Part 23 (1/2)

”You mean we're really safe? You're going to keep your powers?”

”Yes! Yes!”

She had to keep telling him over and over to convince him. But finally he g ot it and his face changed. Was transformed by his lightning-bolt smile. He squeezed her and shook her and finally jumped out of the jeep and yelled ”

All right! Way to go, Blaise! All right! Yes!”

”Eric!”

He pounded the jeep.

”Eric, get back in, you idiot! There might be Night People around.” Then, st ill laughing uncontrollably with love and grat.i.tude and the relief of tensio n, she said, ”Come in here.” And she held out her arms.

He jumped back in. They fit together perfectly, his arms around her, his brea th against her hair.

”I'm so happy,” he said. ”I love you, witch.”

Thea was laughing and crying at once. ”I love you, too.”

He kissed her temple. She kissed his cheek. Then he kissed her mouth and st ayed there for a long while. And Thea forgot about laughing, forgot that th ere was a world outside the two of them.

And then they sat together in the darkness, resting against each other, just breathing. Safe. Connected.

Thea was with someone who knew her, who saw what she saw. Her soulmate.

And they were free to be with each other, without being hunted, without fear.