Epilogue
Two years later.
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Vidar looked out over the green field and blue lake. In the middle of the field several blankets were laid out and there was food arranged in one corner and a pile of presents in the other. Adisa was laughing and chasing Xandra over the grass. She had started to master her vampire abilities and had more control over them. Her blond hair blew in the slight breeze and she giggled. Vidar smiled. His daughter had him wrapped around her little finger. To be honest, the same was true for Caine. The two of them would move heaven and earth to give her what she wanted. To himself he confessed it was lucky that Charlie could maintain a level head when it came to their daughter. Or Xandra would end up as the most spoiled child the world had seen. Henry hurried over towards Xandra and Adisa and started running with what looked like a tennis racket without strings. Giant soap bubbles formed from it and Xandra squealed in happiness.
“Our daughter will sleep like the dead tonight,” Charlie said as she and Caine walked up to Vidar. Vidar put his arms around her and pulled her to him.
“It’s nice to have someone else to drain her energy,” he told them and chuckled as Nasir
hoisted Xandra into the air so she could reach for the bubbles.
“We should have the clan over more often,” Caine said. They all agreed as they walked. towards the blankets Liwei was sitting on a chair. She was almost ready to give birth and no
one had even considered letting her sit on the ground. Jun stood behind her and kept a hand on her shoulder as they watched the play.
“She looks happy,” Liwei said as Vidar helped Charlie to sit down on the blanket and sat next
to her. Caine sat down behind her and she leaned her back on him.
“She is. From the moment she was born she has been a little ray of sunshine,” Charlie agreed.
“Just like her mother,” Vidar said and k*ssed Charlie’s temple. The women laughed. Sometimes Vidar wondered if it all was just one really good dream. His life had changed so much since the day he met Charlie. He never thought he could be this happy. Taking Caine into their relationship had just made everything better. Caine and Vidar had always been close, the step into a relationship had been easy. It helped that they both worshipped Charlie
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Epilogue
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and Xandra with equal passion. Vidar felt safe knowing Caine was keeping an eye on them as well as himself. Together, the four of them had created their own little paradise in the castle. The summers were warm and let them play outside and hunt in the forest. The winters were cold with snow and Vidar was looking forward to teaching Xandra to skate on the lake. When Xandra got older, they might have to move to get closer to some good schools. But for now, the castle was their home.
“That are you thinking of?” Charlie asked him.
“How nice it is here,” he told her.
“It is,” she agreed. Caine smiled and k*ssed her cheek. Adisa, Henry and Nasir made their way back to the blankets with Xandra on Adisa’s shoulders. As he let her down she made her way
to Vidar and climbed into his lap.
“Time for cake?” she asked. The adults laughed.
“No, princess. First we eat food. Then we eat cake,” he reminded her. She didn’t look happy
about it but nodded.
“She is a ball of energy, that one. What are you feeding her?” Henry asked as he sat down.
“Rocket fuel, sugar and caffeine,” Charlie told him.
“That explains it,” Henry said.
“Taking after her mother, isn’t it so, Amaringa?” Adisa asked and everyone looked at Charlie.
“I think she takes after the fathers, and that is not my name,” Charlie said, there was a sigh
from Adisa.
“One of these days we will get it right,” Nasir told her.
“I believe in you,” Charlie answered and Liwei laughed.
“I didn’t see a gift from your parents when we took the gifts out. Don’t tell me they forgot?” Jun asked.
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Epilogue
“Oh no, their gift is in the stables,” Vidar told his friend as he covered his daughter’s cars. He
mimed “P–O–N–Y‘.
“Apparently they thought it was high time,” Charlie said and shook her head.
‘Never too soon to learn,” Nasir agreed.
“I’ll remind you of that when it’s your child,” Caine told him. There was a round of laughter
and they started handing out food. Vidar was happy as he helped Xandra eat her chicken and talked to his friends. A long life didn’t seem as lonely and cold any longer. He had so much he wanted to do with his family. Charlie looked at him and smiled that special true smile she reserved for her family and close friends. He leaned in and k*ssed her, listening to Xandra giggling in his lap. Caine was handing her a slice of apple and when Vidar drew back from Charlie, Xandra was happily munching on it. Things couldn’t get any better, he thought.
The end