Winter Born by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

ever abandoned again.”
    He took her hand into his and kissed her as love for her overwhelmed him.
    He thrust against her hard and furiously as she repeated her vows to him and he returned them to her.
    This time when his teeth grew, he pulled back to stare down at her an instant before he sank his fangs into her neck.
    Pandora arched her back as the pain of his bite quickly turned to pleasure. Her head spinning, she sank her own teeth into his shoulder.
    For that one instant in time, every thought and emotion Dante felt coursed through her.
    Any doubt she’d ever had about him fled as she felt his love for her, and it ignited her own.
    This was what was meant to be.
    He was hers and she was his.
    She cried out as she came in a fierce wave of pleasure. Dante’s own growl of pleasure filled her ears.
    Joined together, they drifted through the ribbons of ecstasy until they were fully drained and spent.
    Dante collapsed on top of her and she cuddled him in her arms. “I love you, Dante,” she breathed. “And I promise I’ll never again leave you.”
    He smiled languidly as he stared at her. “I love you, too, Pandora, and anytime you want to leave, I’ll gladly go with you.”

Epilogue
    In the Marriott’s lobby, Dante stood off to the side with Acheron while everyone at the hotel was packing up to leave. All the Klingons, Storm Troopers, fairies, and so on were now in normal dress with only scattered parts of their costumes evident as, one by one, they returned to real life.
    Dragon*Con was over.
    Just like Ash had promised him a year ago when he told him to come to Atlanta, it had been a remarkable weekend that would stay with him forever.
    â€œYou knew Pandora would be here when you told me to come, didn’t you?” he asked the Atlantean.
    Ash shrugged. “There’s always room for error, but yeah. I did.”
    â€œYou’re a scary SOB.”
    Ash laughed.
    Dante felt Pandora’s presence behind him.
    Turning, he saw her and Simi coming over to them.
    Simi was beaming as she carried a wide collection of bags. “I gots my last bit of shopping done,” she announced proudly. “You should be glad, Dante, your panther-woman don’t buy much.”
    â€œYou know you could have spent whatever you wanted,” he said to Pandora.
    â€œI know, but all I wanted was this.”
    He frowned as she handed him a small wooden box. “What is it?”
    â€œOpen it and see. I bought it just for you.”
    Dante opened it to find what appeared to be a bell-shaped necklace. “I don’t get it,” he said.
    Pandora took the necklace out and placed it around his neck. “This is just in case you ever again have to fight someone else. Next time, I’ll know which panther you are and I won’t accidentally cut your head off. I plan on living a long, long life with you, Mr. Pontis. And no one, not even you, is going to stop me.”

 
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this short story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
    WINTER BORN . Copyright 2016 by Sherrilyn Kenyon. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.