We waited until moments before sunset before making our way up out of the basement and into the main golf club. I wasn’t sure what explanation we would give the guards on our way back up, but it turned out Rayne had already thought of that. They were lying on the ground when we stepped through the door, sleeping like babies, half-drunk glasses of some kind of liquid in their hands.

When Rayne saw me, she rushed toward me, arms outstretched. “Oh thank God!” she cried, throwing herself into an enthusiastic hug between us. “When you didn’t text me, I thought the worst! I was trying to get down again, but they wouldn’t let me. So I had to improvise with a little Slayer Inc. sleeping potion.” She grinned wickedly. “Just don’t tell Teifert I stole his stash. He’s still sore about the time I used it to draw a mustache on his face with permanent Sharpie while he slept.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Anyway! I’m so glad you got him out. Logan, you are an idiot. Don’t do that to yourself again.”

He smiled at her. “That I can promise.”

Rayne turned from him to me. “And you. You are covered in vampire dust. Did you get to put that stake I gave you to good use?”

“I did actually,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “Guess it’s not such a lame weapon after all.”

“Oh it’s totally lame,” she corrected. “But sometimes lame does the trick.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Wait a second,” she said. “Something’s different about you.”

I felt my cheeks heat. “Uh, yeah. We ran into a little trouble and--”

“OH MY GOD YOU’RE A VAMPIRE!” Rayne screeched. She jumped up and down, crowing loudly. “I can’t believe it! This is the best thing ever!”

“Calm down,” Logan scolded. But he was smiling as he said it.

“And you said you’d never turn anyone,” Rayne accused, turning to him. “What happened to the joy of solitude and all that dumb stuff you used to go on about?”

He shrugged sheepishly. “Sometimes life surprises you.”

“Best surprise ever,” Rayne declared. “I mean, here I was, so worried you’d die down there before you got to Jade’s story. But now! Now you’re immortal! Which means the Maisie and Jonathan series can go on forever and ever!” Her eyes flashed with excitement. “I bet you’ll be able to write faster now, too. And maybe I could be your beta reader? So I could read the books before anyone else?”

I laughed, holding up my hand. “Can I just have a day or two getting used to being an immortal creature of the night before you put me back to work?”

Rayne giggled. “Oh. Yeah. Sure. Of course. It’s actually kind of a rough transition, if you want to know the truth. But if you need any help--”

“We’ll be fine, Rayne,” Logan said, cutting her off in a firm voice.

“Of course you will! You’ll be more than fine! You’re going to be a fantastic couple. Just like me and Jareth. Together forever.” Rayne mock swooned while I resisted the urge to blush all over again.

Fantastic couple. So were we a couple now? I mean, sure, we were bonded by blood, but did that make us…what was it they called it? Blood mates? I took a shy glance over at Logan. He looked a little nervous, too. Not surprising. This was a big step for him as well. And certainly not something he’d been planning.

I reached out and took his hand. Then I squeezed it, giving him a small smile. He smiled back, squeezing my hand in return. My stomach warmed. Maybe this could work.

No. No maybe about it. This would work.

“Rayne, I need you to go to Jareth,” Logan said, getting back to business. “Tell him everything that happened here. We now have proof that these renegades are trying to overthrow the Consortium. With our testimonies, I imagine we can at least keep Pyrus locked up. If not put a few of the others in prison with him.” He gave her the details of what we learned. She listened carefully, then nodded.

“All right,” she said. “I’ll go tell him. He’s going to be pissed we did this on our own. But hey, he’s usually pissed at me about something or other anyway, so no big deal.” She laughed, then turned serious. “What are you guys going to do?”

Logan turned and looked at me. “I thought we’d lay low for a bit,” he said. “Get Hannah adjusted to her new life.”

Rayne winked at him. “Adjusted, huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” she teased. Then she slapped me on the back. “Just don’t adjust too long. I’m expecting chapters of the new book. And I’m not very patient.”

“I’ll send some over tomorrow,” I promised her. “You deserve that at least, after all your help. Obviously I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Obviously,” she said. But she looked pleased.

Logan turned to me. “Are you ready?” he asked.

I slipped my hand into his. “Let’s go home.”