To Kill a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,39

know I’m not responsible for anything that happens tonight,” he says in a rush against my hair as he pulls out my chair. I throw him a weird look that he promptly ignores and takes a seat at my side.

“This looks perfect,” Luca says, a smile like I’ve never seen before fills her face as she looks at Gabriel.

A pang vibrates through my stomach as I realize he can’t see how happy he makes her. He’s always made her happy without even trying, and he can’t even see it.

“I made your favorite.” Gabriel lifts a silver covering from her plate, revealing what appears to be … fried sausage links.

My stomach turns at the sight of the greasy food, my lip curling slightly.

Whose favorite food is fried sausage?

Luca squeals with delight as she picks up the meat with her hands and begins digging in. Asher shoots me a queasy look, his lip curling before taking a long drink from his glass. I follow suit and take a drink as well. Looks like we’re going to need it tonight.

The drink fizzles over my tongue all the way to my stomach.

“What is this? It’s good,” I tell them before downing the rest of the sweet tingling drink.

“It’s champagne,” Asher says, his arm slipping around my shoulders, brushing his fingers back and forth along my arm.

His silver eyes sparkle, absorbing the clear light of the moon. His crisp, button down shirt reminds me of the shirt he wore on our wedding day.

That day feels so far in the past I almost don’t remember the girl who stood on the cliff, afraid of what might lie in the water below. But he’s the same. He’s the same mystic who always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. We’re starting a revolution together. Because he believed in me and because I trusted him. My chest warms at the memory.

Just as I begin to get lost in Asher’s eyes and the only sound is the continuous and pleased chewing from Luca, Gabriel pushes out his chair and kneels in the dirt as if tying his shoe.

The greasy sausage slips from Luca’s fingers as she stares down at Gabriel in confusion. His red brows arch high; his smile is so wide I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much happiness before.

“Luca Raske, I think I loved you from the moment we met.”

“Gabriel, what the hell are you doing?” Luca’s head tilts as she studies the hybrid at her feet.

“You were fearless. Like an Amazon Goddess. I remember thinking something so perfect could never come from this cursed world. But you did. I want to be there for the rest of your life to remind you how incredible you are.” A smile bites across her lips as her eyes begin to water, and I can’t stop myself from gripping Asher’s hand beneath the table. “Say you’ll marry me, Luca.”

My chest rises and falls, my body coiling with energy as I wait for my friend’s response. I sneak a glance to Asher and realize he’s staring at me. A look of wonder fills his face, and he squeezes my hand just lightly before smiling.

I never thought I’d find love like this. I thought I’d be content but not … not this. I never thought my government would allow me to be this happy. I’ve learned that no one is responsible for your happiness but you.

“When?” is all she manages to say with a shaky breath as she nods repeatedly.

“Right now.”

“Now?” she echoes in a confused voice.

“Asher said he’d marry us. Right now. Tonight.”

Asher’s attention snaps to Gabriel, his smile falling away and replaced with a look of alarm.

“Wait, I never said I’d marry you guys.”

Gabriel and Luca’s happiness doesn’t slip away as they look at him. Gabriel opens his mouth, his straight white teeth displaying his excitement, but I’ll never know what he was about to say.

A shriek scratches through the night like a war call crawling through the darkness.

The sound is high pitched, angry, and monstrous. I know exactly what it is the moment I hear it.

I scramble through the forest, limbs snapping at my flesh, my heels stumbling through the leaves until I’m back at the Infinity witch’s house. With fumbling hands, I shove my bedroom door open so hard it snaps in two right down the middle, and I barrel through it without a second thought. Leaping over the bed, I snatch up the Crimson Sword, and in less than a second I’m tearing