Epilogue
Sam tugged at the hem of her sweater. Well, actually it was yet another one of Ezra’s sweaters. The only things she wore that actually belonged to her were her underwear and jeans. Her wardrobe was severely limited. Not that she’d ever been much for fashion, but she needed more than two pieces.
She peered out the front window of Ezra’s home. Her home now. She might not have lived here for long, but she already loved it, and she was looking forward to watching the island go through all four seasons.
Right now, she wanted to be on the dock watching for Ezra to return, but it wasn’t safe. It probably wouldn’t be safe for her to venture out much in the daytime for the next few months. She was okay with that if it kept the Knights away and Ezra safe.
It had only been a week since he’d told her he loved her. She wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged herself tight. He loved her. She could still hardly believe it.
It had been a week of learning how to live with one another, of settling into a routine. It had been frighteningly easy to do. Already, she could barely remember her life without him.
He’d been busy during that time. He’d taken the sapphires, her drakon tears, but hadn’t told her what he’d done with them. He’d stocked the refrigerator and freezer with what he called “women food.” Why he’d consider fruit and vegetables to be gender specific, she had no idea, but she loved him for it.
Her man was a meat and potatoes guy all the way, and you could mostly hold the potatoes. Not that he complained when she cooked. Just the opposite. He ate everything she made and praised her efforts to the high heavens.
She glanced out the window again and her stomach dropped when she saw the speedboat heading toward the dock. Ezra was back, and he’d brought one of his brothers with him.
Nic had decided to come and visit. It had also been decided that Ezra shouldn’t buy or order any clothes for her to wear. There was still too much of a risk of the Knights skulking around. Instead, Sam had gone online and made her selections and Ezra had sent the list to his brother. Nic had purchased everything and was bringing her new clothes with him.
It was all very cloak and dagger, but unfortunately very necessary.
Sam would never make the mistake of underestimating the Knights again, and neither would Ezra or his brothers.
Nic stepped onto the dock. He was as big as Ezra, maybe a touch larger, which made him at least six-eight. She tugged on the sweater, wishing she was wearing something nicer, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
She’d been busy since yesterday cooking and baking. She had a vat of chili, another filled with marinara sauce, as well as pots of both beef stew and chicken soup on the stove. Since Ezra had left this morning, she’d made an apple pie, banana bread, and a chocolate cake. It had kept her too busy to worry about meeting Nic.
Nicodemus Wilde—Ezra had chuckled when he’d told her his brother’s chosen last name—was a gambler and a collector, buying and selling artifacts all over the world when he wasn’t gambling in Vegas, Monaco, or other exotic locations around the world. He was also a fire drakon. Most importantly, he was Ezra’s brother.
The two men shouldered several large duffle bags and made their way up the path from the dock. Sam wiped her moist palms on her jeans. “Everything will be fine.” It had to be.
She went to the front door and opened it. Ezra scowled at her, but Nic smiled. He hurried his step, beating Ezra to the door. “Hello, Sam.” He dropped the duffle bags to the floor and lifted her right off her feet.
Ezra slammed the door shut. “Put her down, you idiot.” He didn’t wait for Nic to release her, and yanked her out of his arms. She felt like one of those duffle bags.
Ezra planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips before he set her down. He kept his hands on her shoulders. “This is Sam.” She could hear the pride in his voice and it made her smile.
“I got that.” Nic gave her a courtly bow. “Nicodemus Wilde, my lady. At your service.”
“Idiot,” Ezra muttered.
Sam held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. If you’re hungry, I’ve got plenty of food.”
Nic sandwiched her hand between two of his. “You are my sister now.” The vow brought tears to her eyes. “You’re family.”
He was lonely. And why wouldn’t he be? In spite of his bravado, all his brothers had found mates and he was still alone. “I am.” She turned her hand in his and squeezed it. He gave an abrupt nod and released her.
“I assume my room is ready.” He grabbed one of the bags and motioned to the rest. “Those are yours. I made a few adjustments to your list.”
Nic left her standing in the foyer with Ezra, her mouth hanging open as he disappeared up the stairs. “All these are filled with clothes for me.” There were three large duffle bags.
Ezra frowned. “You don’t have anything. You’ll probably need more. This is just to get you started.”
Sam couldn’t help herself. She started to laugh. “Why in heaven’s name do I need so many clothes? The seabirds won’t care. Neither will the fish or the whales.” She’d seen a humpback breaching just off the dock yesterday. It had stayed there until Ezra finally joined the massive animal for a swim. How cool was that?
His frown deepened. “I’m sorry, Sam.”
She shook her head, not wanting him to have regrets about anything. “About what? I don’t need to go anywhere or do anything. About the Knights? That’s not on you.”
He sighed and lifted her right off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist and twined her arms around his neck. He smelled like fresh air and the ocean, scents she would forever associate with him. “I’m happy here with you.”
“I have something for you.”
It was her turn to scowl. “You wouldn’t let me pay you for the clothes Nic bought.”
“You’re not paying for the clothes. And this is different,” he assured her.
“How?”
He walked over to the kitchen and sat her on the edge of the counter. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a velvet bag. “Here.” He thrust it at her, forcing her to take it.
She had a sneaky suspicion she knew what it was before she opened it. Her hand shook as she pulled the drawstrings open. Ezra grew impatient and tipped the bag up. Sapphires set in platinum spilled over her fingers. The chain would go around her neck twice and still hang low. It was worth a small fortune.
“It’s beautiful.” When the gems had gone missing she’d half wondered and half hoped he was getting them set into a necklace, like the one he’d found in the wreck of the Reliant.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you,” he told her. He dropped the long chain over her neck and then doubled it so there were two long strands hanging down the front. The gems caught the light and sparkled.
“Oh, Ezra.” She was at a loss for words.
“I love you.”
She raised her face, and he bent down. Their lips met in a tender kiss, filled with the love they shared. The necklace was a tangible reminder of that. Sadness gripped her.
“What is it?” he asked when he pulled away. He tucked one of her curls behind her ear. “I sense your sadness.”
“I was thinking about the necklace in the safe.” She played with the white-colored chain. “They must have loved one another, the drakon and the woman who wore his tears.”
Ezra rubbed his chin over the top of her head. “I’m sure they did. They were lucky enough to find one another, even if it didn’t last forever.”
“How could it last forever? She was human. Maybe she died, and he never took the necklace back.” That was better than imagining the Knights killed them.
“Sam.” Ezra held her face with his hands. “He wouldn’t have let her die. He’d have fed her small amounts of his blood to keep her young. I told you I wasn’t letting you go, that this is for forever.”
She knew her mouth was hanging open. “What?”
Exasperated, he took a step back and set his hands on his hips. His glare would have frightened the most battle-hardened men. Sam just glared back.
“I don’t recall agreeing to this,” she pointed out.
His expression went blank, but he couldn’t disguise his hurt, not from her. “You want to leave me?”
She shook her head. “Of course not, but I’m not using you, either. That would make me no better than the Knights.”
“They take what is not offered. I’m offering you my blood so we can be together.”
She was being an idiot. “You’re right.” When he made an exaggerated expression of surprise, she scowled. “Don’t expect me to ever say that again.”
“But it sounds so sweet.” He nuzzled her jaw. “Tell me again.”
She knew when she was beat. “You’re right. I’ll take enough of your blood so I can stay alive.” She teased her fingers over his chest. “I don’t want to leave you. Just promise me if there ever comes a day when you don’t want to be with me any longer, you’ll take me somewhere I can grow old alone.”
“It will never happen.” He dragged her off the counter and into his arms. His grip threatened to suffocate her.
She tapped his arm. “Ease up.”
He set her on her feet and released her. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
Sam sucked air into her lungs. “I’m okay. No harm done.” She knew he didn’t quite believe her, so she picked up the long chain around her neck and studied the sapphires. “Thank you for the amazing gift.” She looked straight into his turquoise-colored eyes. “The necklace is beautiful, but what it represents means more. Thank you for the precious gift, but most of all for your love.”
…
Nic quietly let himself out the front door. He knew Ezra heard him leave even if Sam didn’t. He hadn’t meant to listen to their conversation, but with his enhanced hearing, it was difficult not to.
All his brothers had found women of their own. Was Sam’s theory right? Was it the right time in their development to want to settle down? Were they attracted to women with special gifts?
He honestly didn’t know.
He wandered toward the woods and through the trees. He liked it here well enough but missed the hot climes of the desert. He was all about heat.
He broke through the trees and peered down at a secluded cove. This had to be the place Ezra had told him about, the place where Dexter had almost killed Sam.
Nic sat on an outcropping of rocks and rubbed his hand over his face. He was tired, and not just physically. It was getting harder and harder for him to stay interested in living.
He knew what it meant. These were the warning signs that the Deep Sleep was close at hand. It was something that happened to their kind when they decided they no longer wished to dwell in this world.
They’d settle somewhere isolated and hidden in their drakon form and sleep. But it wasn’t a normal sleep. No one knew if they could even wake as none ever had. Over time, they eventually turned to stone, blending into whatever environment they’d taken shelter in.
Only his love for his brothers had kept him in the world this long. It was the reason he spent all his time among humans, gambling, buying and selling artifacts, anything to keep him interested.
It was getting more and more difficult, especially now that his brothers no longer needed him. They were happy with their mates. Maybe it was time to let go.
He pushed himself off the rock and turned his back on the sea. “But not today,” he whispered. He made the trek back to Ezra’s home, taking his time to allow his brother the privacy to make love with his woman.
Nic smiled as he imagined how Sam would react if he walked in on them. Might be worth Ezra’s wrath just to find out.
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