On the Prowl (Bad Things #2)(66)

“No, it’s right.” Finally. The guilt was gone. The fear was gone. For them both. They’d chosen…each of them. And they’d chosen life.

Love.

She curled her arms around his neck. “Take me to bed. I’ve really had one hell of a day.”

Laughter came from him. Laughter…after everything. Only Rose could make him feel that way.

“If you think today was interesting…just wait until you see what our nights will be like.” His lips pressed to hers. The kiss wasn’t rough or wild. It was sweet. Tender.

“Promises, promises…” Her voice was a husky temptation.

But… “Yes.” He nodded once. “I do have promises. I promise, I will love you forever. I promise…I will never let go.”

Her breath sighed out. “I’ll hold you to that.”

And he’d hold her. Forever.





Chapter Nineteen


Two weeks later…

“You know everything about me.” Julian’s voice was deep and dark and it made Rose want to shiver. They stood on the balcony, the ocean pounding against the beach below them, and she knew she was in heaven. “The good and the bad. The dark sins that stain my soul.”

“I rather like your soul.” Her hand reached up and curved along his jaw. The rough stubble slid over her palm. “Because I love you.”

“You don’t see a monster, do you?”

Rose shook her head. “I only see you.”

“Maybe I should have stayed away from you…”

“You most definitely should not have.” The pain, the fear—it had all been worth it. Wasn’t love worth fighting for? Especially a love that was going to last forever.

“I saw you and I knew my world would change.”

She had to look away from him for a moment. This talk…it was so much like the one they’d had—a lifetime ago. When a panther shifter had tried to convince a human that monsters were real.

And then death had come.

“I saw you, and I knew what I’d always been missing. For the first time, I felt complete.”

That was sweet. Her gaze slid back to him. Her big, bad panther…and he was standing before her, exposing his soul.

“I never wanted you to fear me.”

“I don’t. I never will again.” Trust went soul deep. She smiled at him. “I think you were made for me.”

His eyes widened. Did he remember that he’d once told her that exact same thing? Julian cleared his throat. “And I was made for you.”

He did remember. Because those words had been the ones she’d given to him, so long ago.

It was all the same except…

This night wasn’t going to end with her dying. No bullets were flying at them. Stars glittered overhead and the scent of the ocean teased her nose and—

Julian had dropped to one knee.

She tried to fight her smile. She couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t make her heart stop racing.

“Rose, will you—”

“Yes!”

“Marry me?” Julian finished. Then he blinked. “Wait, yes?”

She grabbed him and yanked him back up—the better to hug him and kiss him like mad. “Yes, absolutely, yes!” Marriage. Forever. She wanted it all.

They would have it all.

Who said monsters didn’t get a happy ending?

They did. They fought like hell for those endings…they fought like hell for each other.

His arms closed around her, and she knew—Rose knew that life was just beginning. Her life with Julian. Her life without fear.

Her life…her choice.

And it was going to be amazing.

***

Julian was laughing.

Kissing his mate, laughing, and disappearing as he led his vamp back into the house.

“Looks like someone’s happy.”

Luke sighed when he heard his brother’s sardonic voice. “No thanks to you.” He turned to face Leo, not in the mood for this shit. “We need to clear the air.”

“Is that why you summoned me?” Leo’s brows rose. “Because I thought you’d banished me from this island—”

“After you tried to kidnap the angel and you nearly killed Rose?” His arms crossed over his chest. “Yes, you’re not exactly welcome.”

Leo glanced toward the house. Luke thought he saw a flicker of fear in his twin’s gaze. Interesting. Did he fear the panther? Or the vampire?

“Is she…wrong?”

“No, I think she’s quite right. Finally.” Rose wasn’t fighting who she was any longer. She’d embraced her vamp side. She’d let go of her fear. And she was loving—wildly, fully, without reservation. She was good and so was Julian.

Luke figured they deserved their happiness…and speaking of what people deserved. “I’m missing…one of mine.”

Leo shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Simon Lorne was using a gargoyle to do his dirty work. The last time the gargoyle was spotted, well, Rayce told me that you picked him up and flew away with the guy.”

“He was on Simon’s side. He needed to be put down.”

Luke didn’t let his anger sweep out—it was too dangerous when he did. “If this is the gargoyle that I think it is…he was under a spell.” He had been, for a very long time. “Where, exactly, did you put him down at?”