Thegardenshimmersaroundus, familiar roses and herbs replacing the cold stone walls of Lucien’s mansion. My legs wobble, and I steady myself against a weathered trellis, the thorny vines scraping my palm.
“Kara, I just—” His fingertips are so close to my face that I can feel their heat, and it sends a jolt through me that has nothing to do with magic. I can still feel the phantom press of his arms around me from minutes ago when he pulled me from that unholy trap. The memory of his strength, the way he moved with inhuman speed to reach me before the walls closed in…
I shake my head, trying to clear it. This is ridiculous. He’s a vampire. The enemy. Even if hedidsave my life, even if there was that strange spark when our powers connected as we fought our way out…
His thumb hovers over my skin, and I catch my breath. There’s something about his presence that makes my magic hum beneath my skin, like it recognizes something in him. Something that calls to me on a level I don’t understand.
I look up, meeting those striking indigo eyes. For a moment, the garden fades away, and I’m hyper-aware of how close we’re standing, how his hand could touch me if he moved a fraction.
“Kara! Oh, thank the goddess!”
My mother’s voice shatters the moment. I jerk away from Marcus, my cheeks burning as I turn to see her hurrying across the lawn. Her relief quickly morphs into anger as she takes in my disheveled appearance.
“What were you thinking?” Her voice rises with each word. “Running off alone like that? You could have been killed!”
Dad follows behind her, his face a mask of quiet disappointment that hits me harder than Mom’s anger ever could. He doesn’t say anything, just looks at me with those deep green eyes that seem to strip me down to the girl I once was.
“I had to try something,” I snap, but the words don’t ring true; I was an idiot, and I know it. “We can’t just sit around while Gran—”
“While Gran what?” Mom cuts me off. “Gets killed because you rushed in without thinking?”
Rowan and Mia hover on the patio, their worried faces making my stomach twist. Even Rowan, who’s usually quick to jump into action, looks concerned. Darick stands behind them, his expression unreadable as he observes the scene.
“Inside. Now.” Dad’s voice is quiet but leaves no room for argument.
I shoot Marcus a glare, daring him to say something, but he just inclines his head slightly. The gesture somehow manages to be both respectful and irritating at the same time.
The walk to the house feels longer than it should, each step weighted with the knowledge that I’ve disappointed them all. Mom’s anger I can handle – it’s Dad’s silence that cuts deepest. He’s always believed in me, trusted my judgment. Now I’m not so sure. To be honest, I don’t trust it myself anymore.
We file into the house, the familiar scent of herbs and magic doing nothing to ease the tension in the air.
“Explain.” Dad’s voice is firm but gentle as we gather in the living room. I sink into the armchair, feeling small under everyone’s stares.
“I… I shadow-jumped to Lucien’s estate.” The words tumble out. “We were talking about it being a likely place for him to hold her, so I had to see for myself. And when I got there, I thought I sensed traces of Gran’s magic, so I followed them inside.” My fingers twist in my lap. “There was this room that seemed to have her essence all over it…”
I pause, my throat tightening as I remember the walls closing in, the crushing pressure, the absolute certainty that I was going to die alone in that trap. Before I can continue, Marcus steps forward from where he’s been leaning against the doorframe.
“The trace was artificially planted,” he says smoothly. “A sophisticated lure designed to draw in anyone searching for Evelyn. Kara recognized the deception quickly, but not before the trap was sprung.” His eyes meet mine for a brief moment. “We were able to combine our abilities to break free and gather valuable intelligence about Lucien’s methods.”
I stare at him, thrown by how he’s transformed my reckless mission into something almost…competent. He doesn’t mention my screaming for help or how close those walls came to killing me. Instead, he makes it sound like we were working together the whole time.
I feel a strange warmth in my chest as I watch him defend my actions to my family. He has no reason to protect my dignity likethis. If anything, he should be throwing me under the bus for ignoring his warnings.
“The important thing,” Marcus continues, “is that we now know that Lucien has planted traps like this in all of his properties. We overheard a couple of guards discussing the details. He’s preparing for us to go looking for Evelyn.”
I can’t help but notice how he keeps saying “we” like we’re some kind of team. The memory of our energies combining to break free flashes through my mind. I push the thought away.
“Just as we suspected,” Darick says from his position near the window. His ice-blue eyes narrow. “Lucien’s been fortifying his holdings for weeks now. Our sources reported increased activity, but we couldn’t confirm the exact nature of the modifications.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this earlier?” I snap, my frustration bubbling over. The remnants of fear from being trapped still course through my veins, making me edgy.
Marcus gives me a pointed look. “If you had waited instead of charging in alone, we would have briefed you on our intelligence.”
The others look at him curiously, and I hold my breath, waiting for the inevitable questions. Thankfully, they don’t come.
I hate that he’s right. I hate even more how his calm rationality makes my impulsiveness stand out in stark contrast. Mom’s disapproving sigh only reinforces the point.
“The traps are sophisticated,” Marcus continues, addressing the room. “They’re designed to recognize magical signatures and adapt accordingly. What Kara encountered was just one variation.”
