Page 104 of Vampire's Hearth

I looked at the drawer and sighed. We had brought it down here to get away from the suffocating feeling that sometimes embraced me when I spent too long in her room. Someday, the air would clear out, and my aunt’s spirit would no longer feel tied to the space. Until then, I would go through her remaining belongings here in the parlor. I gazed into the drawer. Several pieces of jewelry were mixed with my aunt’s hair ties and bobby pins, haphazardly thrown in and mixed with other trinkets.

I sifted the mess through my fingers, a necklace hooking on one. I held it up, a smile claiming my lips. My eyes flickered to Cormac, and my voice caught in my throat. “I remember this necklace. My aunt used to wear it when she was going somewhere fun, like a carnival.”

I lowered it into my palm and wrapped my fingers around it. Memories of her laughter flowed through me, the background full of music and people talking. The smell of the funnel cakes she would buy for Lyra and me wafted through the air, the sound of the dried grass crunching beneath our feet as we hurried to the next attraction echoing in my mind.

Cormac put his hand on my knee, steady and warm. “It sounds lovely,” he said before gesturing to the drawer. His eyes filled with understanding as he watched the emotions cross my face. “But what are you going to do about the rest of it?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Once I make sure there’s nothing else worthwhile in here—like this necklace—I’ll end up throwing it all away.” The words felt heavy on my chest. How could I throw away pieces of my aunt’s life? But I knew I had to let go.

His eyes held mine for a moment, offering silent support as I braced myself.

I pushed all the hair things to the side when something caught my eye at the bottom of the drawer. It flipped down after being held up by a hairpin. The soft clink of the metal hitting the bottom of the drawer drew out a faint echo.

“What’s this?” I said. I reached in and found an envelope with my name on it. My breath caught as I pulled it out, my fingers trembling as I held it.

Cormac tilted his head. “It’s like she knew you would find it.”

My vision blurred as emotions surged, her absence more palpable than it had been in weeks. “I’m sure she knew I would,” I whispered.

I turned it over, slid my finger under the edge, and ripped it open. The tearing paper seemed impossibly loud before I pulled the folded letter from its confines. It was written in my aunt’s eclectic, curly, and loopy handwriting—reflecting everything shehad been. The familiar curves of the letters brought a fresh wave of grief as I ran my fingers over the page.

My heart pounded in my chest and my breath stuttered as I sat back to read it aloud.

Dear Aurora,

If you’re reading this letter, then I know I am gone. I put you on a plane to Kentucky this morning, telling you to find the cave to bring home the way to find the vampire. Sometimes being the High Priestess is so very difficult because you know things that are going to happen that you wish you could change. And I know that by the time you’re reading this, what I wish I could change is that I was sitting right there next to you.

But what I would never want to change is whoissitting there next to you.

Her words made me look up. Cormac met my gaze, his eyes full of caring and love. He offered me a soft, reassuring smile that lifted a bit of weight from my shoulders. I focused again on the page.

The vampire sitting next to you is supposed to be there, your destinies pulled together by fate. You are where you are supposed to be, my child. It has only been in the past few weeks that I’ve understood something more about our coven—something we have forgotten. But something we will learn—with you as the High Priestess and him at your side. I don’t need to tell you this because fate would not allow it anyway, but never let him go, Aurora. He is yours. Together, you will finish what was started centuries ago.

The coven is safe with you. And with him. And with the Heir. The curse will be no more.

You are always one of my sister witches, and if you ever need to find me or your mother, you know how. Until we walk in the land of the ancestors together—which could be a very, verylong time away for you—remember to find us and to hold us safe.

I love you, my child.

Amara

I looked at Cormac, shaking my head. “She knew,” I breathed. “She knew we were mates.”

He simply smiled. “How could she not?” he whispered before pecking my lips.

I was still confused. “What does she mean ‘The curse will be no more’? We never learned how to create a vampiric witch.”

Cormac wrapped his arms around me, pulling my head to his shoulder. I sank into the comfort of it. I had been so tired and relished a few minutes of silence.

“Wait.” Cormac pushed me away from him, his eyes wide as he peered down at me. “Do you hear that?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, concerned by the look of confusion that twisted his face. “Hear what?”

He reached out and placed his hand on my abdomen, the warmth of his touch seeping into my body. “Shhh...” He closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest. I didn’t even breathe as a smile came to his lips.

“Rory.” His voice was soft, filled with awe and wonder.

My breath caught in my throat as his fingers curled softly into my flesh. “No. I am not.”

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