Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

TALULLA

A round of applause makes me realize I got to the end of my presentation and they liked it. I turn to look at Eric and see his eyes focused on me as he joins the applause.

"You definitely know what you're talking about, Miss Popescu," Ms. Sinopoli says, giving me a confidence boost. "I can't wait to see what you'll achieve."

"Thank you, Ms. Sinopoli."

She collects her curly hair and clips it up. "Now go and impress us all."

I nod and start making my way out of the classroom, followed by my mentor, Eric Wagner.

"The entire department was astonished, Talulla. Well done."

"Thank you, professor." The corners of my lips lift up as we march through the hallways of Bear Creek. This is it. My way of finding an alternative for my future. This is all I've worked for despite what my father wanted me to do. I did all this.

"I think you deserve a drink," Eric says as we step into his office.

"You keep alcohol in here?"

He chuckles and then shakes his head. "Not when my apartment is three floors up," he says, pointing at the ceiling.

"Professor—"

"Eric."

"Right. Eric. I gotta meet up with—"

"Your vampire. Yeah, yeah. This is just a quick drink, Talulla. Then you can go off to do what people your age do. I'm proud of you. I just wanted to say that." He's looking at me with his chin raised. Eric is truly proud of me.

"It wouldn't have happened without your guidance."

He chuckles. "Well, that certainly is high praise. Shall we?" he says, gesturing to the door.

"Yes." I nod. "Let's go."

We make our way up the stairs and to the door to his apartment just like we did many times before, and for some reason, this time, it feels different. Today, it feels good. Despite a murderer being on the loose, I feel like I have a purpose again.

"It's going to be a busy year. You can't get distracted," Eric says, opening the door.

"I won't."

"You know, I really didn't expect him to show up at the fundraiser with the witch who tried to kill you the other night."

"It's a long, funny story," I say, dropping my bag on his couch and laughing at how unfunny the situation really is. He passes me a glass filled with amber liquid, and as I take a seat, I focus on the crystal tumbler in my hands before taking a quick sip. Monica introduced herself that night to him— "How do you know about that?"

My eyes widen as the glass drops from my trembling hands. "You," I say as my vision blurs, forcing me to blink uncontrollably.

"There you go, little hunter," Eric says. "Isn't that what he calls you?"

"How did you do it?"

"See, the first time was really easy. You just drank the tea and had no idea. It definitely helped cover my tracks when the Caputos's pawn gave you a bottle of water later that night. Poor Paolo. He was unaware of it all."

"Flynn is going to kill you."

"See, he would have if he was still alive, but," he says, looking down at his watch, "by now, he's probably ashes inside a witch's house." He shrugs his shoulders. "It's sad that I had to kill Evanora Hart in the process. She absolutely had nothing to do with all this… until she told you that you were in danger."

"Why the werewolves? What did they do to you?"

This is when Eric hands me a folder. "Imagine my surprise when my brother called me to let me know someone broke into a federal archive to steal two very specific reports."

The potion seems to be acting faster this time, my bones aching as I force myself to open the file and read the report.

First on the scene: Officer Wagner.

"Your brother… He was there the day of the accident."

"Oh, yes, he was. I was as well."

Then I continue reading.

Two bodies were found dead. Dalton Reyes, 46. Alina Wagner, 31.

"Oh my god," I whisper to myself. "She was—"

"His mate," he spits. "Can you believe it?"

"Eric, you don't have to do this."

"Trust me, I didn't want to get to this point, but you had to keep snooping around."

"You were hurt."

He snorts. "Hurt? That's the understatement of the century." He walks to his kitchen to grab a knife. "They wanted to be my friends."

"She told you."

"Alina just had to continue with her stupid research, and in the process, she met this fucking wolf." He grips the knife's handle so tightly his knuckles turn white.

"Dalton."

"They came over here, sat me down, and just told me how they couldn't resist their bond."

"Oh my god," I say, covering my mouth with my palm.

"Yes, oh my god. My wife cheated on me with a fucking werewolf."

"And you killed them."

The corners of his lips curl up. "I did."

"How?"

"Let's just say I had some magical help."

"Monica."

"Yes, she really is a good businesswoman. What's even funnier is that she absolutely doesn't want to know what happens with what she sells."

"She couldn't out herself. It would have made her a target."

"Yes, your weird, unspoken rules are truly flawed."

That's why she wanted Flynn to go to the event so badly… It was her twisted way of hinting at Eric. Hinting that my father could help. "I can't believe it."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to. You'll be dead in less than twenty-four hours anyway."

"How did you cover it up?"

He takes a chair and sits right in front of me. I start to feel sweat dripping down my forehead, and I lay my back against the couch. "My brother was owed a favor. You see, he might have been a little corrupted."

"He was helping the Caputos."

"Ding ding ding! See, you can be smart, but then you go and dumbly accept any drink presented to you."

"They helped with covering the scene."

"They did. They cleaned it up so quickly that it was easy to alter the reports afterward."

"Oh my god."

"And you… We could have been so much together, but you had to stick your nose where it didn't belong, and for what? A werewolf who screwed you once? A vampire who will outlive you?"

I take this moment to jump on him, but my body betrays me as I do that because the reality is that with this potion in my system, I can't even get up and stand straight. Which translates to me miserably falling to the ground and Eric laughing at my useless attempt.

"Fuck."

"You had to fall for one of them as well."

"I am one of them, Eric."

"Yeah, I guess that's why I won't be that sad after you slowly pass away."

I groan, trying to sit up straight. "The Drusus coven will come for you. My father will come for you."

"Your father, I don't think so, but yes, your precious witch friends will certainly try, but I am prepared." He shows me a vial filled with a purple liquid. "This glamour will cover my tracks."

"Did you buy every single potion Monica Lazar has ever made?"

"I had life insurance money to spend."

"I'm going to kill you."

Eric laughs as he gets up and drinks the potion. "You're cute when you threaten lives. I see what the vampire sees in you."

That's when I hear the door swing open, and when I turn toward it, I see Flynn covered in blood at the entrance. Beside him are Kaden, Asmodeus, and Cassandra.

"You should be dead," Eric says, the knife in his hand pointed right at my chest.

"Yeah, well, I'm not that easy to kill. Ask Tal, she failed twice."

"I didn't fail," I say, trying not to roll my eyes as I continue to slowly die.

"Semantics, darling."

"You can't come inside, Flynn. None of you can."

Cassandra looks down at the floor and notices two stones. I see them too as I try to keep my breathing steady. "You gotta move the stones," I yell before Eric punches me in the stomach, almost making me puke from how strong the hit was.

I hear Kaden and Flynn growling as I try to re-compose myself. They're two predators ready to attack, and this time, they have all the right to do just that.

Eric Wagner killed multiple people, including Kaden's dad.

"We can't move them from here," Cassandra says, attempting to touch the crystals. Which means I have to do it from the inside.

"Don't you even think about it," Eric says, grabbing me by the neck and pushing me to the couch.

"I can't wait to rip your head off, Eric." Flynn's voice is almost a bark.

"You will have to stay there and witness the love of your life dying in front of your eyes because the agony you'd go through trying to come in here is too much, even for an old vampire like you."

My eyes widen at the words he just used because the truth is that I know nothing is worse for Flynn than the prospect of me dying, and if going through any kind of pain means he can get in here, he will do it. "Flynn, don't you dare," I say, my tone bossy as I look at his eyes turning a deep shade of red.

Flynn chuckles before turning to the alpha and patting his shoulder. "Kaden, buddy, I'm sorry. I'll be the only one having all the fun," my vampire says before stepping inside the apartment, no sign of pain on his face. "But I'll make sure to avenge your daddy as well."

"How did you step inside? You should be dying from the pain."

"See, that's the thing, Eric. I am very old, and I learned how to deal with torture, especially when a dumb human is trying to kill my girl for the second time."

"You can't touch me, Flynn," Eric says, showing his wrist. "I'm protected, remember?"

My vampire laughs. "It's true. I can't use compulsion on you, and I can't really touch that bracelet made of silver and all that, but you're forgetting something."

"And what's that?"

"Sweetheart," Flynn says, looking at me. "What is it that you like to call me?"

I tilt my head to the side, not really understanding where he's going with this. "Extra?"

He runs toward Eric at vampire-speed and grabs him by the throat with one hand. The other one tightens around his left forearm—the arm with the bracelet. The knife falls to the ground. "Yes, exactly. I'm a little extra." That's when he twists Eric's arm and pulls. The sound of the flesh and bone ripping makes my stomach flip, and bile comes right up. "Here, problem solved. No bracelet to stop me now." Flynn drops half of his arm to the side, his smirk never leaving his face.

Eric drops to his knees in agony. Blood splatters onto the white rag in his living room.

"Let's try this again, shall we?" Flynn says, gripping my professor's chin and forcing him to look in his eyes. "You're not going to fight what is about to happen to you."

"I won't fight."

"Flynn, no. It's not worth it," I say, my breaths getting heavier and heavier.

But it's too late. My vampire's teeth are at Eric's throat in the blink of an eye.

"Flynn…" I whisper as I continue to look at the scene, paralyzed on the couch.

His bite gets deeper and deeper, and that's when I realize he's not drinking Eric's blood. He's slowly ripping his neck apart, trying to detach the head from the rest of the body. Just like he said he would. His fangs meticulously work through the flesh. Even when he loses control, Flynn still doesn't let himself drink from a living creature. Well, half-living… Let's just say Eric is basically dead now.

He grips Eric's hair and pulls.

Crack.

The rest of the body falls to the ground with a huge thud. I should be disgusted and afraid, but the reality is that I am in adoration of the being in front of me.

"You're mates," Kaden says, still from the doorframe. "That's how you could withstand the pain. You are her mate."

"I didn't know vampires and hunters had mates," Cassandra adds, her eyes still focused on Flynn's hand holding Eric's head.

Mates. We joked about it, and yet it feels like the only plausible explanation, even for me.

"Mates," I repeat out loud, this time with wide eyes, and then turn to look at my vampire's face. Deadly, murderous, and still incredibly beautiful. "It's okay, Flynn, you can let the head go," I whisper as he pants, almost in need of catching his breath. I try to get up, but it's useless. The potion has already taken too much from me, and I fall back to the couch.

Icy-gray eyes look into mine, the red in them having almost disappeared, but Flynn still keeps his distance. His mouth is completely covered in blood. All of him is. Then he walks to the door and kicks one of the crystals with his boot, making it possible for the rest of the crew to walk in. But they don't, no, because the person who steps into Eric's apartment is someone I truly did not think I'd see again.

Emil Popescu, my father, is here.

Shit.

Kaden is at Flynn's side in a second, almost as if he's protecting what he witnessed. As if the knowledge of our mating bond is too sacred, even for him. "Mr. Popescu, you can't touch Flynn. He just saved your daughter's life and ended the life of a killer."

"Wolf, do you really think I just kicked the crystal because I wanted you to come and rescue me? I smelled him." Flynn groans as he looks at his hands covered in red. I know he's judging himself, waiting for his moment to end after what he did to Eric.

Emil laughs as he steps into the murder scene. "I am not here to execute anyone, alpha. Let me give this antidote to my child."

My father's slow pace makes me more nervous than anything. "Here, drink this." He throws me a vial before turning to look at the crimson-colored face of my lover. "And you, clean this mess. It is your lucky day. Next time, I will have a stake in your heart." And he walks toward the door again.

"Wait," I say, trying to gain his attention.

" Copil ."

"How did you know?"

He sighs before saying, "After Set helped me deal with the rest of the Caputos, our mutual friend had a change of heart."

"Monica?"

"Get some rest, copil ."

"I don't understand."

My father snorts. "I am just making sure you still have the choice to come back."

"Is this what it's all about? Me now owing you a favor?"

"One day, you will understand he is just using you."

"I'm not," Flynn growls, finally dropping the damn head beside the rest of Eric's body.

"And that is my cue." Emil Popescu walks away from us. From an apartment covered in blood. From his daughter and from the vampire who just killed a human right in front of all of us.

"Asmo, do your thing here," Flynn says as he walks to me. "How do you feel, sweetheart?"

"I'm okay," I say, grabbing his hands in mine. The feeling of his skin on my own is all I need to take a deep breath, filling my lungs completely. "I'm alive. And you just did something completely reckless by walking in here without knowing if you'd survive."

He laughs at my scolding. "I told you I'd always protect you."

"You could have died, Flynn."

"You can be mad at me for as long as you want, little hunter. Just as long as you're alive to do so."

"God, you really need to find a better pet name," I say, chuckling before I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me. My lips crush against his without even thinking about the blood staining his face, the smell of iron mixing with his vanilla-scented cologne.

"Okay, well, I need a drink now," Cassandra says from behind us. I break the kiss and see my friends pouring cleaning potions around the apartment and doing spells to make the body disappear.

"Next time, can you please limit the body-ripping part?" Asmodeus says, making a disgusted face as he holds Eric's arm.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away." Flynn laughs before helping me get up.

"So, this is it?"

"This is it." The person talking now is Set, walking inside the apartment with a glorious smile on his face.

"What took you so long?" Cassandra says, slapping her brother's chest.

"I was busy dealing with the rest of the problem and also making quite the case with daddy Popescu."

"What?" My jaw drops open.

"I just talked very nicely about Flynn. You're welcome, by the way. Now, can we eat? I'm hungry. All this murdering made me grow quite an appetite."

"Let's go to my apartment. I need a shower," Flynn says, his hand resting on the small of my back.

"Yeah, I do too," I say, looking down at my appearance.

"We can definitely make that happen, little hunter."

I shake my head. "My day started so well, and now… I don't even know what the fuck I'm going to do tomorrow."

"You're going to get your pretty books and continue to go to your pretty classes."

"But I don't have a job anymore. I can't—"

"I'm sure Ms. Sinopoli will be more than happy to step in."

"Flynn, I'm serious."

The corners of his mouth lift up. "And I am as well. Now, let's go. It's time for a celebration."

We apparate all together inside Flynn's apartment as if nothing happened, and yet my entire life just changed forever. We order food and get cleaned up as we wait for dinner to arrive.

My body still feels weak, but seeing all of us here together makes me feel like I'm part of something.

Kaden sits right beside Set, and on the other side, Cassandra and Asmodeus are arguing about something to the point of throwing fries at each other.

"You okay?" Flynn asks, brushing his hand against mine under the table.

"Is it weird that I feel happy ?"

"Not at all."

"I should be sad that Eric died despite everything. I should feel something, but I just feel… happy."

"You are feeling something, darling, and no one can tell you what that is supposed to be."

My phone vibrates, and I look at who's calling. The administration office? Why would they be calling me at this time of the night?

"Hello?" I say after accepting the phone call.

"Miss Popescu, I just wanted to let you know the payment went through, and you should be seeing the money back in your bank account by morning."

"What?"

"Good night, Miss Popescu. You have quite the admirer."

I turn to look at Flynn, his face blank. "What did you do?"

"I made sure you could finish your last year in this wonderful institution you seem to love so much."

"Flynn, it's too much."

His hands interlock with mine. "I'm just investing my money very wisely, darling."

"I don't even know what to say."

"‘Thank you, Flynn. I'll give you the best blow job of your life.' You could say something like that," he replies, making me laugh.

"Guys, you're in public." Cassandra throws a fry at us. "Gross, so gross."

"Sorry, not sorry," Flynn says before his face turns grim.

"Hey, what is it?"

He gets up and grabs a wine glass. "Before I kick you all out of my house, I'd like to make a toast."

"Wow, very subtle."

"To Evanora, the first person who ever believed in me for some unknown reason, a great witch, and an even greater friend."

"To Evanora," we all repeat in unison.

The doorbell rings, and I go to open the door to see who it is, but no one is at the door. Flynn follows me and then looks down. "Well, this is odd."

"A package?"

He picks it up and opens it.

"Are those what I think they are?" I ask, my mouth open in surprise.

"Dante Alighieri's notes." He chuckles. "Fucking witch."

"I guess she really did have a change of heart."

"For now, at least," Flynn adds, looking at me. "I'm just glad I get to see your face again."

"And I'm glad to see yours."

"I'm sorry for… earlier."

The corners of my lips lift up. "You were quite extra."

My vampire chuckles as his arms wrap around my waist. "I'm going to be whatever you want me to be, Talulla." His vanilla and tobacco scent makes me dizzy. Or maybe it's fate doing all the work because, after all we've been through, we're finally here, together, and I don't plan on changing a single thing about it. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be. With the people around the table and Flynn.

"Mine. I just want you to be mine," I say as my lips cover his own and our tongues dance with one other.

"Always, little hunter." And I know he's going to do anything in his power to keep his promise because he's my home now, and I'm his.

Two broken anchors that were able to bring each other out of the abyss filling their hearts.

Two souls now molded into one.