And even though it’s not the first time I’ve seen him, I still can’t stop the gasp from escaping my throat. Still can’t stop myself from drinking in the astonishing sight of him.

He removes my clothes too. Fingers moving deftly, expertly, far more practiced than mine. And it’s not long before there’s nothing left between us—neither physical, nor mystical.

There is only he and I.

No barriers of any kind.

He anchors his leg over me, around me, until his body covers mine. My insides quivering with tingle and heat as I shutter my eyes to the warmth of him, the feel of him, then lazily lifting my lids to find his gaze burning into me. The two of us pulled into the hypnotic lull and sway of each other, and it’s not long before he reaches down and joins us together.

Joins us in the way of Alrik and Adelina.

Joins us in the way we’ve dreamed of all this time.

But it’s so much better than anything that went before.

Because this is real.

This is right.

A final confirmation that we’re made for each other.

Meant to be together.

Always and forever.

Our bodies rising, lifting, soaring high, then higher stil—the moment growing, expanding, holding for as long as it wil… until we collapse into the warmth of each other, and the ceiling bursts open, and a deluge of beautiful red tulips comes raining down.

Chapter forty-four

I roll onto my side, edge closer to him, allowing my fingers to follow the trail from his chest to his abdomen and down lower still. Amazed by the actual feel of him, his warm and wonderful being—wondering how I managed without it so long.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, his lips nipping the lobe of my ear.

“Oh, you know…” I smile flirtatiously, my pinkie inching back up, finding his navel and navigating the perimeter, as he laughs and pulls me onto his chest. Planting a kiss on the top of my head as my mind fills with one single word: Content.

I am totally and completely content.

I’m also happy, relaxed, and at peace.

I have everything I could ever want.

My life is complete.

I gaze up at him, wishing we could linger, drag this out for as long as we can, but Damen has other plans, claims we’ve got somewhere important to be.

“I’ll miss this place,” he says, getting to his feet and stepping over the carpet of tulip petals that kept raining down until they covered the floor.

“Don’t sound so final. It’s not like it’s going anywhere.” I smile. “Unless, we’re going somewhere? Are we going somewhere?” I peer at him, hoping for a clue. But he’s wearing his very best poker face, which means there is no getting through.

I shrug, slip into the dress I was smart enough to manifest earlier, since it’s not like I’m willing to wear that winged costume again.

Then as soon as we’re dressed, he grabs my hand and leads me to the window, the two of us watching the waves crash against the rocks far below.

“Do you still see it?” He glances at me.

I nod, then, trying something I was too nervous (not to mention too preoccupied) to try earlier, I think: Do you?

He looks at me, smiles, and thinks: Yes. And, even better, we can still hear each other!

I lean against him, wondering how long it will last. Knowing the vibrating colors, the lyrical hum of the universe will eventually fade.

Even when Misa and Marco and Rafe raved about the experience, it was in the past tense. Still, though it may fade from sight, it’ll never fade from my mind. Now that we know the truth of everything, the way the universe works, the world will continue to be as magical and amazing as ever, even for mortals like us.

“Ready?” he asks, hand grasped with mine, the blur of our combined energy all the proof that I need that we are one with each other—one with everything.

I nod, walking alongside him as we make our way to my car. Experiencing a moment of panic when I try to start it with my mind like I usually do, then relaxing once I remember I’d had the foresight to bring the key along, since from what I can tell, that sort of mental magick no longer works.

And when Damen tries to manifest a tulip for me, sadly, it never makes it past the vision he holds in his head. But before he can really start to feel bad, I’m quick to remind him that if it’s true what they say about the universe, that thoughts truly do create, then that tulip will show up eventually.

When we arrive at my house, I dash up the stairs and head straight for my closet, busying myself with throwing a bag together, while Damen heads for the den, calling out, “What should I do with all this?”

I zip the duffle closed and swing it over my shoulder, glad to see I’ve still got at least some of my immortal strength and stamina since I basically threw in everything that would fit.

I go to where he stands, seeing him point toward the bottles of elixir still stored in my mini-fridge. Only their numbers have greatly diminished from the last time I looked.

I slip around the counter, dropping to my knees as I conduct a quick mental count. A count I repeat again and again—each time coming to the same startling conclusion: Not all of the immortals went for the fruit.

“I was thinking we should destroy them, or at least keep them under lock and key. I’d hate for them to get in the wrong hands, or even unsuspecting hands, you know?” Damen turns to face me. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, alerted by my expression.

“It used to be full.” I look at him. “When I left the party, it was full. And now…” I shake my head, place my hand against my stomach, starting to feel a little ill. “I was really hoping to convince them—all of them. But maybe I left too early? Maybe I should’ve stuck around a little longer?”