Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (6 page)

I start running after the man of my dreams, and without warning
,
I slip on a light dusting of snow on the grass. As my arms and legs flail in the air,
I try to re-catch my footing
—
to no avail
—
and
with a huge thud
land flat on my back. Nathanial races to my side, reaches out his hand and tries to help me up to my feet. Laughing harder than we have in months, I give him a little
tug, and in the blink of an eye
he
’
s flat on the ground
beside
me.

“
My hero, you came to my rescue. Too bad you bailed right alongside of me.
”
I give him a little nudge
,
and we roll around on the fresh snow cove
red ground. After a few giggles
—
and tossing around som
e of the soft cotton
-
like snow
—
we get up and walk over to the gazebo where we can sit and relax for a bit. It
’
s decorated with little white twinkle lights that mimic the stars above. Greenery
,
with white and red flowers
,
wrap
s
around each post and banister. I lean in to take
in
the robust aroma of the roses.
At this moment I realize I
’
ve been set up. With the freezing temp
er
ature roses would never have lasted, Ebony must be behind this somehow
,
and has magickally decorated. It
’
s the only explanation for the roses being in perfect condition. I let a small smile slip
out
, but decide to allow the romance behind this special day take hold of me and keep my suspicions to myself.
The moonlight shines so bright
ly
above us
through the parting clouds that
I can see every little detail. E
ach
beam
of moonlight glistens off the snowflakes
,
ensuring each
miniature ice crystal
’
s
sparkle
. We both sit on the white wooden bench that circles
the interior of the gazebo. This is the
perfect place, with the perfect man
,
o
n a beautiful night.

“
Okay, so
I
’
ll give you that
;
I
’
m having
a blast.
”
I chuckle, trying to brush some of the snow off my jeans before it melts.

“
I know
,
right? Well
,
I kinda wanna talk to you about something.
”
Nathanial takes my hand
,
kissing the back of it and resting it on his knee.

“
What
’
s wrong? This sounds serious.
”

“
Nothing is wrong, but it is serious. See
,
Luke and I have been talking about Nik and his future. We both want him to have what we had growing up.
”

“
Your parents? Look Nate
,
I know how amazing they were, but you can
’
t possibly be thinking of raising them from the dead?
”
I ask with utter shock.

“
Oh
,
hell no
,
Sophia!
That never even crossed my mind.
”
I see that he feels insulted at my assumption.

“
Sorry, hun.
I should have known better.
”

“
No, it
’
s okay. I should have phra
sed that better. What I mean is
—
Luke and I had a wonderful chil
dhood. Our parents were amazing
,
and loved us more than anything. I
…
we
—
Luke and I
—
want the same for Nik
;
two loving parents.
”

“
Of course you do, and you know we all love him as if he were our own.
”

“
I know, but Luke and I though
t
it may be a good idea for him to have t
wo
…
official
…
parents. Well what I mean is
…
”
Nathanial drops to one knee in front of me, sending me into a
fairytale.
“
Sophia, we al
ready have eternity together, but nothing will make me happier than you promising me forever. Our love shines brighter than all the stars in the night sky
,
and although we share so much already, one thing is missing. I want to shout it to the world that you are mine
,
and I am yours. Will you do me the
honor
of becoming my wife?
”
He pulls
out
the most magnificent ring
,
wit
h six of the clearest diamonds
—
one in the center
,
wit
h the other five surrounding it
—
and mounted with pure platinum. The ring resembles the most delicate flower.
“
I picked this ring because you are like a flower to me, always brightening my day
,
and I wanted something that resembled how I feel for you.
”

Tears begin to sting
my eyes
because of his love
,
his soul. Nathanial is the sweetest
,
most loving man I have ever met
,
and I feel so lucky that he has chosen me. Rising from the bench, I pull him up as well.
I
’
m unable to take
my eyes off the brightest blue
eyes
I have ever seen, sparkling brighter than the stars above. Tonight they
penetrat
e
my sole like never before
, I can
’
t help but smile.
Throwing my arms around him
,
I brush my lips across his, sinking deeper and de
eper into the throngs of love
—
r
eal love
, not
the imagined kind that breaks your heart, but the kind that say
s
forever,
‘
y
es
,
I
’
m yours
’
. As our lips part
,
just enough for me to speak
,
I ans
wer
him
with overwhelming happiness
.
“
Of
course I will marry you
!
Oh my G
od
,
I can
’
t believe this,
”
I scream with complete giddiness.

Nathanial smiles, removes
the
promise ring
from my finger on my left hand
and moves it to the right hand. He kisses the engagement ring once
, and then my left hand
a
s he
slips the diamond ring on
my finger.
“
I love you Sophia. Y
ou are my love,
my future, my life, my eternity
—
and now
,
my forever. Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world.
”

“
I have to ask you one thing though. What does us getting married have to do with Nik?
”

“
Oh, I got so wrapped up in what I was going to say
,
I plum forgot. Luke and I are wondering if you would consider adopting Nik with me, making him officially our
son
. This way
he has the parents he deserves
,
and we have the family we always dreamed about.
”

“
Wow, are you serious? Luke is okay with this?
”

“
It was his idea when I told him I wanted to ask you to marry me.
”

“
He knows alread
y? Who else knows?
”
I chuckle, t
hen hear the snow
crunching as footsteps approach
,
and out from the bushes come Luke with a video camera, along with Eliza, Ebony and my entire family
,
including Nik and Ebony
’
s daughter Eyln.
“
You were all in on this? I can
’
t believe you? Who is taking care of the school?
”

Elijah chuckles.
“
M
y dear
,
enough with the questions. We have everything under con
trol. Now answer the poor boy! W
ill you have a family with him and adopt Nik?
”

“
Sorry, sorry
—
of course I will
!
I alread
y think of him as my little man.
”
I smile and take Nik from Matilda
’
s arms. With a soft kiss on his forehead, the tears stream down my f
ace again
,
as complete happiness flows from every inch of my being.
I used to think it was difficult for vampires to cry, but the tears have flowed freely from me over the past few years. I guess I just needed to open my heart to feel real emotion.

Classes

By the end of the weekend
,
all
of
our full-time students
have
arrived and
have
settled into their rooms. Now that it
’
s Monday morning
,
we are getting ready for classes to begin. Florence has been working hard in the kitchen since the early morning to prepare meals for all twenty
-
e
ight students. She opens the
magickally-concealed
dumbwaiter, placing the food inside
and
allowing it to be transported to the dining hall. Just as the entrances to the school are magickally protected
,
so is the dumbwaiter. We can
’
t take any chances of someone finding out about the school
, so each
opening requires the same incantation to open.

“
Florence
,
I think you made way too much food, but it sure looks delicious.
”
I chuckle as she places fresh made rolls, muffins, pancakes and turkey bacon next to the blood porridge, blood sausage, fresh squeezed orange juice and both blood coffee and regular coffee.

“
Well
,
my dear Sophia, I do not know these children yet
,
and
I
what them to start off the school day with a full belly. I think I have something for everyone. Oh
,
before I forget, can you grab the fruit platter
from the refrigerator please
?
”

I do as I
’
m asked
,
and we proceed down to the school to enjoy our first breakfast with everyone.


  

  


Isaac rings the dinner bell
,
and everyone files into the dining hall and plops down at the table. With big eyes
,
they all watch Elijah stan
ding at the head of the table.
He smiles
.
“
On behalf of my family
,
I would like to we
lcome each and every one of you
to our School for the Supernatural. Each one of you are her
e
because you are gifted
,
and we hope to help you learn how to use your gifts to do good. We are so excited to have you here. For now
,
though
,
please enjoy the meal Florence has prepared for you all. The blood food is located at one end of the table and the regular at the o
ther. We want everyone to enjoy
,
but do not want to offend anyone either. So please
—
until our relationships become stronger
,
let
’
s keep the different meals apart. Now
,
please help yourselves and mind your manners.
”