Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (5 page)

We both laugh
,
and I kiss my
Mom
on the head before going to my part time job.


  

  


With the memory
I shared with my mom, I know I
’
m ready. I
’
ve known Sophia was the one from the start. I just ho
pe that she feels the same. Now
,
all
I have to do is figure out how
—
a
nd when
—
I
’
m gonna do this.

Excitement

Things
st
art to bustle at the school
as
soon as the
students begin to arrive. Eliza remains up at the house with Elijah and
Florence
to gree
t
the
student
s,
and to allow them access through the
magic
k
al
entrance. Once Ben gets settle
d
, Dakota Williams walks in with some of his shape-shifter pack. Shilah, Mika and Makaya are all joining the school, plus D
akota is coming on as a trainer
,
and Skah as a head instructor. I think Dak
ota is more excited than anyone. W
e are all aware of his feelings for Ebony
,
but he always put
s
them to the side. Dakota has been very respectful
of
Ebony
’
s relationship with Matt, but since Matt
’
s passing
,
Dakota
has become
Ebony
’
s support shoulder. Of
course,
Elyn just adores him too, but he doesn
’
t let his feelings get in the
way of their friendship. Dakota
’
s
very aware of the relationship Ebony had with Matt and the possibility of him returning one day
,
once he completes his guardian training. The only issue is
that
not one o
f us knows when Matt may return. I
t could be fifty years fro
m now. I want Ebony to be happy
—
and if she can find that with Dakota, I hope she takes it. I almost feel guilty thinking that. I love Matt
,
and I miss him so much, but she c
an
’
t wait around for him. Only G
od knows how long he will be gone.

“
Dakota, you
’
re finally here,
”
I yell as I run to give him and the other shift
ers a hug. O
f course
,
because of Nik
in the carrier
,
we can
’
t hug too tight. Nathanial is right behind me doing that silly hand shake, half hug thing the guys do.

“
Oh yeah, we
’
re here
. S
o let
’
s get this party started,
”
Shilah cheers while making as
if
he
’
s playing
an
air guitar.

“
I hate to break it to you boys, but this isn
’
t all fun and games. You will have state approved education to still complete as well as your supernatural training and rules to follow. Think of this as a magickal boarding school,
”
I break the news.

“
Come on guys, I will show you your rooms. We can leave the party pooper here
,
for any others that may come today.
”
Nathanial gives me a little nudge and flashes his crooked half smile as he leads the Williams boys to the
ir
dorm rooms.
I can hear him giving the tour.
“
This is the girl
’
s dorm
—
no boys allowed
—
a
nd vice-
versa. The instructors and trainers will live in these rooms
,
between the two dorms. Me and the rest of the Pierce family will reside upstairs, but there
’
s an intercom in case you need us. If for some reason we have guests
,
we have a button to the intercom that will then transfer all transmissions to one of our cell phones.
”

I can
’
t help but smile
;
I think he
’
s really enjoying this
. It will be good for all of us. W
e
’
ll have a stronger purpose to our existence. I mean
,
we
’
ve always followed the Vampiric
Laws
—
and gone over and above
,
by searching for new ways to feed
—
and more recently
,
by assisting the Magnificent Ones in their fight against evil. What more could be asked from us? We want more though
,
and this school is going to give it to us. We now have the ability to share our knowledge and way of life with others; we can teach them and guide them to use their powers for good.

Nate and Dakota return once they get the other boys settled in their rooms. Dakota grabs t
he room assignment from my hand.
“
Why don
’
t you two go and h
ave a night out. There
’
s not
much happening
,
and Skah will be here soon. I can handle things here for a while. Plus
, it is Valentine
’
s D
ay after all.
”

“
I don
’
t know D
akota. A
re you sure?
”

“
Look
,
I
’
m going to be a trainer; I
’
m going to have to handle
the students at some point. R
ight now
, it is just my boys and
that Ben guy. Plus
,
if I need anything Mati
a
nd Alex are in one of the class
rooms
,
setting up
;
I saw them when N
ate gave us the tour. Now Nate
—
take your girl out.
”

Nathanial sweeps me off my feet.
“
Y
ou heard the man. I have to take my gal out.
”

“
Watch the baby, you goofball,
”
I say as Nate gently puts me back down. Matilda comes to see what all the commotion is about, and Dakota explains the plan.

“
That is a great idea. I will take my adorable little nephew.
”

“
Nephew?
”
I give her a questioning look.

“
Well
,
I figure sin
ce you and Nate are raising him
,
t
hat means he is like
my nephew. Is that a problem? I
’
m sorry
,
I just always wanted babies around
,
and now we have two beautiful little ones. I could just eat them up
…
ahh, that
’
s not what I
…
”

We all chuckle at the pun.
“
W
e know that
’
s not what you mean
,
Mati. You don
’
t mind watching him?
”
Nathanial asks.

“
Not a
t all.
I love spending time with little Nik. All the supplies are down here
,
right?

“
Yup, diapers are in the
washroom at the change station
,
and bottles
are
in the
fridge. Thanks a bunch you guys,
”
I say
, handing Nik to Matilda. H
is excitement is palpable as he bounces right into her arms.


  

  


Once we get out of the house, Nathanial drives down to Main Street. I
’
m surprised he want
s
to come here
;
s
o much has happened in this very spot.
“
Nate
,
hun
ny
,
w
hy are we here?
This is where you got attacked
—
and your parents passed here
; there
are
so many bad memories here. W
hy would you want our first night out
i
n a while
to
be
where all the bad stuff happens?
”

“
Yeah, a lot of bad stuff has happened here
, but some good things have happened too. You saved my life here. Y
ou realized that Caspian was still around, and your family saved my little brother here. I don
’
t want to never be able to come to this beautiful park again
without being miserable. I
feel closer to my parents here. It
’
s where their souls left their bodies, and I can still feel them here watching over us. I would love to
make new memories here with you,
”
Nathanial explains as he runs his hands through the long strands of my hair. Then he rests one hand on the back of my neck, pulling me closer until our lips touch.

As our lips move in unison, taking each other in
,
and
I taste
the sweetness on his mouth
,
I
’
m swept away. I never wanted to take his dreams away from him. He worked so hard to get a scholarship to Harvard. He
’
s one of the best football player
s the
east coast
has seen in
years. I can
’
t help but feel that
E
mbracing
him took all that away from him. I know everything happens for a reason
,
and Nik is the true reason behind Nathanial becoming a vampire, but I wanted so much more for him. I guess I should just hope for his happiness now,
since
there
’
s no going back
,
and I
’
m happy I will have him by my
side. With a slight giggle
our lips part
,
and he holds me close.

“
Now that is definitely a good start to a good memory. The only problem is
,
I don
’
t think we can continue with th
is memory in the middle of town,
”
I tease wi
th a little squeeze of his back
side.

“
Yes
,
that sounds great, but it
’
s not quite what I had in mind when I brought you here.
”
He starts walking towards the gazebo, leaving me standing at the edge of the path into the
park
. Out of no
where, light and fluffy
,
feather-
like snowflakes began to fall from the sky. I watch as Nathania
l throws his arms up in the air
a
nd spins around to look at me
,
a
huge smile on his face,
h
is eyes sparkling like diamonds.
“
C
an you believe the timing? So are you going to stand
on that path all long night
,
or
are you gonna follow me?
”
h
e says while walking even closer to the gazebo.