Vamps in the City (14 page)

Grant hunted less and less, spending more time with her and his family. Trevor had moved out of the compound and into an apartment in the middle of the city.

Sam had also started to hunt less. He and Tasha had moved in together, and if Paige wasn’t mistaken, she thought the two of them were as deeply in love as she and Grant.

Samantha remained at the compound and had taken a job as Marissa’s assistant.

That left Jess. She’d moved into Grant’s room at the compound. She was working closely with Marissa to control her power. As the most powerful female vampire in the world, Jess had to put up with a lot of fear from others.

After Sam and the team had rescued them from where Grant’s father had taken them through the axis, Jess had to deal with what she’d done. Even though there hadn’t been any other choice, Jess still struggled with the fact that she’d killed her father.

It hadn’t been easy for her, and Paige knew having all the other vampires fear her always weighed heavy on the woman.

As they reached Jess’ old room, Paige felt the other woman pull back. “Why are you bringing me in here?”

Even with as many times as Jess had come to visit her and Grant, she’d never gone upstairs and especially not to her old room.

“Trust me, I have something to show you,” Paige told her and opened the door.

Jess’ old room had been completely redone. They’d bought new furniture and had decorated it in lavender. To add a few personal touches, Paige had placed some of Jess’ belongings and pictures around the room.

“What’s all this?” Jess asked as she entered the room.

“This is yours,” Paige told her.

Jess turned around quickly her eyes wide. “What? What do you mean?”

Paige sat on the bed and patted beside her. Jess followed her direction. “This is your room. Here with us.”

“But—”

Paige shook her head. “Just hear me out.”

When Jess nodded, Paige smiled at her. “Grant and I want you to have your own room here. We want you to know that you are always welcome. When you’re ready to leave the compound, we want you to live here.”

Jess’s eyes teared up and Paige felt for her.

“Why would you want me to live here? I’m a freak!” Jess exclaimed.

Paige just shook her head and patted the younger woman’s hand. “We’re all freaks. But together we are a family. Grant loves you very much. So does Trevor and everyone who knows you. You’re not alone. We want you to be with us.”

Jess laughed out a sob and threw her arms around Paige.

Paige hugged her back. Everything was going to be okay. True, they all may be freaks—the vampires that called the city home. But together they could overcome anything. They’d protect the humans that didn’t know about them. They’d make a place for the newly changed to have the comfort and answers that were needed after being turned.

They had a long adventure ahead of them. Finding out that there were vamps in the city was just the beginning. With the close group of friends she’d made, Paige knew they could conquer any demons that came along.

For the first time in her life, she had hope for the future.

At a soft sound, she looked up to see Grant leaning against the doorframe. Love shone in his eyes, and she knew it was for her.

It didn’t get any better than this.