Chapter 24

" I apologize in advance," Addie said when I met her in front of my hotel. "I let Willa plan today's itinerary."

Behind my sister, the curly-haired, Southern vampire grinned mischievously.

I rocked back on my aching feet—twelve-hour nursing shifts had nothing on walking ten miles around a cobblestone city.

"I'm vetoing any places with dead people," I said. The trio of vampires exchanged looks, and I laughed, correcting myself. "No cemeteries, catacombs, or anything of the like."

"Oh," Willa chirped, waving her hand. "I don't like dead people either."

"I'm so telling Wren," Sophie teased.

"We're going on a tour of our favorite places in the city." Willa ignored Sophie, beaming at me.

I smiled. That sounded fun. "Let's go!"

Willa and Addie fell into step next to each other to lead the way, and I walked next to Sophie.

"How are you enjoying Paris this time?" she asked.

"It's kind of gloomy without the Christmas lights," I replied with a laugh.

"What have you been up to?" Willa called over her shoulder.

I paused, trying to unscramble my thoughts. I couldn't exactly tell them I'd been running around with Simon…or kissing Simon. Addie would lose her mind.

"Oh, uh, I saw the observatory and went to the science museum," I said.

My answer satisfied them without raising any suspicion. Apparently, it was perfectly believable that I would explore those places on my own. I didn't mention the top of the Eiffel Tower or the catacombs.

The first place we went was a church a few blocks away from Notre Dame called Saint-Séverin. Our chatter fell hushed when we slipped inside, admiring the thirteenth-century gothic style. Apparently, this was one of Willa's favorite places in the city.

When I asked her why, she flashed a devious smile—which was answer enough.

After a trek across the city, we ended up at the Palais Garnier.

"Addie and Holland met here," Willa announced as we walked inside.

I glanced at my sister, who walked through the halls with softening eyes. She traced her fingers along the railing when we walked up the grand staircase. I was relieved I wasn't the only one to sing loudly about a masquerade.

I'd heard the story of how Addie met Holland a dozen times before. He asked her to waltz in a room full of strangers. And my sister, who had never done anything so spontaneous in her life, agreed. It was romantic, even I had to admit.

But I wasn't sure I understood what that might have felt like until I entered the golden room where they met. My jaw fell to the ground. The whole room was decorated in gold, from floor to ceiling—where intricate paintings lay in wait. No less than a dozen chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the room glowed in the late afternoon sunlight.

"I'm sorry," I said, turning in a circle. "You met him here and didn't instantly jump his bones?"

Addie laughed and shook her head. "He was gone as quickly as he appeared. I never expected to see him again."

"Lucky for her, Holland's a bit of a stalker!" Willa sang happily.

We all laughed.

Our third stop was Sophie's favorite place in Paris.

I followed my friends off the metro and up what felt like ten thousand steps—only to discover afterward it was eight flights. We walked around a couple corners, and I watched Sophie's face light up in front of me.

The area was mostly unremarkable, a dingy park with a few trees and benches. A blue wall with white writing came into view, and I paused to take it in. After a moment, I realized the wall said "I love you" in hundreds of languages.

Sophie swung her arms wide to display the wall, her smile wide. "The wall says ‘I love you' in two hundred and fifty languages. It's written three hundred and eleven times."

We settled into a couple benches. Willa pulled a bottle of champagne out of her backpack, and Sophie fetched four plastic flutes from hers. We toasted and each sipped our drinks.

This is what living forever should feel like, Simon had said.

I felt it again, a buzzing deep within me that I'd never noticed before—or, at least, not in a very long time.

Happiness.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I took a long drink of my champagne.

"You alright, Indy?" Addie asked from the other side of the bench.

"I don't want to go home," I admitted when the realization sank into me.

I didn't want that life, not anymore. I suddenly felt like I'd spent so many years doing what I thought was right for me, not what actually was. I loved being a nurse, but I didn't love how much it took away from the rest of my life. And now that I'd discovered what the rest of my life felt like, I didn't want to let it go.

"Welcome to the reason we live here," Sophie said.

I shrugged. "I don't think I'd want to live in Paris. There aren't enough stars."