Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

Keri sat motionless in the passenger seat of the sleek black car, her heightened senses drinking in the bustling nightlife of the city around her. Six months had passed since her transformation, but the vibrancy of her new vampire senses still amazed her. The scent of human blood pulsed tantalizingly from the sidewalks, mingling with the acrid tang of vehicle exhaust and the tempting aromas wafting from nearby restaurants.

Beside her, Chrissy fiddled with an impressive camera, its long-range lens aimed at the penthouse office of the Germaine Industries building across the street. Keri smiled at her friend's focused expression, marveling at how far they'd both come since their shared ordeal with the Vasiles.

"You know," Chrissy murmured, not looking up from her viewfinder, "I never thought I'd say this, but being a vampire is pretty damn cool."

Keri chuckled. "Even cooler than that fancy camera of yours?"

"Hey, don't knock the gear," Chrissy protested, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Although I have to admit, my night vision comes in handy for those tricky low-light shots."

"Speaking of handy abilities," Keri said, closing her eyes to focus, "let's see what our friend Mr. Germaine is up to tonight."

She reached out with her preternatural hearing, filtering through the cacophony of city noise until she locked onto the voice she sought. Pluto Germaine's nasal tones drifted down to her as clearly as if he were sitting in the car with them.

"...assure you, Mr. Dalca, that the next shipment will be even larger. My employees are quite enthusiastic about our new 'health initiative.'"

Keri's eyes snapped open. "Chrissy, upper left window. We've got company."

Chrissy swung her camera up, capturing rapid-fire shots of the two men visible in Germaine's office. "Got it. Oh my, who's the tall, dark, and deadly type?"

"That would be Constantin Dalca," Keri replied, her brow furrowing. "Looks like the Dalca clan is expanding their operation."

"Dalca, huh?" Chrissy mused. "He's certainly easy on the eyes."

Keri raised an eyebrow. "Really? I don't see it. Now Joshua, on the other hand..."

"Oh please," Chrissy groaned dramatically. "Spare me the 'my mate is the hottest vampire alive' speech. Some of us are still enjoying the single unlife, you know."

Their banter was cut short as Keri held up a hand for silence. Her eyes widened as she focused on the conversation above.

"Mr. Dalca, I hope you understand the risks I'm taking," Germaine was saying, his voice oily with false concern. "If certain parties were to discover the true nature of our arrangement – or indeed, the true nature of your kind – well, let's just say the consequences could be... explosive."

Keri's fists clenched. "That rat bastard is blackmailing them," she hissed. "Chrissy, tell me you got that."

"Every word," Chrissy confirmed, her camera clicking rapidly. "Along with some very incriminating body language. Victor's going to love this."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a commotion erupted in the building's lobby. Security guards poured out, their eyes scanning the street.

"Time to go," Keri said, adrenaline surging through her.

They abandoned the car, melting into the shadows with inhuman speed. She and Chrissy scaled the side of a building in seconds, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with exhilarating ease.

Behind them, shouts of confusion rose from the streets below. Keri allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk. Six months ago, such a chase would have terrified her. Now, it was little more than an invigorating warm-up.

They didn't slow their pace until the glittering lights of the Nicolau estate came into view. As they approached the wrought-iron gates, familiar scents washed over Keri – the earthy musk of the gardens, the subtle chemical tang of the indoor pool, and underneath it all, the comforting blend of scents she'd come to associate with home.

The gates swung open silently, and Keri felt the tension in her shoulders ease. Vampires lounged on the manicured lawn or strolled along winding paths, calling out greetings as Keri and Chrissy passed.

"Nice work tonight, ladies," a tall, elegant vampire named Elara said, falling into step beside them. "Victor's waiting for you in the war room."

Keri nodded her thanks, exchanging a quick glance with Chrissy. They'd barely set foot inside the mansion when a familiar scent hit Keri like a physical force. Her head snapped up, eyes locking onto the figure descending the grand staircase.

Joshua.

He looked as breathtaking as ever, his dark hair slightly mussed, clothes bearing the faint signs of recent exertion. Their eyes met, and Keri felt that same jolt of electricity she'd experienced the first time they'd kissed.

"Ladies," Joshua said, his voice a low purr that sent shivers down Keri's spine. "Successful hunt?"

"Very," Keri replied, unable to keep the pride from her voice. "You?"

A dangerous smile played at the corners of Joshua's mouth. "Let's just say a certain problem won't be troubling us again."

He closed the distance between them in two long strides, pulling Keri into a kiss that made her toes curl. She melted against him, savoring the taste of him, the solid strength of his arms around her.

"Get a room, you two," Chrissy teased, but her tone was affectionate.

Keri reluctantly pulled away, though she kept her hand entwined with Joshua's. "Later," she promised, her voice husky. "Right now, we've got a debrief to attend."

The war room was already crowded when they entered. Victor Nicolau, the clan's patriarch, sat at the head of a long table, his ageless face betraying nothing but polite interest as Keri and Chrissy made their report.

As Chrissy's photos flashed across the room's state-of-the-art display screens, Keri felt a swell of pride. This was what she'd been born to do – uncover the truth and protect the innocent, whether human or vampire. The fact that she now had the strength and speed to back up her investigations was just icing on the cake.

"Excellent work," Victor said when they'd finished. His eyes, a swirling mix of deep red and brown, fixed on Keri. "You've proven yourselves valuable assets to this clan. I think it's time we dealt with Mr. Germaine and his Dalca collaborators once and for all."

A thrill of excitement ran through the room. Keri felt Joshua's hand tighten on hers, a silent promise of support and shared purpose.

As the meeting adjourned, Keri slipped away to the balcony overlooking the estate's vast grounds. The night air was cool against her skin, carrying the scents of pine and distant wildflowers. She closed her eyes, reflecting on how much her life had changed in just six months.

Gone was the lonely, frustrated reporter, always on the outside looking in. In her place stood a creature of the night, part of a family bound by blood and loyalty. The work was dangerous, yes, but it was also deeply satisfying. For the first time in her life, Keri felt truly alive.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She turned to find Joshua leaning against the doorframe, his eyes soft with affection. Keri held out her hand, drawing him to her side.

"Just thinking about how lucky I am," she said, leaning into his embrace. "I never imagined my life could be like this."

Joshua pressed a kiss to her temple. "Any regrets?"

Keri thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "Not one. This is where I belong. With you, with the clan. I finally feel complete."

"Good," Joshua murmured. "Because I have plans for you. Plans that stretch out for centuries."

Keri turned in his arms, meeting his gaze. The love she saw there still took her breath away. "Oh yeah? Care to share these plans?"

Joshua's smile was both tender and wicked. "Oh, I think I'd rather show you."

As his lips met hers, Keri gave herself over to the kiss. Beyond them, the night stretched out, full of danger, excitement, and infinite possibilities. But here, in this moment, with Joshua's arms around her and the promise of eternity before them, Keri knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.