Page 110 of How a Vampire Fights

“My favorite ice cream flavor is pistachio.”

He gave a mock shudder. “Did not see that one coming. Your palate is usually so on point.”

“Shut up. Pistachio is delicious. Now your turn. Tell me something.”

“My favorite ice cream flavor isnotpistachio.” He laughed when she faked trying to shove him off the roof. “I like anything with a caramel swirl.”

“Honestly, Tai, if you were human you’d have a mouth full of fillings and crowns and whatever else they do to their teeth.”

“But I’m not human, and my perfect teeth are immortalized right here.” He lowered his head to kiss her silver scar again, and her bare toes curled against the shingles. “Now tell me something else.”

She tugged his hand, pressed it to her outer thigh. “You might already know this, but in case you don’t. I’m proud of you, Tai Aksel.”

His shoulders gave a little jump of surprise. “Yeah?”

“Extremely proud. Of how hard you fight. Of how far you’ve come. Of how, even though you lost so much and were so hurt so young, you’re still willing to let people know the real you.”

He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her instead, pulling her closer. Quietly he said, “Thank you.” Then, before she could add anything, he said, “In case you don’t know, I’m proud of you too, beautiful.”

“Me? For what?”

“Well, let’s see. I’m proud of how hard you fight, how far you’ve come. And how you’re willing to face fears that make a lotof sense, given what you lost so young. But you face them down instead of letting them win.”

“Oh,” she whispered. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Thanks.”

Pink sunbeams burst upward from where buildings still hid the sun. Tai turned her in his arms, kissed her one fallen tear, and whispered, “Bloodbound dancing?”

Claire laughed away the rest of the tears. No need for them. His arms were her favorite place to be. Held not too delicately, because she did fight hard, had come far, could indeed face anything she needed to and win. But held with care and love, with regard for the wounds that no longer scared her, because Tai would do his best to handle them with care. And if he ever stepped on her heart, he would make things right, just as she would do for him.

Tai led her in complicated dance steps across the slanted shingled roof where only vampires could possibly keep their footing at all, much less perform a ballroom mashup. They waltzed, then reprised their salsa with the heat turned up, observed only by a few birds in the tree next door as the pink sunrise brightened to orange.

“Let’s always dance like this. For the rest of our lives,” she said. “I will if you will.”

Tai grinned and dipped her over empty space, past the edge of the roof. He brought her back up, and she spun to the end of his arm and back again, palms coming to rest against his chest.

He took her mouth with his, kissed her with the passion of his promise. Against her lips he whispered, “I will.”

Claire nestled in his arms, her favorite place to be. She hoped they would dance together for a thousand years.