Page 40 of Vampire's Hearth

Aurora

Isat on the chaise in my room, gazing out the window as the light disappeared through the trees. The house was quiet, a stillness settling over everything—a calm before the storm. I considered calling Jade again to let her know what was happening. I was certain she had no idea Aunt Amara had sent Lyra to Kentucky. If she had, Jade and Evangeline would have told me.

The stories I had heard about the four brothers swirled in my mind, merging with everything Mac had revealed. I couldn’t help but wonder—was he telling the truth? The stories held so many similarities, ones I wanted to push from my mind. If he was an O’Cillian… I refused to finish the thought, resolving never to ask, never to know. A tremor went through my entire body. Ourimpending trip meant more time to explore my feelings for Mac—feelings I was struggling to ignore.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts and failing. It was one thing to work closely with him; it was another to start falling for him. But even as I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn’t ignore the flutter of excitement in my chest whenever I thought about him. Just hours ago, I had sat here, my ankle too injured to walk on. Now, it was fully healed, vampire blood—Mac’s blood—coursing through my veins. I couldn’t deny that I felt better—my senses were on high alert. And having that part of Mac running through me filled an odd emptiness I’d never acknowledged before.

Still, I was a witch, drinking the blood of a vampire to heal and I wanted more. It had tasted so right. How many had done this before me? Was Lyra right that the coven would turn against me once they knew? I pushed down the urge to scream.

“Aurora,” snapped my mother’s voice. “Aurora, calm. Find your power. You are the High Priestess Heir, the future of the coven.”

My pounding heart slowed as I grasped onto her words, counting my breaths in and out, focusing on the pendant resting on my chest.

A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, already knowing who it would be. Only Mac would have the courtesy to knock—Lyra would have barged in had she known which room was mine.

As the door creaked open, Mac stepped inside, the soft lamplight casting shadows on his face. My lips curled at the sight of him.

“Is everything set?” I asked, my heart calming further with him near me, his presence soothing my nerves.

He nodded. His voice was calm and steady. “Yes. Are you able to leave now?”

I glanced around the room. There was nothing of mine in here after I had packed it to run earlier. Thankfully, Mac hadn’t called me on the fact I didn’t have a book to read. “I can’t believe it was just this morning that we woke up in the woods.” My chest tightened. And only last night I had met him. How had he drawn me in so fast?

He smiled at me, a warm, genuine expression that made my heart skip a beat. “It was. And tomorrow, you’ll wake up in Ireland.”

I stood, preparing to head back downstairs to where my bag was packed. Mac stepped closer, the space dividing us shrinking. An energy crackled in the air around me.

His eyes searched mine. “Are you sure you’re okay with your cousin coming along?”

I sighed before clenching my jaw. Then it relaxed as I shook my head. “There’s no avoiding it. If that’s what Aunt Amara wants, then it’s what will happen.”

Mac laid a hand on my shoulder, his touch sending a tingle of warmth through me. “And you are the High Priestess Heir.” His voice was soft yet firm—supportive—reminding me of my position as he gazed into my eyes. My backbone straightened as I considered his words.

His hand darted back like he had crossed a forbidden line. He looked at it before allowing it to fall limply at his side. “I digress. If you need anything...” His smile held a warmth I felt in my stomach.

My heart fluttered, the pull between us growing stronger. Was this really happening? I offered him a small smile. “Thank you.” I held his eyes for a moment longer. I didn’t want to admit to him that he was right, that I needed to start stepping into my role. A familiar emptiness filled my core, the fear I would be the end of my coven heavy. How could the coven survive when I had no sister to be Regent?

I broke my gaze from his with a sigh. How could I step into my rightful place when I had already failed? “We should get going,” I whispered. Would I feel different if Mac were by my side?

He nodded, stepping back reluctantly. “Let’s go collect your cousin.”

He led the way down the stairs toward the foyer. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Lyra still brooding in the parlor. “Are you sure she’s down here?”

Mac nodded as we descended the stairs, a playfulness in his voice. “She hasn’t left the parlor. I think I might have scared her.”

I giggled softly. “You probably did. She has no idea you’re not a heartless vampire.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t tell her,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. Although it was only for a minute, it felt good to have a light-hearted exchange.

Lyra sat on the sofa in the parlor, studying the lineage. She looked up as we entered and nodded to the bag Mac set down next to him. “So we’re really going to the home of these murderous vampires?” she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Mac nodded, his expression calm. “We need to leave if we’re to meet the jet on time. Please retrieve your belongings.”

Lyra rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, disappearing upstairs and returning a moment later with her duffel slung over her shoulder. “I wish I’d known we were going somewhere else. I would have packed differently.”

“Don’t worry,” Mac said, shaking his head. “You won’t need anything by the time we get where we’re going.”

“Why not?” I shifted my weight, hesitating as I worried about the fact I had just a few days’ worth of clothing, all of it suitable only for camping and exploring the cave.

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