It was that thought that spurred her on.
At Katerina’s next charge, Tessa feinted left, then lowered her guard. And waited.
With a cry of impending victory, Katerina sprang at Tessa. Tessa fell heavily and Katerina landed on her chest, eyes glowing red.
“All too easy,” Katerina crowed as she pinned Tessa’s shoulders to the floor. She leaned down, intending to sink her fangs into Tessa’s throat.
“You think so?” Tessa retorted, and plunged the dagger Andrei had given her into Katerina’s back.
Katerina let out a shriek of pained surprise as the silver-bladed dagger penetrated her heart. She stared at Tessa in shock for stretched seconds before she toppled sideways.
Tessa scrambled to her feet, eyes growing wide as the vampire disintegrated into a pile of dust and ashes.
Swallowing the bile that burned the back of her throat, Tessa crossed the floor to turn on the lights before hurrying toward Jilly and Luke. She quickly untied them.
“Are you two all right?”
“We are now!”
Luke glanced around. “Where’d she go?”
Tessa gestured to the pile of ashes in the center of the floor. A silver-bladed dagger winked in the light. “That’s her.”
“You destroyed her?” Jilly asked. “All by yourself?”
“I had a little help from an ancient weapon,” Tessa said, retrieving the knife.
“Where the hell’s Andrei?” Luke asked.
“Right here,” he said, materializing in the doorway. “You didn’t think I’d let Tessa confront Katerina alone, did you?”
Luke shrugged, his expression sheepish.
“It’s over, isn’t it?” Jilly asked, her voice touched with awe. “Really over?”
Tessa nodded. “Come on, we’ll take you home.”
* * *
“I destroyed her,” Tessa said, crawling into bed beside Andrei. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can.” He smiled at her. “In fact, I think you were the only one who could.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your dagger.”
Andrei grunted softly. “I’m not sure about that. I think your blood would have been just as deadly.”
“Really? Even now, when I’m a vampire, too?”
“I don’t think becoming a vampire would have altered the curse. I think anyone who takes your blood by force will pay the ultimate price.”
“Well, that’s something you’ll never have to worry about,” she said, snuggling into his arms. “Because I’m giving you permission to taste me as often as you like, as long as I can taste you, in return.”
“Good to know, Mrs. Dinescu.” Stretching out on the bed, he drew her down beside him.
“Mrs. Dinescu,” she repeated. “I love the sound of that.”
“You’re gonna love this, too,” he growled as he rose over her.
They had made love before, but it was different now, she thought, more meaningful, more intimate.
Later, wrapped in the warmth of her husband’s embrace, she smiled, thinking Jilly had been right. It was better when you were married.
Epilogue
Tessa stood beside Andrei, staring in wonder at their new home. He had found the original plans to the house Katerina had burned down and had it rebuilt, with a few improvements, and a lair that was impenetrable and looked like a bedchamber fit for a king. The final touches had been completed only yesterday. Tessa hadn’t been surprised when Andrei erased all memory of their hidden lair from the minds of the builders.
The last two years had seen many changes in their lives. Their friendship with Luke, Jilly, Bailey, and Tristan had grown deeper, stronger.
Luke had joined the Cutter’s Corner Police Department. Jilly had quit her job. She was pregnant again, this time with twin boys, to Luke’s delight.
Bailey and Tristan were married now, and expecting a child of their own.
Tessa still hadn’t found the courage to tell her parents that their daughter and son-in-law were both vampires. She told herself she was waiting for just the right moment but so far, she hadn’t found it. Andrei said waiting wouldn’t make it any easier, but she just couldn’t find the words.
Andrei gestured at the house. “So, what do you think?” he asked, giving her hand a squeeze. “Is it everything you hoped it would be?”
“It’s exquisite.”
“All those empty rooms,” he remarked, seemingly apropos of nothing.
Tessa looked at him askance.
“I was thinking we could fill them up with children.”
“It’s a wonderful idea, but not likely, unless you plan to kidnap them.”
“I was thinking of adoption.”
Tessa shook her head. “No adoption agency in the world is going to give two vampires a baby.”