“You’re incorrigible.”
“Yes, I am,” he said without remorse.
“Behave.”
She swatted at his hand, but he didn’t release his hold on her. She turned back to watch as Hawtie and Clint stepped onto the carpet. They’d decided to walk down the aisle together. She’d never seen either of them look more radiant as they both beamed from ear to ear. Her hand clenched around Julian’s when he drew her closer to rest her back against his chest.
Her gaze fell on the pew across from them as Chris lifted Melissa’s hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. They both smiled lovingly at each other. “I think we’ll be attending their wedding next,” she whispered to Julian when he rested his chin on her shoulder.
She felt him smile against her cheek. “I think you’re right.”
Behind Chris and Melissa, Lou and Dani rolled their eyes at the couple while Luther stalwartly kept his attention focused on Hawtie and Clint instead of the kissing couple.
Quinn focused on the front of the chapel when Clint and Hawtie arrived there. A small man with bottle glasses and a handlebar mustache stepped forward to perform the ceremony. Tears burned in her eyes while she watched Clint and Hawtie recite their vows to each other.
Quinn broke into applause and jumped to her feet when the two of them were pronounced man and wife. Clint dipped Hawtie back over his arm and gave her a kiss that had everyone cheering louder. Hawtie looked dazed when Clint set her back on her feet.
Chris released a loud whistle and they all moved forward to throw confetti at the couple as they walked down the aisle. Quinn stepped into the aisle with Julian and followed the newlyweds toward the open doors at the end.
In two days, they would be leaving for Oregon to meet with Vern and more vampires. The following day they were boarding a private jet to Europe. Julian had purchased the jet and had it remodeled with detailed specifications designed to keep them safe from the sun while they traveled.
When necessary, they would call on Devon to use his ability in order to guarantee them safe passage as they moved from Europe onto Africa, Asia, and Australia before finally coming home again. She had no idea how long they would be gone, but tonight she planned to celebrate this wedding until the sun came up.
Julian lifted her into his arms and spun her around before setting her on her feet again to twirl her out the doors of the chapel.
EPILOGUE
Two years later
Quinn remained behind the heavily tinted sliding glass door of the beach house Julian had rented for them in Aruba. He stood on the beach, his head tipped back as he let the fading rays of the sun play over his body. The sun was nearly at a point where she could join him, but he’d been standing out there for two hours, absorbing the rays with little ill effect.
“He’s almost there,” Chris said from beside her. “Another couple years and he may be able to stay in it off and on throughout the whole day.”
“Yes,” she murmured.
Julian’s determination to walk in the sun again had remained unwavering through the past two years. No matter where they traveled, he’d spent time every day steadily increasing his exposure to the sun’s rays until he’d attained this point.
She glanced at Chris when he ran a hand through his disordered hair. Shadows lined his eyes as he stared at the beach. “You look tired,” she said.
“I am,” he muttered.
“Get some sleep.”
“Easier said than done,” he replied and turned to walk away from her.
When the last of the sun dipped behind the sparkling, clear blue ocean, she slid open the door and stepped onto the sand. The sea breeze drifted over her, flattening her sundress against her calves and blowing her shoulder-length hair around her face. Despite the fact she knew they were safe here, she had stakes strapped discreetly away on her. She’d never be caught unawares again, but she’d relaxed enough while they were here to wear a bikini again, and she’d discovered swimming wasn’t difficult with stakes holstered to her ankles.
Julian turned to face her as she made her way toward him. The fine grains of warm sand slid between her toes when she wiggled them on the beach. He held his hand out to her, and she took hold of it. Her ability had increased to the point that they were always connected by it now, but for a second, his heart gave a solid beat when their skin slid into contact again.
Her ability may have grown stronger over the past two years, but she hadn’t used it to kill again, and her constant connection to Julian helped to keep her grounded when the urge for more power and life swept over her.