Page 16 of Vampire's Breath

“That sounds just like him,” Conall said before sipping his drink.

I came to just enough to process my brother’s words, the cold weight of the water pressing in on me. Had I called? Told him I wouldn’t help find Aiden or stop him? Well, he was right. I wasn’t getting involved in this war or whatever they were doing. But whatwerethey doing? What was the Cure they mentioned?

I barely finished the thought before it drifted away. An image came to mind—a room I recognized from long ago, when our family was happy—but the television in the corner told me this was not the past. Why was I seeing Oak Leaf Hallow, the home of the High Priestess of the Coven of the Blood? A dark-haired woman sat on the couch, Cormac beside her. Something about the vision felt different. It wasn’t the future; it was the present. This was happening now.

Cormac’s hand reached over to the woman’s abdomen, resting on it. The sunlight sparkled off her hair, my brother’s face calm and resolute. And I heard it, the heartbeat, barely discernible over those of the adults, unmistakably soft and fast. The woman’s eyes were cast down at the floor, every bit of trust given to the vampire beside her, her countenance one of safety and warmth, a stark contrast to the storm raging in my mind.

My eyes flew open, the salt stinging them as I rocketed off the ocean floor. I swam to the shore, grabbed my towel, and tucked it around my waist. The water clung to my skin, chilling me further as I burst into the house. Without thinking twice, I reached for my phone and opened it to Cormac’s number, the one I had stared at so many times, swearing never to call. My thumb pressed down on it.

It rang.

“Hello?” greeted the voice. It gnawed at my heart—a voice I wanted to stay close to but couldn’t let myself.

“Brother.” The word drew out on my lips as my heart pounded. I wanted to be beside him, pull him near me, and beg for forgiveness. But not if it meant getting tied back up into their world. No. I had to stay apart to preserve what I had. I took a breath. “Just coming in from a swim. Congratulations on your wonderful news. However, let it be known, I have no intention of helping you and Conall.”

Cormac’s voice was tight. “Lorcan. How wonderful to hear from you.”

I clicked the button, ending the connection. I couldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have called. I should have thought more before dialing, but it was too late. My hand trembled as I set the phone down, the weight of my rash decision pressing against my chest. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be able to find me.

Briar

Aweek had passed since the party. Amy had declared it “a resounding success” even though we hadn’t raised what we needed. We were several thousand dollars short. The garden center received a lot of positive press in the local newspaper, and it seemed like whenever I turned around, more people were visiting or shopping. A few had even stopped by with donations after reading about our plan.

The sunlight filtered through the office window, casting golden streaks across the cluttered desk, and the scent of aged paper mixed with the faint jasmine wafting through the open window. My heart fluttered as I tried to stifle a smile. A delivery was supposed to arrive—one I was eagerly anticipating because it gave me an excuse. A vision of him floated unbidden intomy mind—again. Lorcan. Such a strange man, yet he had barely been out of my mind since the night of the party. His quiet intensity lingered like the scent of earth after rain, impossible to forget and oddly comforting.

I pulled out my phone to check my agenda for the day, then flipped back to the text he had sent me. “It was lovely to meet such a beautiful soul. Here is the information I promised.” There had been no response yet to the text I sent about coffee. I bit my lip, trying not to read anything into it.

I flipped on the kettle, expecting Amy to stop by soon. Her routine rarely varied—stop here for tea, run along the beach, then head to her yoga studio. I reminded myself to check if any plants at the studio needed re-potting. I would ask her when she arrived. A crisp breeze blew through the window, bringing more of the floral scent into my sanctuary. I looked at the journal on my desk, wondering if I would have time to read more before she arrived. As if my thoughts had summoned her, there was a swift knock on the door before it opened, and Amy’s head appeared.

“Hey, how are you this morning?” she asked, heading straight for the drinks area, where the kettle was already boiling.

“I’m doing well,” I replied, glancing at her as she poured herself a cup. “The old man saltbush should be in today.”

“Oh, the one for Lorcan?” She raised her eyebrows.

Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks at her playful tone. “That one.”

“Have you heard from him about a date?”

I shook my head. “It’s like when I see him, he’s interested in us getting to know each other, but as soon as he walks out that door—nothing.”

“Maybe he’s part of the witness protection program,” she teased with a laugh.

“Yes, because every introvert who doesn’t express an interest in me must be mixed up with some dangerous criminal.” Ichuckled, earning Amy’s grin. “I doubt that’s it.” I took a sip of tea, shaking my head.

She shrugged. “Maybe he’s got a girlfriend?”

My blood ran cold at the thought, but it made some sense.

Amy’s eyes opened wide. “I’m sure that isn’t it, Briar. He’s probably just busy.” She ran her thumb over the handle of her cup. “Okay, other than the delivery, what’s on the schedule for today?”

“I need to check the plants at the yoga studio and see if any new pots are needed.”

Amy sat down across from me. “Definitely one. Why don’t you just head over after your morning stuff? I’ll meet you there after my run.”

“Sure. I should be able to make it back here before the shop opens.”

Amy thrust her chin toward the book on the corner of my desk. “Reading that again?”

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