19. James

JAMES

The grand hall of Chillingham Castle loomed before us, its ancient walls emanating a sense of power and mystery. Rose leaned on me, her breaths mostly gasps as she looked around at the historical building as we made our way inside.

“James,” Rose whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the imposing architecture of the Vampire Intelligence Agency’s headquarters. “It’s beautiful. And you’re telling me that all the tourists who come here don’t see half of it.”

“Nope, only those in the VIA, the immortals and very special humans like you.” My voice was rough with pride. This was my world, and now, it was hers too.

The great oak doors swung open, revealing Ms. Primrose standing there, his seemingly unassuming demeanor at odds with the gravity of the situation. She smiled warmly at us, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint.

“Ah, James, Rose,” she said, striding forward to meet us. “I’m glad to see you made it back in one piece... more or less.”

“Ms. Primrose,” I nodded, holding Rose closer to me. I sensed her anxiety grow, her pulse quickening beneath my touch. We’d been summoned by V, himself and the balance of our futures were in his hands.

A notification on her computer dinged and she tilted her head. “He’s ready for you, go on in.”

“Thank you.”

The doors swung open and even though I’d been with the VIA for hundreds of years, this was a threshold, I’d never crossed.?The inner sanctum of the First Vampire himself, head of the Agency.

The vampire who stood behind the desk, looking through a pile of books was not what I expected. I’d seen this agent on half a dozen cases I worked, and yet I didn’t know his name. This couldn’t be V. He was as unassuming as any other vampire in the world.

That is until we caught his attention, and I felt the full force of the one who had created my entire race.

Holy shit. I almost fell down on my knees under his presence and power. Rose just smiled and held out her hand to him.

“Oh, hi. Nice to see you again,” she said as if she was greeting an old acquaintance.

V took her hand, his warm returning smile warm. “Ah, Rose. Your bravery and skill in rescuing Princess Mary of Orange and foiling the plot of Anna, the Bathory Assassin, have not gone unnoticed.”

Rose blushed at the praise, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride on her behalf. I’d thrown an entire world of supernatural crazy at her in the span of less than a week, and she’d faced them head-on and emerged triumphant. She was truly remarkable.

“Couldn’t have done it without James,” she said, her tone light and jovial.

“Indeed,” V agreed, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before turning to me. “You’ve both done exceptionally well. The Agency is fortunate to have you.”

Uh. So, I wasn’t getting fired, or excommunicated, or whatever V did to vampires who found their Serenity?

“Rose, your courage and resourcefulness have been nothing short of extraordinary,” he said. “It is clear that you’ve earned a place among us.”

Her eyes widened with a mix of disbelief and excitement. She glanced at me, as if looking for something - reassurance or permission, perhaps. I gave her a small nod, hoping to convey my support for whatever choice she made. After all, this was her journey as much as it was mine.

“Thank you, V,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I... I never imagined I could be a part of something like this.”

She looked every bit the heroine who had just conquered her own fears and taken down an assassin in the process. I could feel the weight of V’s words as he continued to praise her.

“Your actions speak for themselves, Rose,” V replied, his voice gentle yet firm. “I’d like you to become one of VIA’s permanent assets, working side by side with James on special missions, directly for me.”

Special missions.

I’d heard of other vampires tapped for this division of VIA. Few ever saw them again. But I knew they were out there working their asses off, because I’d relied on their intel more than a time or two.

Rose’s?chest expanded and fell with each deep breath she took pondering her choice, her fingers entwined together with mine as if to keep herself grounded.

“James?” she finally asked, her voice the very opposite of tentative. “What do you think?”

This woman who had stormed into my life and irrevocably changed it was definitely something special. I would stand by her no matter what she decided she wanted to do. But I did hope she’d pick becoming an agent with me.

“Rose,” I began, my voice low and steady, “I believe in you. I know you can do this. And I’ll be with you every step of the way. If you want to do this, it will be a grand adventure for you and I.”

Our gazes locked, and a flicker of determination ignited within her. It was that same fire that had first caught my attention, the spark that had drawn me to her like a moth to a flame.

“Alright,” she said, her voice strong and confident. “I accept. On one condition. I get to bring my best friend Jorge into the know. I can’t keep secrets from him, and I won’t cut him out of my life.”

“Excellent. I accept your conditions. I have plans for young Jorge.” V smiled, his eyes crinkling with genuine happiness. “Welcome to our society, Rose. Together, we’ll face whatever challenges lie ahead and protect this world we’ve come to cherish.”

“Rose, you have a perfect cover story,” I said with a grin. “A couture designer by day, and a spy by night. I can’t think of anyone better suited for this world.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement, the initial hesitation slowly fading away. I could see her mind already racing with ideas, eagerly imagining the thrilling adventures that awaited us.

“Thank you.” She smiled at me with such love and radiance I almost threw her over my shoulder to carry her off and have my way with her. Almost.

V stepped forward, his smile turning serious. “Now, if you’ll allow me, Rose, let me formally welcome you into our immortal world.”

He produced a small box from within his coat pocket and opened it, revealing a pin in the shape of a bat with its wings outstretched. The intricate black silver design matched my own, and shimmered in the dim light of his office, as if infused with an otherworldly power.

“Take this pin, Rose,” V said, his voice solemn yet gentle. “Wear it as a symbol of your acceptance and newfound status among us.”

As Rose reached out to accept the pin, I felt a strange sensation wash over me - a mix of anticipation and trepidation, knowing that our lives were about to change irrevocably. But as I glanced at the woman beside me, her eyes alight with determination, I knew that together, we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

“Ooh, accessories.” Rose whispered, her fingers carefully closing around the pin. Rose’s fingers trembled as she fastened the pin to the collar of her blouse. She looked over at me, a fire kindled in her eyes, and I knew, without any doubt, that she had found her place among us. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.” V waved us away. “See Ms. Primrose for your first assignment. And tell her to send in Gabriel. I have an assignment I want him to take our young Silvanus on.”

And so, with the weight of our shared destiny upon our shoulders, Rose and I left the grand hall hand in hand, ready to embrace the unknown and protect the family we had found in each other.

“James,” she breathed, her voice steady with newfound confidence, “I feel a surge of power running through me, like I’ve tapped into something ancient and unyielding.”

“Embrace it, Rose,” I urged her gently, my own heart swelling with pride. “This is where you belong, and I am honored to stand by your side as we face this world together.”

Our gazes locked, and for a moment, we were suspended in time, the weight of our shared destiny anchoring us to each other. The love that had blossomed between us was palpable, its tendrils weaving around our hearts, binding us closer than any mortal bond ever could.

As we stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, the grand hall seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in our sacred space. We leaned in, drawn together like magnets, our lips meeting in a tender kiss that promised a lifetime of devotion and passion.

“Whatever lies ahead,” I vowed, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes, “we will face it together, hand in hand, heart to heart.”

“Nothing can break us apart,” Rose agreed, her voice filled with determination. “We are bound by love, and that, my dearest James, is the strongest force in this world - mortal or immortal.”

With our promises exchanged and our hearts aligned, we stepped away from each other, a renewed sense of purpose coursing through our veins. The unknown may have loomed before us, but together, we were a force to be reckoned with - a pair forged in love, tempered by courage, and destined to protect the family we had found in each other.

“James,” she murmured, her cheeks flushed with emotion, “before all this happened, I never imagined that I would find someone like you, someone who sees me for who I truly am, who believes in my strengths and accepts my flaws.”

“Rose,” I whispered, my chest tightening at her words, “you have given me something I never thought possible for a creature like me, a reason to live, to hope, and to embrace the world anew.”

I leaned in for a quick kiss, not wanting to start something we couldn’t finish here in the castle where too many eyes watched.?”Though I must admit, I never thought I’d meet a woman like you.”

“Like me?” she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“Beautiful, talented, and unafraid of the darkness within,” I replied softly, my eyes locking onto hers.

“Ah, but James,” she whispered, leaning in closer. “The darkness only makes the light shine brighter.”