Page 43 of Vampire's Hearth

“Ladies, after you,” Mac said, gesturing to the stairs.

I shook my head in disbelief as I climbed aboard, the shock drawing me away from any confusion over Mac’s strange conversation. We walked through a narrow hallway, shiny faux wood on our right with a chair tucked into a nook below it. On our left, a glass inlaid cabinet showed crystal glasses and dinnerware above a counter with a small sink in it. We emerged into an opulent cabin with soft brown leather chairs and woodwork matching the galley. In the front, on each side, were two chairs facing each other. The next section featured a bar with a television on the left and a table with two-person benches on each side on the right. Through a wide door, I could see a finalsection with a sofa on the left, but I could not make out what was hidden beyond the wall on the right.

“Make yourselves comfortable.” Mac’s voice floated down the hallway. “I’ll join you in a moment.”

His voice settled me. I searched for a burning in my finger, wondering if he was attempting to use compulsion, but there was none. I didn’t want to admit that he was the element of comfort that kept my heart from pounding in my chest. I took a seat in the first chair to the left, my back against the galley wall. Lyra sat diagonally to me in the second chair on the right.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be traveling like this?” she mused.

I shook my head. “Certainly not me.”

It was a rare moment of calm between us.

“Hey.” I knit my brows together, not wanting to admit I didn’t know what was happening. “Did you see anything odd about the tail of the plane?”

She shook her head. “No, just blue. Did the vampire blood affect your eyesight?” she jeered.

I laid my head back on the seat, keeping my eyes on her. Her eyes flitted about the plane.

“Are you nervous?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Nervous about what?”

She took a deep breath. “We’re going to meet one of the O’Cillians. You know, a vampire turned by his parents. One of the most evil families our coven has ever heard stories of. And we’re trusting another vampire to keep us safe. Doesn’t that worry you?”

I shook my head. It made little sense, but I wasn’t worried. Apprehensive, yes, but it felt like I was following the path I was always meant to travel. Andhewas with me. A warmth flowed through my chest. “Mac has done nothing but watch out for me. I don’t think he’d put us in danger now.” I strained to hear hisvoice, which I could just make out as he spoke to Jacob at the front of the plane. I wondered when he would join us, eager to have him near me.

“Excuse me,” said Dani as she walked past us, wheeling the bags from the trunk on a small cart. I watched as she maneuvered through the door, opening a door toward the tail of the plane.

Lyra’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Do you think his story about the O’Cillians and the coven being related is true?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll have to talk to your mother once we get a chance. She might know something as the High Priestess Regent that she hasn’t shared with us.”

Lyra narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying my mother would hide something from the coven?”

“I’m saying there are things she hasn’t told everyone. As High Priestess Heir, she’s shared things with me that aren’t common knowledge.”

“Like what?”

I shook my head, searching for one that was innocuous. “Like the visions she has. Things that come to her which she doesn’t tell everyone.”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “She’d trust me with that before you.”

“You can believe what you want, Lyra. I’m just telling you what I know.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared into the darkness of the window, seeing nothing but a reflection, Lyra’s insecurity annoying me.

I covered my mouth to stifle a yawn as Mac stepped out from behind me. He was followed by another blond man in a dark suit. Mac had just inhaled to say something when Jacob stood beside me, his cap nowhere to be seen.

“Excuse me, sir, all our plans have been cleared. Are you ready to go?” Jacob asked.

Mac nodded. “Yes. Ladies, this is Paul, the first mate, and you met Jacob before boarding. Dani is putting our bags in storage, but you can get to them through the aft lavatory. Questions?”

Lyra flashed Mac a playful smile. “Just one. Why don’t you sit with me?” She pointed at the seat in front of her.

Mac raised his brow as his eyes met mine. I could tell we were both wondering what she was up to. “I think I’ll sit in the back and let the two of you talk,” he said.

Jacob smiled at us. “We’ll let you get all that worked out. Paul, let’s get in the sky.”

Mac nodded. “I’ll have Dani bring you both blood in a few hours.”

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