“I hope you do come to Russia,” Elena said. “You and I will be great friends.”
“I think we would be. And Bell, you can come to visit. Hey, maybe one of the wolves will claim you!”
“I…” Isabella’s cheeks reddened.
“Unless there’s someone here you have your eye on,” Suzanne teased, “like a certain handsome bookshop owner.”
“Suze, he’s a vampire.”
“You’re not going to get all prejudiced on me now, are you? I’m mated to a werewolf!”
“I know, but after what he did, what his nephew did…”
“If I’m not holding a grudge, why should you?”
“Why aren’t you holding a grudge, Suze?”
“I suppose I should be. I can’t describe it. That passion between the demon and Viveca. It…changed something inside of me. I wish you had been there to experience it. Besides, Damian’s holding enough of one for both of us.”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Just keep an open mind, Bell. That’s my best advice.”
Isabella smiled, and Suzanne’s heart filled with warmth. She would miss her cousin if she went to Russia. But her place was at Damian’s side.
54
Later, after dinner but before nightfall, Damian cornered Suzanne in a small alcove on the top floor of the castle and pressed his lips to hers. “Thank you for the delicious dinner. I’ll never starve with you as my mate.”
“I’ll take great care of you,” she said, laughing.
“I know you will. And we have some things to discuss.”
“Like?”
“Like, how would you like to see Russia?”
Suzanne’s shoulders slumped a little, but she forced a smile. “I’ll go wherever you go, Damian.”
“I know you will. And I thank you for that. I love you.” He kissed her hard. “I need to go, to meet the others, and to learn more about my kind. But I’ve already told Rohr that I won’t take his place as Alpha. My place is here, in this castle, with my da. My real da. And with you. Scotland is my home.”
“Oh, Damian!” Suzanne threw her arms around his neck and sprinkled kisses all over his lips and cheeks. “I’m so glad we’ll be coming back here!”
“I couldn’t live anywhere else, mo leannan. But there is something we need to take care of before we go.”
“What’s that?”
“You need to marry me.”
“Is that a proposal?”
“Aye. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” She kissed his mouth. “I will marry you, Damian MacGowan. My sweet, handsome wolf.”
He grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, lifting her cotton skirt as he fumbled with his jeans.
When he was inside her, both of them gasping, he said, “We need to talk about those pills of yours, mo leannan. How do you feel about cubs?”
“I love cubs,” she rasped and then soared into the fading sun, taking her wolf with her.
The End