”

“Yes. Vampire blood is strong. Our genes are dominant.”

“So, they’ll completely overshadow her humanity?”

“It’s possible, but doubtful. I think her vampire side will prevail, though I doubt if her need to feed will be as compelling. I am guessing now, but I think that, because of her human half, she will always be able to eat mortal food and walk in the sun.” He smiled as he ran his fingers through a lock of Elena’s hair. “She may be weak in some areas, stronger in others, but I think our daughter will be blessed with the best of both worlds.”

Epilogue

Eighteen years later

Glancing at the clock, Elena ran up the stairs. “Kaitlyn, do you know what time it is? If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late for school!”

“I’m ready, Mom,” Kaitlyn said, smiling.

Elena paused in the doorway, momentarily taken aback as she stared at her daughter. Where had the years gone? It seemed only yesterday Kaitlyn had been a little girl, learning to walk, to talk, going to kindergarten for the first time. How had she grown up so fast? She was breathtakingly beautiful, with thick black hair and her father’s deep blue eyes.

Elena blinked back her tears. They had been truly blessed. None of the things Elena had worried about had happened. Drake had told Kaitlyn early on about her heritage and the Fortress, and when she had expressed a desire to see it, they had gone there one year for vacation. Kaitlyn had loved the castle and the people in it, and had formed an instant bond with Liliana, a bond that continued to this day, Elena thought, but she wasn’t surprised. Everyone who met Kaitlyn loved her.

And now she was about to embark on a journey. Today was her last day of high school. She was graduating tonight; tomorrow she was leaving for college in America. It was a day for celebrating. Andrei and Katiya and their children would be arriving after sundown, along with Liliana and a number of Drake’s brothers. She wondered, not for the first time, what Stefan was doing. They hadn’t heard from him since he’d left the Fortress so many years ago.

Elena walked her daughter down the stairs, other memories crowding her mind—ice-skating in the winter, swimming in the summer, picnics by the lake, horseback riding through the forest, shopping sprees in the city. She had taught Kaitlyn to cook. Drake had taught her to drive. So many happy recollections. Sometimes she wondered what she had done to have been blessed with such a loving husband and daughter. Kaitlyn had brought them nothing but joy. And now, too soon, she was leaving home.

Drake was waiting for them by the front door. Folding Kaitlyn into his arms, he kissed her cheek. “We will see you later.”

“Sure thing,” Kaitlyn said. “See if you can cheer Mom up, will you? She’s crying again.”

“I will take care of her,” Drake promised.

Elena hugged Kaitlyn, then stood in the doorway, watching her daughter slide behind the wheel of Drake’s new Jag. A cheerful wave, the roar of a powerful engine, and she was speeding away.

Her last day of school, Elena thought, and wondered again where the time had gone.

Drake closed the door, then drew Elena into his arms. “We knew this day would come.”

“I know. But I didn’t think it would come so quickly.” She looked up at him, sniffing back her tears. “What will we do without her?” She had wanted more children, would have loved a dozen, but it was not to be.

Drake had no answer for her. He loved his daughter with all his heart, but Elena was the light of his life, the reason for his existence. Though she had wanted more children, he had been relieved when she failed to conceive again. The thought of losing her filled him with quiet despair. Needing her as never before, he kissed her deeply, felt her willing response.

A thought carried them to their room. He undressed her quickly, then shed his own clothes. Lifting her onto the bed, he stretched out beside her, his body yearning for her touch, his heart aching at the thought of losing her.

Elena clung to him, eager, as always, to be in his arms. The fire between them burned as hot and bright as it always had. In his embrace, she forgot everything else. There was only Drake, his mouth working its familiar magic, his strong hands gentle as he caressed her, arousing her; his voice deep and husky with desire as he whispered that he loved her, adored her, couldn’t live without her.

She ran her fingertips over his face, traced the muscles in his arms, rained kisses on his chest. She knew every inch of his body as well as she knew her own. The passing years had had no effect on him. His body was still firm and well muscled. Without an ounce of fat. Soon, too soon, the years between them would begin to show.

Elena pushed the unwelcome thought away, her lips hungrily seeking his. When he whispered her name, she nodded, and then smiled as she felt the graze of his fangs against her throat, the sweet sensual pleasure of his bite that made their joining all the more exciting.

Moaning softly, she closed her eyes while waves of ecstasy rolled through her, carrying her away to paradise.

Later, lying in his arms, she smiled at him. “Thankfully, some things never change.”

He nodded, his expression solemn as he gazed into her eyes. The years had been kind to her. Though she was almost thirty-nine, she looked ten years younger.

“Stay with me, wife,” he said, his voice thick. “One lifetime will never be enough.” His fingers tangled in her hair, as if to hold her close to him forever. “I cannot bear the thought of living without you.”

She knew what he was asking. They had not talked of it since the night he’d told her that it was possible for her to extend her lifespan and then explained how it could be done. All she had to do was drink his blood—every night for the first year, then once a week, then once a month, then once a year. Doing so would slow the aging process, so that she would only age one day for every year.

At the time, with her whole life ahead of her, she had been certain she could never do such a thing. But that had been almost twenty years ago. Mortality weighed more heavily on her now. With each passing year, the thought of leaving him pained her more. Though she would have said it was impossible, her love for Drake had grown stronger, deeper, with every passing day.

“Elena.” His voice was raw with emotion.

“You’re right,” she said, sliding the tips of her fingers back and forth over his lower lip. “One lifetime will never do.”

“You mean it?” He drew back, his gaze searching her face.

She nodded, and then sighed. The decision, once made, seemed right.

“Elena!” His arm tightened around her, his dark eyes alight with happiness.

“Tomorrow night, after Kaitlyn leaves,” Elena said with a smile. “Although I doubt if even an eternity in your arms will be time enough.”