“Drink,” I order him. “We need you, love. It’s not only the two of us anymore. You need to fight, Vincent.” His mouth parts, and his teeth sink into my wrist. I shouldn’t be shocked when I feel my own teeth grow. I waste no time and bite his neck.
I close my eyes. The connection between Vincent and me is growing stronger once again. His sucking becomes harder. In the distance, I can hear Buffy chanting something, but I can’t make it out. I let go as my mate comes rushing back to me.
““Poppet!” He growls and releases his fangs from my wrist. He flips us, pinning me under him. I retract my teeth from his neck. “Where the hell did those come from?” I run my tongue along my fangs, loving the feel of them.
“Maybe they came with the pregnancy?”
“You’re pregnant?” Everyone else in the room gasps.
“It’s twins!” Might as well get it all out there. Vincent’s face starts to go pale again. “They’re girls.” Vincent isn’t looking so good. Maybe I should have kept that little bit of info to myself until later. “My parents told me. I saw them, Vincent. They knew about you, and they were happy for us.” I take a deep breath. I want to tell him everything, but I know right now I need to focus on making sure he’s okay. “My mom said to tell you thanks, Buffy.”
“She was a good one,” I hear Buffy say in the distance. I can’t pull my eyes off my mate.
“Are you okay?” I wrap my arms around Vinny’s neck, wanting him to say something.
He lifts us both off the floor. I see now we’re in the middle of a white circle that someone must have drawn on the ground. There are books laid out all around it. I’m guessing everyone had a hand in saving Vincent and me. And most importantly, our little ones. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay them.
“Are you okay?” Vincent asks, sitting down on the sofa with me in his lap.
“I asked first.”
He cups my face with his hands. “Now that you’re back in my arms, I’ve never been better.” He pulls me in for a kiss. More of those stupid tears start to leak from my eyes. My sweet vampire mate presses kisses to my cheeks, stopping them all in their tracks. “I can feel them.” He brings his hand to my stomach.
“This is all so crazy.” But it feels right.
“Tell me about it.” Buffy plops down on the sofa at the other end. An uncontrollable giggle comes from me. I glance around the room to see Ian and Harry, who are holding each other close. In all this craziness I found my family. A place where I belong.
“I thought I lost you.” I turn back to my mate. Deep down, though, I knew I would never lose him. Even when our bond faltered, I could still feel him with every breath I took. He was always there.
“Never leaving you, poppet. You’re my mate. In this life and all the others. Not even death will part us.”
“God, that’s some corny shit,” Ian says.
“Hey, we’re having a moment!” I turn to glare at him.
“Kind of corny,” Buffy agrees.
“I cleaned your litter box so many times.” I shift my glare to her.
“That was low.” Buffy’s lips twitch.
I giggle.
“I think it’s time for everyone to go.” Vincent stands with me in his arms.
“I live here,” Buffy reminds him.
“Whatever this shit is that you drew on my restored original wood flooring better come off,” Vincent says, shooting Ian and Harry a deadly glare. Ian looks anywhere but at Vincent.
“We saved your lives.” Harry is quick to defend his mate.
“Hey, I saved our lives,” I shout.
“No, that was me,” Buffy hisses then coughs to try and cover it.
“I killed the old bat,” Vincent reminds everyone.
Everyone bursts into arguing. I rest my head on Vincent’s shoulder, loving every second of it but knowing that it was love that saved us all.
Epilogue
Vincent
Buffy runs past me in cat form as Lizzie and Vera chase after her with giggles and squeals of delight.
Everly follows them, then comes over when she sees me. “It never gets old, does it?”
“Not even a little.” I pull her into my arms and kiss her gently.
“I should probably keep after them.” Everly casts a glance toward the living room where the giggles are increasing. “You know how grabby-handed Vera can be if she gets ahold of Buffy. And if Lizzie’s fangs come out, there’s no telling what she might do.”
“She’s three. I think Buffy can handle her. Besides, Ian and Harry are in the office if she needs backup.” I lean her back and kiss her in earnest, sliding my tongue into her mouth until she moans and twines her arms around my neck.