sated and completely at peace in a way she had never known. If she had been lost previously, Daric had found her, surrounded her with a sense of belonging. “I was waiting for you. I just didn’t know it.” Even as the words left her mouth, she knew it was the truth.
“I’m glad you feel that way, love. Because you’re stuck with me. Forever,” he replied roughly, but his arms protected her, cradled her like she was someone precious.
Forever.
Hannah closed her eyes and smiled, deciding that as long as she had Daric, she could live with that.
Chapter 6
Hannah left Temple’s a week later with a wave to her employees and a broad smile on her face. It was nearly the dinner hour and she knew the little pizzeria would get busy shortly, but she had already done her paperwork and she felt comfortable leaving the place to her capable manager and employees. Taking a deep breath of the frigid air that greeted her as she walked out the door, she stopped to watch the sun setting, the massive fireball slowly sinking behind the enormous snow-covered peaks in the distance, allowing darkness to fall in a spectacular, cloudless sky.
Hugging herself tightly as she walked toward her new SUV, purchased by her mate for its elevated safety rating, Hannah’s thoughts drifted. Daric would wake soon, and she wanted to get home. He hated it when she went out while he was in day sleep, and his protective instincts grew worse with every day that passed. Usually, she waited until he woke, going to work in the evening. Sometimes he’d come with her, usually eating his way through the restaurant menu while she was doing paperwork. If he didn’t accompany her, it was because he had business to do with his healers, but he always showed up at some point in the evening, making sure she never left Temple’s by herself in the dark. His presence in the little eatery had chased away the shadows, breathing new life into Temple’s. Or maybe Daric was breathing new life into her, encouraging her to follow her instincts, supportive of anything she really wanted. Hannah went to the restaurant every day determined to keep her father’s memory alive by keeping Temple’s open, but she also wanted to make her own mark on the place, something she had been working on by changing some of the outdated décor and adding some new recipes to the menu.
The peace that Daric had surrounded her with a week ago remained, growing stronger every day she spent with him. Oh, not that life itself was actually peaceful living with a vampire prince. Her mate could be a royal pain in the ass when he didn’t get his way, most of his complaints revolving around her safety, her happiness. It made it hard for her to argue with him when his main concern in life seemed to be her happiness and well-being, even though he growled commands instead of really discussing issues when it came to safety. But even when he was surly and cantankerous, Hannah was happy, accepting her broody vampire prince exactly as he was, because he accepted her with all of her faults. All he seemed to want was her happiness. Like she could not be happy? She was nearly deliriously contented, and Hannah wanted Daric to feel the same joy she felt. It was impossible to put a finger on his feelings, but he was definitely fighting something internally, although he denied it. He was blocking some of his thoughts, and it bothered her, wondering what he was thinking that he couldn’t share or didn’t want her to know.
She halted at her SUV, pressing the button to open the doors of the vehicle. The lights blinked and the short beep sounded to deactivate the alarm, at the same time that what felt like sharp claws wrapped themselves around Hannah’s wrist, preventing her from getting into her vehicle. Hannah backed up in horror, her ass hitting the hood of her vehicle, as a mass of hideous creatures swarmed her, appearing one after the other. Despite her terror, she didn’t have to wonder what the ugly things
“I’m glad you feel that way, love. Because you’re stuck with me. Forever,” he replied roughly, but his arms protected her, cradled her like she was someone precious.
Forever.
Hannah closed her eyes and smiled, deciding that as long as she had Daric, she could live with that.
Chapter 6
Hannah left Temple’s a week later with a wave to her employees and a broad smile on her face. It was nearly the dinner hour and she knew the little pizzeria would get busy shortly, but she had already done her paperwork and she felt comfortable leaving the place to her capable manager and employees. Taking a deep breath of the frigid air that greeted her as she walked out the door, she stopped to watch the sun setting, the massive fireball slowly sinking behind the enormous snow-covered peaks in the distance, allowing darkness to fall in a spectacular, cloudless sky.
Hugging herself tightly as she walked toward her new SUV, purchased by her mate for its elevated safety rating, Hannah’s thoughts drifted. Daric would wake soon, and she wanted to get home. He hated it when she went out while he was in day sleep, and his protective instincts grew worse with every day that passed. Usually, she waited until he woke, going to work in the evening. Sometimes he’d come with her, usually eating his way through the restaurant menu while she was doing paperwork. If he didn’t accompany her, it was because he had business to do with his healers, but he always showed up at some point in the evening, making sure she never left Temple’s by herself in the dark. His presence in the little eatery had chased away the shadows, breathing new life into Temple’s. Or maybe Daric was breathing new life into her, encouraging her to follow her instincts, supportive of anything she really wanted. Hannah went to the restaurant every day determined to keep her father’s memory alive by keeping Temple’s open, but she also wanted to make her own mark on the place, something she had been working on by changing some of the outdated décor and adding some new recipes to the menu.
The peace that Daric had surrounded her with a week ago remained, growing stronger every day she spent with him. Oh, not that life itself was actually peaceful living with a vampire prince. Her mate could be a royal pain in the ass when he didn’t get his way, most of his complaints revolving around her safety, her happiness. It made it hard for her to argue with him when his main concern in life seemed to be her happiness and well-being, even though he growled commands instead of really discussing issues when it came to safety. But even when he was surly and cantankerous, Hannah was happy, accepting her broody vampire prince exactly as he was, because he accepted her with all of her faults. All he seemed to want was her happiness. Like she could not be happy? She was nearly deliriously contented, and Hannah wanted Daric to feel the same joy she felt. It was impossible to put a finger on his feelings, but he was definitely fighting something internally, although he denied it. He was blocking some of his thoughts, and it bothered her, wondering what he was thinking that he couldn’t share or didn’t want her to know.
She halted at her SUV, pressing the button to open the doors of the vehicle. The lights blinked and the short beep sounded to deactivate the alarm, at the same time that what felt like sharp claws wrapped themselves around Hannah’s wrist, preventing her from getting into her vehicle. Hannah backed up in horror, her ass hitting the hood of her vehicle, as a mass of hideous creatures swarmed her, appearing one after the other. Despite her terror, she didn’t have to wonder what the ugly things
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