Page 92 of Vampire's Hearth

Jade shook her head, her eyes soft. “I saw how he looked at you when they pulled him away. He was fighting.” Her words should have reassured me, but they didn’t, as a hint of doubt crept into my mind. Had I misread everything? Was I so lost in my feelings for him I couldn’t see the truth?

“Maybe he’s just an excellent actor,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jade’s expression softened further. “Did he ever actually lie to you?”

The question hung between us. I opened my mouth to answer, but the truth lodged in my throat. Had he lied? He’d evaded and skirted around specific topics, but had he ever looked me in the eye and said something that wasn’t true?

I wasn’t sure. And that uncertainty unnerved me more than anything else. “By omission, yes. But I don’t think he ever outright lied. He answered questions, but only just enough. And he never told me he was an O’Cillian.”

“If you had known, would you have gone with him?”

“No.” I almost laughed at her question. “Of course not.”

“Don’t you think that might have something to do with why he didn’t tell you?” Jade’s voice was soft, but it struck a nerve.

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone casual. “Maybe. Their family doesn’t exactly have the best reputation.” I let out a hollow laugh. “The most terrifying part is that Mac’s just as lost as the rest of us.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because he’s so invested in finding the Cure. When Isla showed us the grimoire, he was the one who let it go with Lyra.Deep down, it was like he knew that without the coven, he’d never find the Cure.”

Jade smiled, a hint of admiration in her eyes. “We didn’t even know it was missing.”

“Exactly. Without him, we’d have only had the lineage and no idea where to look.” As I spoke, I felt the weight of my doubts lifted, piece by piece. I had never wanted to trust a vampire, but somewhere along the way, that had changed. And more than anything, I wanted to find him. No, I needed to.

A surge of resolve rippled through me. I would find him, no matter what dangers or secrets lurked in the shadows ahead, and I knew the truth. We settled back as the plane taxied. I shifted in the tiny seat, the stiff pleather rubbing and poking against my skin. Eventually, I rested my head on Jade’s shoulder. It would be a long flight, but I knew that when we landed, we’d be one step closer to the manor—and Mac.

Several hours later, I woke to find a blanket draped over me and a pillow beneath my head. I blinked, adjusting to the dim cabin light, and realized I was asleep against the window. I’d been far more comfortable in Mac’s bed on his plane.

The memory of that luxurious warmth—the safety from the silk sheets and whispered promises—gave way to a world distant and dangerous. I sighed, a flicker of guilt surging up my back for longing for something associated with him, especially when everything between us was shrouded in uncertainty.

Most passengers around me were awake, some reading, others preparing for landing. Sitting next to me, Jade had a book open in front of her, but she closed it as soon as she noticed I was awake. “Well, look who finally woke up. Do you feel any better?” she asked.

I rubbed my face, blinking away the last vestiges of sleep. “Yeah, I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

“They’re about to come around to collect everything before we land,” she said. “I was going to wake you in a minute, anyway.”

“That was a good nap, then.” I smiled at her.

Jade grinned back. “There may have been a little magic involved.”

I laughed. “You spelled me?” I thought back to the juice she had given me at the start of the flight and shook my head. “You aren’t supposed to spell your High Priestess,” I said, the sarcasm dripping from my tongue.

She shrugged. “You needed it. So much has happened; this was the only time you could clear your head and rest. I know Amara’s funeral was hard for you. And I’m sure you haven’t slept well since Mac has been gone.”

I squeezed Jade’s hand as I adjusted in my seat. She had stood beside me for so long, supported my every move, and now she was beside me as we rushed headlong into finding Mac. My heart warmed as I realized how much I cherished her being by my side. Would things have turned out differently had Aunt Amara sent Jade after me instead of Lyra?

I shook my head with a smile, knowing that Jade had given me exactly what I needed. “You’re right, but next time, tell me.”

“Would you have taken it if I had?”

“No, probably not,” I admitted, laughing with her.

The fasten seat belt sign illuminated, and the pilot’s voice echoed through the cabin, alerting us to prepare for landing. Jade held my hand as the plane touched down.

We made our way through the airport with our carry-on luggage. We decided not to bring too much in case we couldn’t find Conall and needed to return immediately. We found the car Evangeline had arranged and piled into it.

As we pulled up past the gates of Dún Na Farraige, I looked over the soft green landscape. The sun was setting beside us,painting the sky with reds and purples. Fear crept into my heart. What if Conall wasn’t here?

---