Page 90 of Vampire's Hearth

Together, the three of us walked down the hall to the groom’s library.

Scarlett’s voice floated through the door. “No, you can’t take it.”

“And why not?” hissed Lyra. “The only thing Aurora is going to do is give it back to the vampires and watch this coven burn.”

“The High Priestess is the only one who can open it. It wouldn’t matter if I gave it to you or not.”

“Why is everyone always protecting her? Can’t you see she’s going to destroy us? She’s going to allow those monsters to continue to live. The balance will be destroyed.”

Evangeline pushed the door open. Scarlett stood toe-to-toe with Lyra, clutching the grimoire to her chest. Relief visibly washed over her when she saw the three of us.

“I’ll take that for the High Priestess,” said Evangeline, walking directly to Scarlett and taking the book. Scarlett nodded.

“Why are you all doing this?” screeched Lyra. “I can’t believe you would follow her!” She stormed out of the room and out the back, the door slamming closed behind her as she stalked into the darkness.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” asked Scarlett, her eyes gazing in the direction Lyra went.

Evangeline nodded. “I think she will. It will just take her some time.”

Valentina walked into the room, leaning on her cane. “She’s lost too much, too fast. It’s understandable that she’s lost her way.”

I looked out the door, wishing for the cousin of my youth—when we would play in the gardens together, taking turns with Jade on who would be “it” during a game of hide-and-seek. Nothing would be the same again; her mother was no longer here to guide us both.

“What did I interrupt?” asked Valentina, raising an eyebrow.

I smiled at her as she shuffled to a chair. “We just came in to get the grimoire. We need to figure out what our next step is.”

Valentina nodded. “That is what Amara would want. What is your heart telling you to do?”

Scarlett smiled. “That is an excellent question.”

I shook my head. Why was everyone telling me to follow my heart? Was it fair that my heart was screaming I needed to find Mac? Not Mac—Cormac O’Cillian. My soul was filled with fearafter not hearing from him. Where was he? I lowered my voice. “Is it horrible that my heart is telling me to find Mac?”

Evangeline shook her head. “Your greatest gift will be your ability to listen to your intuition and follow it. If your heart is telling you to find Mac, there is a reason. Just as there is a reason you fell in love with him.”

I shot glances at the other two crones, who smiled at Evangeline’s comment. “You are all fine with your High Priestess loving a vampire?”

Valentina looked at me, compassion in her eyes. “There is a reason—something bigger than any of us—at play here. Amara knew it, and we promised to help you see it through.”

The truth of her words settled over me like a cloak, heavy but comforting. I had to follow my heart. It was the only thing that would guide me. I took a deep breath and nodded. “I know what I have to do next.”

Jade jumped in with our earlier thought. “We need to go to Conall O’Cillian in Waterford. We need more O’Cillian blood to find Mac, and we need to understand the spell to find the Cure.”

I could feel the unease ripple through the group. My stomach twisted at the idea of facing Conall again, of asking him to give more than he’d already sacrificed—his brother. But Jade was right. We didn’t have time to be delicate about this.

My voice was firmer now. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning. Jade and I will go to the manor. I’ll try to talk to Conall, but we have to be prepared for him not to be there. Or for him to refuse.”

Valentina knit her brows together, always the cautious one. “Do you really think an O’Cillian will help?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to steady the nerves that threatened to overwhelm me. “There is nothing we can do without him. And I need to know the truth about Cormac. How much of our relationship was a show?”

Valentina gave a slow, approving nod. “Then it’s settled. You’ll leave tomorrow. We’ll handle the coven—and Lyra. May the ancestors guide you both.”

The others nodded as Evangeline handed me the grimoire. I clutched it to my chest. “The two of you should go to the dinner but get home early. I’ll make the flight arrangements for you.”

I nodded and looked at Jade. She took my hand and led me along the familiar path back to the bridal suite, where I put the book into my bag. Together, we started the walk upstairs. The din of people talking floated down the stairs as I halted at the bottom, turning to my friend.

“Do you think we’ll find him?” I asked, my voice low, uncertainty creeping into my words.

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