Page 27 of Vampire's Hearth

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze uncompromising and unyielding. “You need to find that lineage and bring it home, just like Amara instructed.”

My heated blood rose in my chest. My heart hammered against its cage of bone, anger and a sense of betrayal flooding my veins. “Did you miss the part where my ankle is busted, and I can barely walk?” Although she couldn’t see it, I pointed at my leg, the throbbing pain shooting up to emphasize my point.

“Call a rideshare.” Her voice was dismissive before shaking her head and looking away. Her eyes narrowed when she looked back and spoke, and her lips pursed as if she suddenly realized something important. “Why is your ankle still busted?”

An icy trickle of unease crept up my spine. “What do you mean? I have the herbs on it, but it needs a day or two to heal.”

Evangeline cocked her head. “So much for your vampire ‘friend.’ All it takes is a few drops of vampire blood to heal you. Why hasn’t he offered it if he just wants to help?” Her words dripped with a skepticism customarily reserved for teenagers, yet I was about to enter my twenty-fourth year. Was Evangeline right that no matter how comfortable I was with him, Mac was capable of unspeakable things?

My pulse quickened as my thoughts returned to Evangeline’s suggestion, but I kept my voice calm and soft. “Aunt Amara has always said it is dangerous to have vampire blood.”

Evangeline’s voice was matter-of-fact, as though she were reading from a textbook on supernatural physiology. The cold logic of it made my skin crawl.“Vampire blood degrades as it heals. You must have enough to heal your body and sustain a transition. A few drops will heal but not allow you to turn. I’m sure a thousand-year-old vampire knows this, but you are easier to control if you aren’t healed.”

I shook my head. “If he wanted to control me, he wouldn’t have left me with all of my ingredients for spells.” My voice was firmer, the unease replaced by anger as I defended him.

Her gaze was piercing as she leaned forward. “You need to find that lineage and come home.” Even through the screen, the force of her will was palpable, leaving no room for arguments.

I tried anyway. “But—” I bit my lip, searching for the right words to convince her, but they all died on my tongue.

Jade shrank back at Evangeline’s side as her mother’s voice was firm. “No. You say he wants to work together but hasn’t told you why. Think about it, Rory. There has to be something he isn’t telling you. Vampires don’t just help.” Evangeline’s scoff was low, her disdain clear as she threw her hands in the air. Her voice softened just a fraction, as though she was genuinely worried despite her harsh tone.“Where is he now?”

I pointed absently, turning my head toward the window. My heart sped up as his silhouette broke through the dark waters. I struggled to control my expression. “He’s outside swimming,” I said.

Evangeline’s eyes grew wide. Her voice rose, disbelief etched on her face. “We’ve been on the phone while he’s outside? You could have been finding the lineage instead of having this conversation.”

I clenched my jaw. My answer matched the intensity of her question. “We don’t even know what to do when we find the Cure. Don’t we need Mac to help us figure it out?”

Her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward, her fingers tapping against the table she sat at. “It has the lynx crest on it, yes?”

I nodded at her question.

“Whoever stole it knew it was important because when they buried it, they protected it. You need to find it and come home. The ancestors will guide us. We don’t need a vampire.” Her voice was almost pleading now, a crack of desperation breaking through.

“But I—” The words caught in my throat as she cut me off with a look.

Evangeline’s eyebrows knitted together, and her lips became a thin line. Her voice softened, making my chest tighten with guilt. “We don’t know who or what he is, and the more you try to convince me, the more concerned I get.” She sucked in a sharp breath, her expression shifting from skepticism to something closer to fear. “You need to get the lineage and come home. It is time we finally stop these vampires for good.” Her voice was urgent, the intensity of her gaze locking on mine, making it clear there would be no more arguments.

I looked out at the dock. Mac’s pants were still lying there. My heart sank as I made my decision. I could feel my eyes narrow. “I thought our job was to maintain the balance. We’re the neutralparty between the hunters and the vampires, never taking a side, simply connecting to the blood. Isn’t that how it goes?”

“Until the hunter’s arrow didn’t hurt one of them, and the Charleston coven showed up on our doorstep. To maintain balance, we must find and handle him ourselves. And whatever vampire stands in our way will feel our wrath.”

“Maybe we could use the help this once,” I muttered.

Evangeline sighed. Her body angled toward the phone, making it look like she wanted to reach through it and wrap her arms around me. “Even when completely neutral, we don’t work with vampires. It doesn’t matter if they desire the same outcome. Working with them is to side with evil.”

“We’ve teamed up with the hunters. Maybe it’s time to rebalance.”

Evangeline couldn’t mask the pain my statement caused.

“I’ll be home soon.” Blood boiling under my skin, I slammed my finger down on the red button. I knew we shouldn’t have involved Evangeline. Now, she would tell Aunt Amara, and I’d have to answer to her, too. The crutches clicked as I gathered my belongings and shoved them into my bag.

I wondered how long Mac usually swam before I hobbled back to the chaise, propping my knee on the soft cushion. His pants still lay in a small rumpled mess on the dock. The scent of the burning sage I had left on the vanity wafted over me. Mac would be able to re-enter the room when the sage burned out. I tried to forget that I was leaving without saying thank you or goodbye as I stopped myself from scribbling him a note.

I grabbed my backpack from the end of the bed and slung it on my back, trying to find balance on the crutches. Slowly, I hobbled down the hallway, pushing the anger out of my head. I could be angry later once I got out of here. Putting my crutches in one hand, I hopped down the long stairway, dropping my bag on the floor when I reached the bottom.

The foyer opened into a parlor, and I found myself captivated by the room’s elegance as I entered it. Wide wooden floorboards disappeared beneath a dark red and cream area rug. The high ceilings, intended to capture the oppressive Southern heat, lent an air of grandeur. A chandelier hung overhead, not yet needed, as the sunlight streamed through the windows, making shadows dance across the room.

I removed the pendulum from my neck and maneuvered the chain through the ring on my finger, which allowed me to hold on to my crutch as it hung freely. I concentrated on the lineage—how I connected to it, how it felt in my hands, and, most importantly, my blood on the pages. I brought to mind the joy that would fill me when it was in my hands again. The pendulum swung. I felt the crystal begin to pull and move, playing a strange game of hot or cold.

---