For a long while, we sit in silence, content for the most part, but there’s no denying the heaviness that oppresses the air around us.
“Why do you think the werewolves didn’t save you?” I finally ask.
“They didn’t want to become involved. I’m not sure how many werewolves there were. Maybe they were outnumbered.”
“Or maybe our secret has gotten out. Maybe the vampires and the werewolves know, but why didn’t they go after me?”
Julian pulls away and gives me a look.
“Because I’m a woman?”
“Perhaps, or maybe because of your parents.”
I stiffen. “If my father finds out about you…”
“Do you think he’ll kill me?”
“I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. He will be furious with me as it is because of the whole Constantine situation. He doesn’t appreciate it when I disobey him. Normally, I try to get around what he wants, skating the line, but with this…”
“It doesn’t matter what he wants, what the vampires what, what the werewolves want,” Julian says, drawing me close to him. “I love you, and you saved my life.”
“Julian, that doesn’t mean anything,” I protest.
“You saved my life not once but twice. You have changed my life entirely.”
I just shake my head. “Maybe we should end this now. If you were to be killed…”
"No." His eyes are full of compassion, even if his tone is a tad bit sharp. "I understand why you're worried, but we aren't going to give up, to give in to fear."
“I love you too much to lose you,” I say desperately.
“With how much we love each other, is it possible to end this?” he asks with a chuckle.
“No,” I admit, glaring at him. “This is all your fault.”
“My fault? What did I do?”
“You made me love you by being Mr. Hero.”
“You’re my hero,” he says. I guess that means we’re perfect for each other.”
Despite the chaos, despite the uncertainty, despite the outside world fighting our being together, we can’t stop it. We’re two people sharing a soul, and we have to be together.
In life.
And in death.
I lay my head on his shoulder. “Maybe when I die, I’ll become the moon. Maybe there have been others like us before, other doomed lovers like Ambrogio and Selene. It’s possible each doomed female became the new Selene, the new moon. I’ll shine down on you, and we can be together always, even if I die.”
“You’re so romantic,” he teases.
“What I am is yours.”
“No matter what the future holds, we will find a way to be together. The werewolves won’t keep us apart. The vampires won’t. Your parents, mine… Nothing and no one.”
“Our love might launch a war.”
“Maybe some wars are necessary,” he counters. “What follows war?”
“Famine. Bankruptcy. Death. Mental illness.”
“Peace, silly.” He kisses my forehead.
I blush and nudge against him. “I know that’s what you were getting at. I didn’t mean to ruin your point. Yes, war can lead to peace, but that peace might be short-lived, and that peace might also come at too high of a cost. The vampires and werewolves haven’t gotten along forever, and they’re just going to use us as an excuse to renew their fight.”
“What they do is on them.”
“Julian? You can’t say that!” I exclaim.
He chuckles. “Everything worked out.”
“And if it hadn’t?”
“Why worry about what didn’t happen?”
“The future—”
“Is what we will make of it.”
I mock glare at him.
“The present is all that matters.”
“But we can’t just stay here forever.”
“One day, we will live together. We will build a future for ourselves,” he promises.
“But—”
“No buts.” He touches his finger to my lips. “For now, I have to find a way to pay you back.”
“Pay me back? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Can I pay you back in kisses?”
“Hmm.” I tap a finger to my cheek. “Let me think about that. I suppose kisses might work.”
“I love you, Romelia. No matter what.”
“I’ll always love you, Julian.”
And we have a wonderful day together, a stolen day filled with promises and kisses. When we part, it’s sorrowful and bittersweet but also not entirely terrible as a certain phrase keeps replaying in my mind.
“I love you, Romelia.”
Together, we can get through anything. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, but who knows what tomorrow and next year will bring.
Romelia’s and Julian’s love story continues with Year Two, available for preorder now!
The Blood Haven trilogy is part of my A Mayhem of Magic World Story universe which starts with my Bedlam in Bethlehem series. It’s so much fun to keep expanding this world!
Please consider leaving a review if you enjoyed Year One! I love to read my reviews. Thank you!
Until next book,
~Nicole
Other Books By Nicole Zoltack
Bedlam in Bethlehem series
Cops plus supernatural creatures
The Vampire Hunter Tribulations
Magical Hunters Academy trilogy
A school for paranormal teens to train to fight evil creatures
Blood Haven Academy trilogy
A paranormal retelling of Romeo and Juliet
Year One
Year Two - available for preorder
Year Three - available for preorder
Magical Prison trilogy
A fairy tries to free her twin from prison and save the world
Rebel, Supernatural Bounty Hunter trilogy
A human hunts supernaturals
Magic Incarnate Series
Magic + Faith + Teens
Heroes of Falledge trilogy
A superhero struggles to find love and save his town
Age of Dragons Series
A tale of lost magic and dragon riders
Once Upon a Darkened Night Series
Twisted Fairy Tales
The Queenmaker Series
YA Female King Arthur Retelling
The Winged Beast Chronicles
Dragons enslave humans.
Magical Awakening written as Nicole Beyer
Friends attempt to save a friend from a magical sickness
A Magical Sickness
A Magical Adventure
A Magical Misadventure
A Magical Awareness
A Magical Journey
A Magical Odyssey
A Magical Disaster
A Magical Crisis
Beyond Boundaries
Can love cross class boundaries?
Masked Love
Starry Love
Standalones
Moonstruck
Gender-bent Cinderella set in NOLA
Dark Hunt
Vampires vs witches vs humans
Bloodlust
Epic fantasy with forbidden love
Not on Her Watch
A military romance
The Test of Time
Unpredictable time travel
Love Before Honor
Medieval knight. Regency lady. Magical Christmas.
Joy to the World
One lady. Two dukes, one an imposter
Christmas Kisses
Two gentlemen, only one Lady Anna’s mother approves of
Starving for Love
The Little Mermaid with a zombie twist
Guns and Fangs
A vampire huntress turns into that which she hates
About the Author
Nicole Zoltack is a USA Today bestselling author who loves to write romances. Of course. She did marry her first kiss, after all!
When she’s not
writing about knights, superheroes, or witches, she enjoys spending time with her loving husband, three energetic young boys, and precious baby girl. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV shows are The Witcher and Stranger Things.
Sign up for her newsletter to learn when her next book is released as well as excerpts, cover reveals, and giveaways!
For more information
www.NicoleZoltack.com
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
First and always, I have to thank my husband. I’m sure it can’t be easy being married to a writer, and I am so appreciative of all the support over the years. I love you, Todd! Thank you to my wonderful children for understanding that Mommy has work she has to do, but she still does and always will love you!
To some of the best writer friends a girl could ever have. You know who you are and I can’t wait until we can retreat again!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wonderful street team. You keep me going, and I’m writing for you and for all of my fans. Thank you for all you do for me!
And finally, I want to acknowledge my readers. You are why I write. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. So please keep reading, all right?
Author’s Note
Hi, readers! I absolutely hate proofreading errors. My editor, proofreaders, and I try to find them all, but sometimes, a few will slip through. If you find any, please feel free to email at [email protected] or message me on FB with the errors. I’ll correct the file as soon as I can get to it!
Oh, and if you’d like, feel free to tell me anything else you like—something about the stories, the characters, if there’s any story you would want me to tell?
Finally, if you would like to join my beta reader team or my ARC team, be sure to mention that too!
I’m off to write the next book!
~Nicole
Blood Haven: Year One: A Mayhem of Magic World Story Page 20
