Page 92 of Winter Unleashed
“He’s still at my place,” Stella said. “I told him he could stay there as long as he needs to. Without Cybil or Celeste telling him what to do, he’s a little lost.”
“Aw. I’m sure you’ll take good care of him.” I grunted a little and Stella looked at me with narrowed eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s just, um, don’t you find it funny that you have to babysit an ancient and ginormous vampire?”
She relaxed and chuckled lightly. “It is a little funny. He’s just so used to being someone’s pawn he doesn’t know how to live on his own.”
I put my arm around her shoulders to pull her into me. “It’s nice that he has you.”
We fell silent for a long while. The dread of leaving them weighed on me, and I knew if I spoke, I’d cry.
“Liam said we can visit or bring you over to us,” I said when I was sure I wouldn’t burst into tears.
Stella gave me a watery smile. “That’s great.”
“Please don’t cry. If you cry, it’ll make it real, and thenI’llcry, and then I’ll have to hit you.”
She laughed and nudged me with her shoulder. “It just won’t be the same.”
“You’ll be busy helping Philip with the pack,” I reminded her.
Liam had asked Philip to take over as Alpha since the Autumn Beta was not a suitable candidate. They’d had a brief ceremony with the pack to make it official, and Liam’s mind was at ease knowing Philip would take care of things in his absence.
Stella was excited to have something to do with her time. She’d missed working but there was no way she could go back to the Council after everything that had happened. Even after proving she’d been under a spell, they were too afraid of how it would look to the others.
I slid my arm around her waist to pull her closer. “Apparently, we can still call each other.”
“Really? I would never have thought that possible. You’ll be in a totally different… uh…”
“Realm?” Isaac offered.
Stella nodded and pointed at him. “Yeah, that.”
I shrugged. “Liam said I’ll have phone and email access. I’ll even be able to keep writing.”
“Well, that makes me feel a hell of a lot better,” she said around a yawn.
Her eyelids drooped as I felt her body go slack against me. “Stell, you should go to bed,” I said, giving her a gentle shake before calling for Phil.
He popped his head in the gazebo a few seconds later. “You bellowed,” he said with a scowl.
I was always upsetting his views on how females should act, and I loved it. “Aw, did I offend your sensibilities with my slightly raised voice?” I laughed when his scowl deepened. “I’m going to miss you, Phil.”
His features softened for just a second before the frown settled back into place. “I’m sure you will.”
“Take your woman to bed.” I waited for him to step inside the gazebo before launching myself at him. My arms went around his neck and my head rested on his shoulder. “I really will miss you.”
His arms slid around my waist and to my utter surprise, he kissed my head. “I’ll miss you too. You and your horrible etiquette.”
“See, I knew you loved it,” I said with a laugh.
“I do, but it brings me great joy to mess with you.”
“Aw, that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
I watched as he scooped Stella up to carry her back to the house. When he was gone, I turned to Isaac. “And you…” My voice hitched.
“Don’t you dare,” he said pulling me into his arms. “It’s not goodbye, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, but it still sucks.” We held each other for a long time before I remembered about the ring. I leaned back so I could see his face. “Have you asked her yet?”