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  “I thought I lost you,” she whispers against his chest. Stone dust puffs up before her lips as she breathes in and out, savoring his scent and the sound of air filling his lungs once more. His heartbeat is steady. Perfect.

  His hand clasps around the back of her head, holding her to him. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t need to. Standing in the rain, with the mists rising all around, Roseline knows there is nowhere else on Earth she would rather be.

  When he finally draws back to look down at her, he brushes his fingertips across her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “You saved me.”

  Anyone else might take that figuratively, but not Roseline. Not after everything that has happened since they met. Instead of being touched by his words, she feels apprehension. “Explain.”

  Releasing his hold on her, he steps back and begins to unbutton his shirt. As he slowly reveals the skin beneath, she tries not to notice how strong his hands look or how amazing they felt upon her back when he held her close. His chest is smooth and well defined. Her stare quickly flits over the exposed skin. She lifts her gaze, her eyebrow hiking in surprise. “Where did you get that marking? It looks… it looks like the Arotas symbol.”

  There, upon the golden-toned flesh over his heart, is a tiny fleshy scar in the shape of a cross. She reaches out and pulls up his sleeves, tugging his arms together so that each forearm creates a perfect half of the completed Arotas cross that has been recently branded upon his flesh. The jagged black strokes are identical. Roseline’s breath catches as she raises her gaze to the mark over his heart, knowing this to be the exact site of the wound Lucien inflicted that took his life. “How is this possible?”

  Gabriel smiles and leans in to whisper into her ear. “Family blood heals all wounds.”

  Her eyes fly open wide as she jerks back, horrified at the thought. Her family ties to Gabriel extend beyond the bond that lies between them. Gabriel’s father was her brother-in-law. The thought that the Enescue family line has once again been brought into their relationship makes her feel ill. “Family?”

  He reaches out and tugs her into the circle of his embrace, resting his hands upon her waist. “Not my father,” he says. “You. Me. Do you remember the words I spoke to you before Lucien killed me?”

  “How could I forget?” she whispers, pressing close to him as her stomach unclenches with the knowledge that Lucien did not taint him. Her marriage to Vladimir didn’t bind them. They did this. Their vow spoken in love did this. “I pledge my heart, my life, my soul to you on this day and all the days to come. My life, bonded to yours, if you will have me,” she whispers, repeating his vow aloud as she had done countless times over the past few days, terrified of forgetting the last thing he said to her.

  Gabriel leans forward and presses his lips against her forehead. She closes her eyes sure that at any moment she will wake from this wondrous dream. “Your blood saved me, Roseline. When you told Elias of our vow, he suspected there was hope. That is why he left you, to discover the truth. That is why he returned for me today.”

  “I don’t care.” She clings to his arms, reveling in the strength she feels beneath her fingers, just under his skin. Gabriel is real. He is solid. He is alive. She looks up into his eyes and realizes they are bluer than she remembers. Less like ice, more like the color of a summer sky dotted with clouds. Rising up onto her toes, she places a finger over his lips. They are warm against her touch. “Kiss me.”

  Gabriel’s eyes widen as she repeats her request, watching as her command shatters through his calm exterior. He thrusts her back against the stone wall, his hands hiking her leg up around his waist. She rises eagerly and seals her legs tight, clasping her hands behind his head as he crushes his lips against hers. The stone behind her cracks under the pressure. Small chunks fall away, tumbling down her shoulder and onto the ground.

  Roseline’s breath increases as he leans into her, trailing his lips along the neckline of her shirt. Closing her eyes, she clings to him, wondering why they didn’t just start out like this and talk later.

  She doesn’t care about the dust that covers him from head to foot or about the slightly musty scent that escapes the tomb’s interior. All that matters is the feel of his hands upon her, snaking under the hem of her shirt, lightly brushing over her spine.

  Goosebumps peak along her arms as she presses into him, parting his lips with her tongue. Gabriel groans in response, his touch growing urgent.

  The sound of stone splintering around her head makes Roseline push back on Gabriel’s chest. She laughs as he struggles to regain his footing. A deep frown settles over his handsome features. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just don’t want to have to explain the damage you are doing to this poor building.” She grins as she leans in to whisper in his ear, curling her fingers around the edge of his partially unbuttoned shirt. Later she will probably look back at this moment and think it’s a bit odd that she isn’t unsettled by the fact that he is still wearing his funeral suit, but right now it doesn’t matter. “You do know what this means, right?”

  His fingers tense against her waist. She can feel his confusion, see it darkening the color of his eyes. He stands rigid as she presses a breathy kiss against his neck, smiling at the way his skin trembles beneath her touch. She glides her lips up his neck and pauses next to his ear. “Your vow sealed our bond.”

  Gabriel’s fingers flex, then dig into her flesh as he draws back to look down at her. She smirks at the myriad of emotions playing across his face. Hope. Disbelief. Love. Excitement. “So are you saying that we’re technically hitched now?”

  She bites down on her lower lip and nods, feeling more alive than she has ever felt before. “That’s one way of putting it.”

  Pushing back off the wall, Gabriel’s confusion turns into something tangible, edged with need. She can smell his growing desire, feel the tremble in his fingers as he easily holds her aloft. His pupils dilate as he stares at her, waiting. He clears his throat when he sees her staring openly back. “Seems only fitting that we have a proper honeymoon, then, huh?”

  Roseline remains silent as she slowly unwinds her legs from his waist and he shifts to cradle her against his chest, his arms supporting her back and legs. It is not as intimate, but no less desirable. “Are you sure about this,” he asks, his voice deeper than usual.

  Placing her hand over his heart, over the new mark that their love created, she knows there is nothing she wants more in this world than this moment.

  Gabriel leaps from the mausoleum steps and races up the hill. She watches him as he searches the castle grounds for somewhere private, somewhere meant only for them. His steps are swift and sure as he heads farther into the woods. She knows she could easily point him in the right direction but decides to remain silent. She wants him to lead this time.

  Gabriel’s search leads them to a large grove of willow trees, their boughs draped nearly to the ground under the weight of the rain. He sets her on her feet and moves to part the branches, allowing her to slip beneath and out of the rain. Here and there, drops manage to sneak between the woven leaves, creating a nearly perfect hideaway.

  She turns to find him standing behind her, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets, though she can still tell his fingers are quaking. Never before has she seen him look so unsure of himself. His trepidation draws her toward him.

  Most of the crushed stone dust has been washed away from his face, leaving behind a vision of pure beauty in its wake. Gabriel has never looked more stunning than he does now. His jaw is firm, his shoulders broad, and his waist tapered perfectly to hold her. It is almost as if they were designed for each other.

  As Roseline takes a step forward, she knows they were. There is little doubt that she was always meant to end up with Gabriel, here in this moment. He is her destiny.

  Raising her hands slowly, Roseline grabs the hem of her shirt, realizing only now that she is wearing his shirt. It is faded and rumpled, a plain navy T-shirt that she grabbed from his traveli
ng bag that he brought with him to Romania when he first came to rescue her. It smells of him. That was all that mattered after he was gone.

  Now, with Gabriel watching her every move, she feels insecure. Should she have worn something nicer? Made sure to make their first moments together special?

  As he lifts his gaze to meet hers, seeing the need in his eyes, she knows it doesn’t matter what she is wearing, only that they are here, together. She lifts the shirt over her head, clawing at it as it clings to her like a second skin. The cold air nips at her skin as she tosses the shirt aside. Her hair falls in a wet plait down her back, trailing nearly to her waist.

  She bends low and pushes down her pants, terrified of being completely bare to his gaze yet enthralled by it at the same time. She kicks her clothes into a pile and rises slowly. Gabriel’s gaze holds hers for a minute. She can’t tell if he is working up his courage or if he is simply waiting for her permission. She bites on her lower lip as he slowly lowers his gaze, his eyes roaming over her bare neck, along the line of her shoulders, and dips below.

  He notices every detail, lingering long enough to make her blush before his gaze flits away. She can feel each inhale and exhale he takes, smell his mounting desire mingling with her own.

  He doesn’t say a word as he pulls off his suit coat and chucks it aside. His gaze rises to meet hers as he fumbles with the remaining buttons on his shirt. She smirks as he frowns, then grunts. Growing impatient, he tears at his shirt and buttons pop off.

  Tugging his sleeves over his hand, Gabriel is finally free. Roseline closes the gap between them. She places her hands upon his chest, slowing trailing her fingers down to his abdomen. She can hear his heart thundering in his chest and smiles as his hands tighten against her waist, his fingers digging into her flesh.

  “I love you,” she whispers, rising onto her toes to place a kiss beside his mouth. Close enough to make his lips tremble, but not enough to give him the satisfaction. His hands rise along her back, kneading deep into her muscles as he presses his body against hers.

  His bare chest feels like fire against her, searing and tantalizing. His scent wraps around her, beckoning to her.

  Gabriel’s words are breathy as he presses his lips against her ear. “No more than I love you.”

  She allows him to slowly ease her to the ground, closing her eyes as he hovers over her, trailing a blazing line down to her abdomen. Her skin quivers beneath his touch as he slowly explores the curve of her hip, the crook of her knee, the hollow of her neck, and everything in between.

  As the rains continue to patter all around, Roseline hears the flapping of wings in the distance and knows Elias has left Bran Castle once again, but she doesn’t have time to care as she arches up into Gabriel’s touch and lets the outside world slip away.

  THREE

  Roseline counts each of Gabriel’s breaths, marveling at how peaceful he looks when he sleeps. His hand wraps around her waist, holding her close, as if unwilling to part from her even now. The rains have passed and the woods are still as the moon trails across the sky above scattered, wispy clouds. The air smells fresh, crisp, after the rains.

  Sometime after twilight, Roseline began to grow suspicious over the availability of privacy that has been provided them. Someone should have come looking for her after her mad dash from the castle, but no one has set a foot in the woods tonight. She realizes this must be a precious gift from Elias before he departed, remembering hearing the rustling of his wings echoing within the courtyard walls as he took flight.

  Roseline smiles, touched by the angel’s thoughtfulness. Thank you, she whispers silently as Gabriel begins to stir. His lips stretch into a smile, still touched by sleep. “You still here?”

  “Of course.” She grins and places a kiss upon his chest, amazed at how she instantly longs to be reunited with him again, but she resists. They have eternity to enjoy each other now.

  Using his free hand, he wipes sleep from his eyes. He laughs when he sees her watching him and lifts a clump of drying hair from her shoulder, rubbing the soft strands between his fingers idly as he stares at her. “I like you like this.”

  “Naked?”

  Gabriel grins. “That and more natural. Your hair is all messed up. You look… softer. I like that.”

  Roseline smiles against his chest, placing her hand over his heart, sure that feeling its steady pulse beneath her palm will never get old. “You’re not so bad yourself, you know?”

  His arms tighten around her. She rests her leg over his and snuggles in. Tilting her face up to be able to see him, she traces her finger slowly along the contours of his face, marveling at the contrast between the smooth skin of his cheek and the stubble that spreads along the line of his jaw. Her fingers glide over the ridge of his chin and then brush lightly over his lower lip. His mouth puckers to kiss her fingertips, but she moves on.

  She traces the line of his nose up to his brow, rubbing out the hint of creases that have formed since she first met him. So many terrible things have happened to him because of her coming into his life. A car crash that should have killed him. A bloodletting in Sorin’s cave, the likes of which no human should ever be forced to endure. A kidnapping by monks. Forced to live out a prophecy that neither of them truly understood. And then killed by his own father.

  She slowly rises to a seated position, drawing her legs up into her chest. She leans into his side as he pushes up onto his elbows to look at her. “You look sad,” he whispers, raising a hand to cup her cheek. His thumb idly caresses over her skin, making it hard to concentrate.

  She nods in the dark. The forest grows restless around them. Animals scurry about in the trees above, leaping from branch to branch. The clouds have begun to shift and break apart, letting a hint of moonlight spill over the rolling castle grounds.

  She spent a night much like this not far from here a lifetime ago, in someone else’s arms. Roseline pushes her thoughts away from Fane. This place holds too many memories for her. She should have asked Gabriel to choose somewhere else.

  It feels like a betrayal to think of Fane while she is here with Gabriel, yet he is just as much a part of her as Gabriel is.

  “I was just thinking,” she replies softly.

  “About what?” His hand slips away from her cheek and trails down to her shoulder. Her skin pimples beneath his touch and she bites on her lower lip as her desire begins to swell once more. She realizes that even if they spent a thousand nights just like this one, she will never truly feel satisfied.

  Looking out over the grounds, Roseline can just make out the rippling of the pond in the valley below through the blowing willow boughs before her. She stares at the water, feeling as unsettled as the windblown surface. “I can’t help but wonder if it’s really over.”

  She turns to look at him, able to make out every detail of his handsome face in the dim light. “From the first moment I met you, I knew your life would be in danger, and I was right. First Vladimir and then Lucien. Who will come for us next?”

  Gabriel lowers his gaze. His hands trail down her arms to twine his fingers through hers. She instinctively leans in, drawing strength from being near him. “I don’t know and honestly, I don’t care.”

  She rears back, her mouth agape. “How can you say that? You’ve died twice since I met you.”

  He nods and, with a loving smile, brushes stray hairs back from her eyes. His touch is gentle and filled with tenderness as his hand shifts around to cup the back of her neck. He seems to need to touch her, to remain in constant contact with her as he stares deep into her eyes. “And I survived twice, because of you. We are stronger together. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

  “I know, but…” She trails off, shaking her head. Tears threaten to fall as the feelings of utter loneliness and loss wash over her once more. When she looks up, his face is a blur before her. “I can’t lose you again.”

  His grip on her neck tightens just enough to breach the gap separating them. His kiss is soft and achin
gly sweet. Tears dampen their lips as he encircles her with arms strong enough to protect her no matter what foe might come their way.

  When he pulls back from the hug, he places a kiss on the end of her nose. “How many guys do you know that can say they’ve died and come back to life twice? I’m like uber zombie man, only without the whole disgusting brain-eating fetish.”

  Roseline laughs despite herself, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Do you feel any different now?”

  He tilts his head to the side, contemplating. “No. Not really. I mean, this death hurt a lot less than the last one did, that’s for sure.” She stiffens, but he doesn’t let her pull away. “Sorry, probably shouldn’t have said that, huh?”

  “No.” She attempts a smile and fails miserably, settling for placing her head upon his shoulder instead. “I just can’t bear to remember all of that.”

  “Then don’t.” He gently tugs the ends of her tangled strands that drape down her back. “We have a lifetime to forget.”

  Roseline chuckles, shaking her head in amusement. “A lifetime? Oh, you have no idea how much time you have spread out before you. You’ve been an immortal for what? A month? Try living three hundred years and then you can come talk to me about it.”

  Gabriel’s mouth falls slack and his gaze shifts away. His hand at her back falls away, landing just behind her. Concerned by his reaction she sits forward. Her hair spills over her shoulders, tickling her chest as she reaches out for him. “What’s wrong?”

  He looks dazed as he blinks and lifts his gaze to focus on her. “You know, with everything that’s happened, I haven’t really stopped to think about that. About what the world will be like in fifty years. A hundred. A thousand. We’ll still be alive and the world will just pass us by.”

  She nods. “It does get easier after the first hundred years.”