Chapter 629: Freed

I let the shield drop completely as the vampires around me either collapsed or stood stunned, looking around at each other, blinking, waking as though from a terrible dream. Uncle Frank came forward, hugged me, tall, strong body shaking.

"Love you," he whispered into my hair before turning to Gram and hugging her, too.

Sunny just stared at me with horror growing in her eyes, both hands clutching at her skirt, giant fistfuls of satin crushed under her grip. I stepped into her space, slid my arms around her and squeezed her, let her feel my love for her even as the gem with the taint pulsed softly in my fist.

She hugged me back, but it took some time, hands finally releasing their death grip on her skirt, rising to press against my back, cold cheek on mine.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Sunny," I leaned back. "What happened?"

She shook her head, frown creasing her flawless face as she sank to the step behind her, head in her hands. "I don't know," she said. Uncle Frank joined her, t