Chapter 137: Chapter 137
“We’ll start a new life, I guess,” Alan grinned, but didn’t sound too sure. His uncertain gaze was noticed by Elena.
“You don’t have anywhere to go,” Elena summed up and glanced at Edgar, a pleading look in her eyes. She didn’t voice the question burning on her tongue since he already knew what she wanted.
The clan leader scratched his neck and pondered for a moment before he reached a decision. “You could stay with my clan for a while until you’re back on your feet. If you don’t mind living with vampires, that is.”
Alan openly gawked at him as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “Huh, really?”
“That’s a generous offer,” Alex said and slung his arm around Alan’s shoulder. “What do you think, Jae? Should we take it?”
“If it’s okay?” The wizard shyly glanced at Edgar, who nodded in response. “Thank you so much. You’re really kind for a vampire.”
Belle and Wendy shared a glance before they agreed as well. Now only Charles remained, but he declined the offer. “I will return to my own home. It hasn’t been long since I was abducted, so my housemate must be worried about me.”
“Okay, but we’ll see you again, yeah?” Alex asked him.
“Sure.” Charles nodded and chuckled at Alex’s relieved grin. “We’re a team now.”
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Hours later, Elena was back at home and had retreated to her room, freshly showered and dressed in comfortable clothes. She had calmed down and was recovering from the ordeal, feeling at ease in her home where she was safe and surrounded by her precious flowers. Helen had taken care of them in her absence, watering them so that they would be alive and well when Elena returned. She was grateful for her friend’s foresight—if her beloved flowers had wilted, she would have been distraught about the loss. There was nothing more relaxing for a green witch than to be surrounded by her own element.
As she sat on the bed and watched over the plants, her magic softly resonated with them, prompting their buds to open and bloom. The blossoms’ vibrant colors made Elena smile. She had missed them and soaked up their cheerful auras, enjoying their presence. A soft knock at the door interrupted her daydreams and prompted her to sit up straight.
“Come in,” she called, and Ryder entered.
Her soulmate carried a tray with fresh lavender tea and several little snacks, most likely prepared by either Thorny or Kelsey. The vampires had been shocked when they realized how little she had eaten in the past few days, so they had prepared lots of healthy food for her and her new friends. Ryder put the tray on her nightstand and sat next to her on the bed.
“How are you feeling, petal? Tired?”
“Yes, it’s been a long day… so I considered taking a nap before dinner later,” she answered sheepishly.
“Then you should do exactly that. Rest is important for you.” He cocked his head and smiled faintly, his eyes roaming over her. She didn’t have any visible injuries, but she was pale and seemed exhausted. It was no wonder that after she had shared her blood with him and used large amounts of magic. Ryder reached for the folded cream-colored blanket at the foot of the bed.
“Lie down,” he said, keeping his voice low and velvety. “I’ll join you.”
“Yes, please. I want to cuddle with you,” she smiled shyly, “Because I missed you.”
He sighed and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Look at you, I got the cutest soulmate in the entire world.”
“Thanks,” she grinned, her happiness bringing a flush to her cheeks. He lay down next to her and spread the blanket over them.
“Come closer, buttercup,” he murmured and tugged her against his chest, embracing her and burying his nose in her hair. He inhaled her sweet scent, relishing her proximity. His hand began playing with a lock of her hair, absentmindedly twirling it before he let it fall on the pillow.
With her body snuggled up to him, she felt protected, safe, and comfortable. “I love you, and I’m so glad you reunited with me. I knew I could trust you to find a way,” she whispered. “It’s such a relief for me to be rid of my pursuer. I will lead a normal life from now on.”
“This is how it always should have been. You deserve to be happy, my flower.”
She hummed and intertwined her fingers with his. “What about you, Ryder? Are you happy?”
“With you, always.” The mattress shifted when he leaned in and kissed her forehead, his piercing brushing over her skin. Wandering lower, he also kissed the tip of her nose and lastly her lips. “I love you,” he whispered, and chuckled amusedly when he noticed something. “Your heart is beating very fast… do you think you can sleep at all with me in the room?”
“Yes, you’re not going anywhere,” she pouted, and to prove her point, she wrapped her arm around his waist and kept her hand on his back—Ryder wouldn’t be able to escape like this.
“Don’t worry, I’m not,” he grinned, leaving more kisses on her skin—he couldn’t stop bathing her with affection, and she loved his tender touches. “I will stay with you forever, little flower.”
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Louis’s actions sparked a necessary change in America’s vampire society. Seeing the need for an adjustment, Violet personally introduced new laws to protect the lives of witches and wizards. Threatening or hurting them would be deemed a crime from now on, which could be punished severely. Her dedication to providing a safer environment for witches and wizards was welcomed by Elena and her companions. It would make their lives easier moving forward.
In the following weeks, the witches and wizards began to rebuild their lives, contacting friends and family they had been separated from. Elena witnessed many tearful reunions and got to know others of her kind—she was no longer a lonely witch. Elena’s friends Willow and Mark, who had been worried about her, invited her and Ryder for coffee, curious about everything that had happened since Elena’s sudden disappearance. They were relieved she was doing well now and promised to meet up again soon.