Maggie stood in the shadows, unwilling to go any closer as her grandma cautiously approached Mindy’s chair. Aiden stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. Marsha pulled a chair over from a table and sat across from her daughter.
For a minute, no one spoke. Then, Marsha leaned closer and rested her hand on Mindy’s knee. “Mindy,” she whispered.
Standing more than fifty feet away, outside the door of the large room with the TV droning, conversations carrying on, and almost two dozen other patients gathered within, Maggie heard her grandmother.
“Mindy, do you remember me?” Marsha asked.
Mindy’s eyes shifted to Marsha before sliding away. Then, they came back again. Maggie’s heart leapt when she saw the spark of recognition in those eyes. “Momma,” Mindy breathed.
Tears spilled down Marsha’s cheeks, and she choked on a sob. “Yes, baby girl, it’s me.”
“Momma,” Mindy smiled before her gaze went back to the window.
Mindy didn’t speak again, but the smile didn’t leave her face while Marsha sat and talked with her. As Maggie suggested, Marsha didn’t tell her daughter how she’d finally discovered her, or mention Maggie at all. It was for the best, especially if it kept that smile on her mother’s lips.
• • •
Maggie’s lungs burned, her legs felt like rubber, but she pushed herself onward. Even with all her training, even with her new, supernatural strength that she’d kept in check throughout the entire course, she loathed Heartbreak Hill.
Then, she was at the top and coming down. Air rushed back into her lungs, her legs didn’t wobble quite so bad, and some of her ex-coworkers laughed. She exchanged high-fives with them. It didn’t matter they still had miles to go. After successfully climbing the hill, they knew they would all make it.
Maggie focused on the road while she matched her pace to those around her. Soon after changing, Aiden noticed she was faster and stronger than the average turned vamp, but not as strong as a purebred.
They’d been on a run together and she’d nearly beaten him. Afterward, he’d had her lift things that other changed vamps wouldn’t be able to lift so soon after turning. He’d shouted his joy when she succeeded in one thing after another.
Then, he’d approached Ronan about his decision to pause his training. Ronan hadn’t argued with Aiden’s choice to walk away, for now, but while they remained in Massachusetts, Ronan asked if he could run her through a series of physical, mental, and endurance tests. All those tests confirmed what Aiden already suspected; she was not the normal, changed vamp, but then she hadn’t been the average human either.
The crowds cheered as they reached Kenmore Square. A fresh burst of adrenaline hit Maggie, and Aiden’s mind brushed against hers. It took everything she had to maintain her restraint when they turned onto Boylston street and the finish line came into view. She wanted to unleash her power and race toward that beckoning end.
Crossing over the painted Finish Line section of road, Maggie released a whoop of joy and laughed as she hugged her team members, all of whom were wearing pins to honor the memory of Roger. She was hugging Pablo when she spotted Aiden over his shoulder. She slapped Pablo on his shoulders, and he set her down before turning to hug someone else.
Aiden swung her up into his arms. “How did you get over here?” she inquired breathlessly. Family members and friends were supposed to be waiting for them at a designated meeting area.
“I’m irresistible,” he replied and winked at her.
She laughed. “That you are, but from now on, no compelling the police.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
Like the rest of her supernatural abilities, her ability to compel a person was stronger than it should have been, but she hated using it. After the test where she’d used her compulsion on a human, she’d put her foot down and informed Ronan she wouldn’t do it again. He’d frowned at her, and she got the feeling he didn’t often hear no from anyone, but he hadn’t asked her to do it again.
“I’m proud of you,” Aiden said.
Setting her down, he walked her over to the others who had come to watch the race. Abby, Brian, and Vicky were at the front of the pack, waving American flags. Ethan and Stefan had returned home before coming back with their mates, Isabelle and Emma. Ian and his wife Paige had arrived last night.
They’d all left their children behind, claiming some much-needed grown-up time, but Maggie had a feeling they wanted a chance to interrogate her without interruption. They’d also all been happy to assure her there were plenty of others eagerly waiting to meet her.
That knowledge wasn’t as off-putting to her as it would have been a month ago. She was excited to embrace her new life with Aiden, willing to let down her guard and allow more people and vampires into her life. She was looking forward to finally experiencing a life filled with love and family. She was also relieved to discover that she liked everyone she’d met. They were warm and open and excited to have her in their lives.
“I never realized how much fun this could be!” Vicky gushed. “All the excitement, the competition, the beer! I’m going to have to check out one of those ball games next. I feel like I’ve been missing out!”
“You want to go to a baseball game?” Maggie inquired.
“Oh, I don’t care what balls are involved, just as long as I get to cheer for them.”
Maggie blinked at her. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“No one does,” Aiden muttered, and Vicky laughed.
Maggie grinned when she saw her grandmother pushing her way through the crowd. For the first time in her life, she had a relative at something to cheer for her. She hugged Marsha as she fought against crying. Today was not a day for tears. It was a day for celebration.
Later, they would meet up with her teammates to celebrate their success, the money they’d raised, and Roger. Tomorrow, she and Aiden were leaving for New Hampshire where they would spend a week with her grandma before going to Maine to meet the rest of his family.
A month ago, the only family Maggie had was Roger. She missed him every day, but as she gazed around, she realized how much her family had grown in such a short time. Tilting her head back, she grinned at Aiden and leaned against his side.
I love you, Nosferatu, she whispered into his mind.
You’re my savior and my love, Magdalene Byrne.
She rose on her toes to kiss him. “Byrne? Are we married then?” she murmured in his ear so no one else could hear her.
“We’re more than that, but I’ll gladly marry you to make it official.”
“Do I get a ring?” she teased.
“Two of them.”
She laughed, but when she stepped away from him, she saw how serious he was. She opened her mouth to say more, but he went down to his knee and pulled out a ring box. Lifting the lid, he revealed the beautiful sapphire ring, surrounded by small diamonds, within. Maggie’s hand flew to her mouth as she gawked at it.
“Will you marry me?” he asked her.
Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, unable to speak, and the others cheered. Rising, he slid the gorgeous ring on her finger and embraced her. She laughed as he spun her around before setting her down, clasping her face, and kissing her.
That night, they also celebrated their engagement as they stood surrounded by friends and family. Maggie had never dared to dream of having so much love in her life, but then, before she met Aiden, she’d barely known love at all. Even though she wished A.J. and Roger could have been here to see this, she’d never been happier.
Aiden embraced Maggie against his chest while he danced with her in the shadows of the bar. He’d been so certain he’d never find her in time to save himself, but as he held her close, he had no concerns the darkness would call to him again. He couldn’t wait to introduce her to the rest of his family.
“Aiden,” she murmured.
“Yes?”
“I’ve decided you aren’t the devil, but I’d gladly go through Hell for you.”
It took him a second to recall the conversation they’d had in the car when he’d first taken her from her apartment to the hotel.
“You ever hear the saying the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t?” she’d asked.
“And I’m the devil?” he’d replied.
“I haven’t decided.”
“Let me know when you do.”
“I will.”
He smiled as he kissed her neck. “There’s no need for you to do that. You’ve already rescued me from Hell.”
THE END
Vicky and Nathan’s story will be told in Bound by Vengeance (The Alliance, Book 2). Find out what happens when Vicky delves deeper into the world of the hunters!
Bound by Vengeance is now available for pre-order!
The next Awakenings Series book, Consumed, will release in 2018.
This book will focus on Mike and is now available for pre-order.
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