Epilogue

Lynda slapped Pierre’s hand away from the plate of chocolate chip cookies lying on her belly. “Mine…and our kids.”

“I was only teasing.” He held up his hands.

“Leave her food alone.” Andrei handed her a glass of milk. “Besides, it’s your turn to watch the kids tonight for our date night.”

Pierre picked up one of the squirming infants with a tuff of red hair on her head. “My little jewel. Are you as grumpy as mom is without her dessert?”

Both the other babies, Luke and Victor lay in the triple bassinet sleeping soundly. When the triplets had been born, Lynda worried that her daughter would be looked down upon since she wasn’t a boy. But all three princes doted on her and claimed that they were her father. They loved the boys, too but little Erika, named after Lynda’s ancestor, had them wrapped around her finger already.

“I want a cookie too,” Demetri, Natasha’s son dashed across the yard. His dark hair was wet from the pool.

“Have as many as you like.” Lynda held out the plate for him.

Pierre pouted. “Why does he get to eat cookies, but I can’t?”

“Because you’re a vampire silly. Blood and love feed you, not chocolate.”

“And I can’t wait for our date night tomorrow.” He winked and her skin flushed.

The lights from the heated pool blinked and Lynda smiled. “Grace is here.”

She pushed up off the lawn chair. One good thing about being married to three vampires was she never had to worry about getting sunburned.

“How are things with the counsel?” She hugged Grace.

“Good. Still can’t believe they nominated me as lead elder. Most on the committee are way older than me.”

“Aw, you’ve done a great job so far even the peace treaty with the vampires in half the country was a huge undertaking.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I still have to go fix the lead vampire’s fake sun over his lake tomorrow.” She held out her hands. “Now let me see my adopted niece.”

Pierre kissed Erika on her cheek, then handed his daughter over.

Behind Lynda, a man cleared his throat. She spun to find Dracula with a bottle of wine in one hand and Natasha in the other. “Thought you could sneak in a glass tonight and we have a favor to ask you.”

Lynda blinked, staring at the two holding hands. Yes, she knew Natasha and Demetri stayed in Dracula’s mansion, but she’d no idea they were seeing each other. Natasha’s grin wouldn’t stop and Lynda smiled in return.

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Well, since Pierre, Mihnea, and Grace are babysitting the kids tonight, mind if Demetri stays over?” Natasha bit her lip. “If it’s too much we understand, but he wants to stay and swim and play with the babies.”

“Not a problem at all.” Lynda gave Demetri a hug which he shrugged off.

The young boy puffed out his chest. “Me and Dracula are going to sword fight this weekend while Mom goes on a spa thing.”

“That was to be a surprise.” Dracula narrowed his eyes, but his smile never wavered.

“Speaking of surprises,” Andrei clasped Lynda’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckle. “We’ve got to get ready.”

“For what?” she asked but walked into their bedroom to get changed. A sapphire spaghetti strap dress lay on the bed waiting for her. She spun to face him as he shut the door behind them. “Dinner and…?”

He chuckled. “We’ve tickets to A Midsummer’s Night Dream that I don’t want to be late for because the usher is a tyrant at letting in anyone after the show starts.”

“Couldn’t you charm him?” Lynda wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts into his chest.

He nuzzled her neck. “I’m afraid not, he’s immune to vampire power.”

“Maybe we can skip the play and do our own upstairs,” she whispered. Her teeth nipped at the edge of his ear lobe.

His erection pressed against his pants and her swimsuit. “We can always go to a later showing.”

“If I let you stop making love to me long enough.” She hugged him tighter.

In answer, he lifted her with a whoop and carried her inside. He kissed her mouth, letting her guide them to the bed.

“Have I told you I adore you, Lynda?” he asked.

“Yes, but I always like to hear it.”

“You are my light, my sun in this darkened world.” He stroked her cheek. “My love and my heart. In all the centuries I have been a vampire, I never felt alive until I met you.”

“I love you too.” She leaned into his hand. “My world was just as bleak without love, without you and your brothers. Now I can’t imagine anything else.”

A wail sounded from outside followed by another baby’s cry.

“Guess our lovemaking will have to wait until after feeding time.” Andrei grabbed her ass, dragging her closer to him. “Don’t make me wait too long.”

She kissed his lips, longing for more time. “Never.”

With love filling her so much she thought she would burst, she skipped out of the room and laughed as Andrei shot up after her. Life was precious and she didn’t want to miss a moment of it.

*** THE END ***