“Oh, am I,” I said breathlessly. “You’re letting me into your mysterious, hallowed bedroom?”

His smile softened, his expression serious. “I love you, Isadora. You’re already into my everything.”

I gushed out a shaky sigh, my eyes rimming with happy tears. “I love you, too.”

I lowered my feet to the ground. Then he took one of my hands in his, keeping a grip around my lower back and we started to sway, dancing and making a spectacle of ourselves. But so was everyone else. And for some reason, with Devraj holding onto me, there was no fear at all. I didn’t care that others were watching or what they thought of me. I didn’t care about anything but him. But us.

I had Devraj. I had his love. He had mine. And that’s all that mattered.

Epilogue

~ISADORA~

“And now! What you’ve all been waiting for. Drum roll, please!” Livvy glanced at Clara, who stood next to her on stage in front of another mic. She proceeded to make the drum roll sound with her mouth while the rest of us pounded the tabletops. “The man of the hour is none other than our very own Finnie, tonight performing as the queen Beyoncé.”

The crowd lit up with a roar while Livvy grinned like a demon. A very beautiful demon. Their outfits were definitely something she’d put together. They wore body suits made entirely of black sequins with red sequins stitched across their boobs in the logo for The Cauldron.

Then Finnie stepped onto the stage to a series of loud catcalls. The loudest from JJ and Violet by the bar. And I had to admit, he made a very beautiful woman, his tawny, smooth skin glittering under the spotlights. I do mean glittering because, apparently, Livvy had smoothed glitter lotion all over his arms, chest, and bare legs.

“You’ve got this, Finnie baby!” shouted Evie, sitting on top of the table at my back, Mateo standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her upper chest.

When Finnie stepped up to the mic, the jeers died down, but hoots of laughter still rippled in our packed bar. Livvy was a PR genius. Her online promotion had pulled every singer and non-singer out of the woodworks to join our competition tonight. The winner would win $1,000, a Cauldron T-shirt, and bragging rights till next year’s competition since Livvy had decided this would be an annual thing. And it would all be prominently promoted via social media. Tonight, they were streaming live.

Finnie stepped up to the mic and said with his deep voice, “Uhhh, I lost a bet.”

More laughter, and a group of guys whooped down front. Livvy told me those were his best friends from UNO, here to support him. And embarrass him. And laugh at him. One of the guys was bent over so far and laughing so hard I thought he was going to hurt himself.

“So,” said Finnie, very awkwardly. “Here it goes.” Then his mouth tipped up into that signature cute Finnie smile and he said. “This is for all the single ladies.”

“Yeah, baby!” a girl from the back yelled with a whoop, her friends joining in.

Then the music started and Livvy, Clara, and Finnie all started to move, hands on hips in Beyonce-style, and the crowd lost it. So did I. And Devraj next to me.

“Oh, my God!” I yelled into Devraj’s ear. “Finnie can sing!”

The bar went insane, clapping and whooping while Finnie killed it. Sure, it was a few octaves deeper than it should be, but it was awesome. And hilarious. And his dominant voice even drowned out our very off-key sister Clara. Still, she had some moves, shaking it like she just didn’t care. She and Livvy had more attitude and flair than was fair to the rest of the world.

I leaned close to Devraj and whisper-yelled in his ear. “I could never do that.”

He gripped the nape of my neck and put his mouth right next to my ear. “You’ll do it for me tonight.” Then he nipped my earlobe, rocketing my libido into the stratosphere.

“People are watching,” I hissed.

“Let them watch,” he said, completely amused while he drew me into his lap.

Rather than fight him, because that was pointless, I wiggled till I was sideways and wrapped my arms around his neck while we enjoyed the show.

When the song ended with the three onstage thrusting their hips out and a wink at the audience, there was really no contest. Still, we had judges at a front table, who now had a decision to make. The judges were Nico, who had a background in music, Tia who didn’t but had volunteered for the job, and Charlie who knew showmanship better than anyone.

Livvy stepped up to the mic, breathless. “Okay, guys. Go get another round at the bar while our judges deliberate. Let’s give it up for all our contestants!”

A loud cheer went up, then the house music came back on, and I was itching to leave. But I still wanted to see who won.

Then Violet marched up onto the stage, motioning to bring the house music back down.

“Hey, you guys. Since we’ve got a captive audience tonight, I wanted to let everyone here know first since my announcement means I’ll be cutting my hours back here at the Cauldron.”

Some guy groaned, “Nooooo!”

“Yeah, I know,” she said, grinning. “You all love me. But uh…” She licked her lips, nervous.

I glanced at Devraj, who mirrored the quizzical look on my face. I said to Evie over my shoulder, “You know what this is about?”

“No. But I think we’re about to find out about her secret she’s been keeping from us.”

Leave it to Violet to do it this way. With a public audience so there was no going back from whatever it was.

“Anyway, the really cool news is I’m opening my own tattoo shop!”

Her favorite customers clapped and encouraged her. But her glance went sideways to Nico at the judging table. He’d stopped looking down at the ballots, his eyes on her.

“And I guess I should mention that I’ll be partnering with none other than your favorite local musician, Nico Cruz.”

He shot her a look but then shook his head in exasperation. He laughed and stood, giving a casual wave to the crowd.

“So if you guys want the perfect tattoo from the best Tarot reader in town, I’ll hook you up. Check out my website for Empress Ink coming soon. Right, Livvy?”

I jerked my neck around to see Jules with her jaw hanging open. Of course, Livvy had known about this all along. Then Jules was bee-lining toward Violet who hopped off the stage right where Nico had motioned her to come down.

“You know what?” I whispered to Devraj. “I think this would be a good time to make our exit.”

“You sure you don’t want to tell them about your little enterprise, too?”

I laughed. “Um, no. Jules can only take one shock at a time.”

I’d saved a good bit of money, and Devraj said he wanted to invest in my small business. Something I’d always dreamed of, but never had the guts to do. Devraj didn’t make me braver, but he showed me that I was. I should go for my dreams, let my worries and doubts and fears take a backseat.

So I did. I contacted the owners of Angel Paws and offered to buy the place. I planned to renovate the kennels and set up a website, with Livvy’s help, to start a foster program so they wouldn’t spend so long waiting for their forever home. I had big plans. And Devraj was with me one hundred percent. I couldn’t imagine what the hell I was thinking when I thought we didn’t match.

Devraj was my perfect other half, encouraging me when I needed it. And I loved him, offering him the home, the place of belonging, that he’d always wanted. He was buying the house next door and staying put here in New Orleans. He’d work for Ruben and also serve other contracts abroad when needed. But he was in semi-retirement as a Stygorn, keeping close to home. After three hundred years, I told him he deserved a little relaxation and leisure. He’d kissed the hell out of me and told me he agreed.

Devraj hummed in agreement, whispering close to my ear. “They might try to drag you into some Savoie sister family meeting. And you’re mine tonight.” He lifted me in his arms and headed for the door.

“I can walk, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Then he traced to his back door and opened it with one hand while balancing me with one arm and leg. Once inside, Archie yipped and danced for our attention.

“Oh, no you don’t,” said Devraj, dropping what was obviously half of a po’boy from the restaurant into his bowl. “I’m getting all of her attention tonight, little man.”

“Where’d you get that?”

“JJ. He loves me.”

I laughed. “So do I.” I nuzzled his neck as he headed toward the hallway. “What’s the big plans tonight?”

“They entail my bed and no clothes. And Big John.” He quirked a naughty smile when I laughed. “And no work or gardening or shelter plans tomorrow. We’re sleeping in, and I’m feeding you every meal in bed.”

I smiled, sweeping a lingering kiss on his neck, relishing the shiver I gave him. “I feel so privileged. Taken to your bedroom and everything.”

He pinched my ass. I yelped.

“Keep it up, and you won’t leave my bedroom. Ever.”

“Promise?”

Then he was all Devraj smiles and Devraj eyes, heated and intense. “Promise, love.”

Then he did just that, and I couldn’t imagine anyone ever being more perfect for me than my charismatic, passionate, and devotedly loving vampire.