I Am Only One {Mature Vampire Romance}

Epilogue Part Two

Tarquin's brilliant smile was back. His head bobbed up and down as he breathed happily, "Of course, Papa!"

Brialle knew it was no punishment as well. She spoke evenly, her tone a warning, "Armand..."

Armand glanced up at her and quickly added to Tarquin, "And stop running from your mother."

Brialle shook her head, giving up, and muttered, "You spoil him."

Armand's eyes opened in feigned innocence. "What? I gave him a punishment."

She sighed, "Just set him down. He needs to finish getting dressed."

Armand placed Tarquin on his feet. He was wearing black pants with black boots...and no shirt, his bare chest revealing an exact replica of Armand's lion family crest. I smiled to myself. He was so much like Armand. Rarely could Armand be found with anything covering his chest.

Brialle held out a little white button-down dress shirt, and motioned Tarquin forward. He reluctantly walked to her, and whined, "Aw, mommy...do I have to?" From his pitiful tone, you'd think she'd just asked him to walk over hot coals.

"Yes, son...even Papa is wearing a shirt today, see?"

Tarquin didn't bother to look back at Armand. He'd already seen, and clearly wasn't impressed with his father's attire. His bottom lip jutted out into a pout. But he dutifully pushed his arms through the sleeves as she held it out.

Shifting his weight impatiently, he waited for Brialle to button up the offensive garment, and then appeared appalled, gritting his teeth, when she had the nerve to tuck it in.

Released from his torture, Tarquin happily ran to where we were sitting on the couches, and launched himself into Talon's lap. Talon caught him easily, grinning, "What's up, little Lion?"

"You gonna train me 'morrow? Papa says I get an extra hour."

I chuckled. Yeah, he definitely didn't consider the extra hour a punishment.

Talon rubbed his chin, pretending to seriously consider the matter. Tarquin waited with bated breath. He adored Talon. Next to Armand, he thought Talon hung the moon. And Talon was just as crazy for the little guy. Finally, after leaving him in enough suspense, Talon's grin widened. "I think I can make that happen."

Tarquin clapped his hands and squealed, "Yay!"

Everyone laughed, tickled by his infectious good humor. Of course, there'd been no doubt Talon would be working with him tomorrow. Armand took every opportunity, visiting several times a year, to have Talon work with him throwing knives. The little boy was actually quite talented. Even in his pint-size body, he was strong with remarkably good aim.

Brialle walked over to us with Armand at her side. They sat down on an adjoining couch to our right, just as Talia and Alaric walked through the door. I jumped to my feet and ran across the room, pulling her into a tight hug. Well, as close as I could get, given her swollen belly. "I'm so excited to see you again!"

Her lips curled up gently as I pulled away, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. She exhaled softly, "Me too."

Neither one of us mentioned the obvious—the last time we'd seen each other was at his father's funeral. Alaric wrapped an arm around her back supportively. She looked up, and when their eyes met, a wave of unspoken words flickered between them—pain, support and love.

My anxiety spiked, but I pushed it back, forcing my expression to remain happy. I worried about her. I worried about both of them. It was only four weeks ago that Alaric's father, King Quinn, died at the hands of Skoldr.