Page 23 of Rescued By the Vexed Vampire

I looked at Bethany, the woman who had changed everything, and I knew there was only one answer. “More sure than ever,” I said, my voice steady.

Delilah nodded, and with a simple gesture, I felt the weight of the curse lift from my shoulders. It was as if a chain I hadn’t known was binding me had finally been broken, and for the first time in centuries, I felt...free.

Gabriel turned to Bethany, his eyes kind. “Now it’s your turn,” he said softly. “You’ve earned your wings back, Bethany. You helped Drake and Lily find their ways home by opening your heart. Would you like to come with me now to your heavenly home?”

Bethany looked at me, her eyes searching mine, and in that moment, I saw her make her choice.

“I don’t want to go to heaven,” she said, her voice steady. “At least, not yet. I’m in love with Drake, and I’ve realized that I don’t need to be perfect to be happy. All I need is love. I want to make the most of my time here, instead of hurrying to what comes next. My parents can wait a little longer.”

Gabriel nodded, his smile widening. “Indeed. Your wish is granted,” he said, squeezing Delilah to his side. “We wish you both well.”

And with that, they lifted their hands in a wave and disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a faint shimmer in the air.

I turned to Bethany, my heart pounding in my chest, and without another word, I pulled her into my arms, holding her close as we both tried to process everything that had just happened.

“It’s over,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “And I’m staying. For good.”

Bethany smiled up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You mean, it’s just beginning.”

And as I pressed my lips to hers, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. This was the end of one story, but the beginning of something new. Something beautiful. Something real. And at last, I was ready.

Epilogue

Bethany

One year later, life in Sweetberry Hollow had settled into a rhythm so beautiful, it was hard to believe it was real. Looking back, the past twelve months felt like something out of a fairytale—a twisted, chaotic, absolutely wonderful fairytale. The small town was thriving, and the little candy shop at its heart, Sugar Rush, had blossomed into a community hub. Not just a place to buy candy, but a place to share stories, to create memories, and to enjoy the small, sweet moments that made life special.

Drake and I had taken over the shop together. After everything that happened, he decided to buy out the franchise and make it ours. He’d told me that he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, and I felt the same. We raised wages, hired more staff, and gave our little corner of the world a new purpose.Sugar Rush had become a place where people came to feel like they were part of something bigger—a place where smiles were plentiful, and candy was never in short supply.

I took on the official role of Head of Human Resources. It was a title that meant more than just managing people’s paychecks; it was about making sure everyone felt valued and seen. I loved it. Drake handled the business operations and kept an eye on growth and strategy, with the occasional brooding glare at spreadsheets when he thought no one was looking.

Noah was thriving as the lead pastry chef, creating masterpieces that had customers flocking to the shop from all over. His “Miss Scrumptious Originals” line of candies was a huge hit. From chocolate sculptures to intricately designed truffles, every piece had his flair, his heart, and a little bit of his trademark sparkle.

Alice was now our marketing executive, and she had turned out to be a natural. Her flyers and social media campaigns were whimsical and heartfelt, perfectly capturing the spirit of Sugar Rush. And she had a new beau, a lovely man named Ed who owned the cozy bookstore down the street. I’d never seen Alice so happy, and it warmed my heart to see her laugh and blush whenever she talked about him.

But it was really when I introduced Drake to Gran that I knew he was a keeper. The two of them took to each other like peanut butter and jelly, and Drake even enjoyed taking Gran for walks, and window-shopping along the square, trading jokes all along the way. Even Moonbeam deigned to grace him with her majestic feline presence.

And now, Halloween was rolling around again, and the town was buzzing with anticipation. We had outdone ourselves with the shop decorations—glowing jack-o’-lanterns, strands of twinkling autumn leaves, and displays filled with seasonalcandies that Noah had crafted with painstaking care. The windows were full of caramel-dipped apples, marshmallow ghost pops, and tiny chocolate coffins filled with sweet surprises. Kids in costumes pressed their noses against the glass, their eyes wide with wonder, while parents held their little hands and pointed out their favorite treats.

It was perfect.

And yet, there was something more in the air this year—a feeling of excitement that had nothing to do with candy or decorations. It was something else, something that sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine whenever I thought about the future.

The day before Halloween, Drake was acting a little...strange. He’d been disappearing at odd intervals, leaving Noah and Alice to handle the shop while he ran mysterious errands. I didn’t think much of it, assuming he was probably just preparing for the Halloween rush. I was used to his mysterious ways by now.

But I wasn’t prepared for what he had planned.

It was late in the afternoon when he came back, his coat dusted with leaves and his eyes bright with excitement. He walked over to where I was helping a customer decide between two bags of chocolate-covered popcorn, and he flashed me a grin that made my heart skip a beat.

“Hey,” he said, his voice holding a hint of amusement. “Got a minute?”

“Always,” I replied, handing the customer the popcorn they’d chosen and excusing myself. “What’s up?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped candy. It was an intricate chocolate rose, the petals delicate and gleaming with a hint of edible shimmer. Iimmediately knew it was one of Noah’s creations—one of the specialties he reserved for special occasions.

“For you, my angel,” Drake said, holding it out to me with an almost boyish grin.

I raised an eyebrow, taking the candy cautiously. “What’s the occasion?”