“We’ll keep that in mind,” I say, smiling. “If we need to do it, if things start to get dangerous, we’ll all leave and take all the animals with us, I promise. For now, though, let’s just watch what happens.”
“I’ll feel better if we have a plan, just in case,” she says.
I roll my eyes.
“I swear, you and Dane are way too similar,” I complain. “The two of you are going to gang up on me forever, aren’t you? If you’re that worried, talk to him; I’m sure the same thing has already occurred to him. I’m sure between the two of you, you can find somewhere that the three of us can go if we need to.”
Luciana grins at me.
“Thanks,” she says. “Sorry, I just don’t want us to be looking over our shoulders forever. It’s always good to have a backup plan.”
She brings our coffee to the table, and then she pulls something out of her pocket. At first, I just see the long silver chain. And then I see the small vial of blue liquid swinging from it.
“Here,” she says. “For you. I have one for Dane, too. You guys need to make sure you have these on you at all times, okay?”
“I promise,” I say, taking the necklace. “I’ll wear it always.”
I slip the chain over my head. It’s the symbol of her dedication to help Dane and I, and a symbol of what has kept me here when I should have died. I’ll never lose it.
“Dane will be happy,” I add. “He gets far more paranoid than me. Having this should relax him.”
“Not too much, I hope,” she says, eyeing me. “We still need to be wary.”
I can’t help but laugh. Yes, Dane and Luciana together are probably going to drive me up the wall before long. They’re both far too serious and plan orientated, while I prefer to live in the moment.
But that’s okay. The two of them are my family, now, and I certainly wouldn’t have them any other way.
“We’ll be careful,” I promise again. “And we’ll make all the plans the two of you are comfortable with, I swear. We won’t get caught off guard again.”
And, I add to myself silently, I’ll keep an eye on Luciana. Now that I know she’s a psychic, she’s vulnerable to the Supernaturals and Hunters, too, and she doesn’t have a ready way to return to life if she’s killed. I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that, even if it means living with Dane and Luciana’s strict rules forever.
It’ll be worth it to make sure the two of them are always safe.
I smile.
“Ready to have breakfast and start the day?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says with a return smile, curling her hands around her coffee. “You better eat quickly, or I’ll leave you behind.”
I laugh. Today is the start of the rest of our lives, and I won’t take this for granted ever again. It’s the two of us, along with Dane, against the world.
It’s everything I ever could have wanted.