Mom gasps. “What?”
“During the blackout, a daemon attacked Vyvyan and Vane. She was gravely injured, but my blood healed her. It also temporarily turned her human,” I explain, and Mom listens intently to every word. “She’s a vampire again now. Still, she hadto wait a few days to metabolize my blood before Vane could turn her back to avoid anyone discovering what had happened.”
Mom glances at Vane, who nods. “It’s true.”
“Then we must run some tests. Do you have anywhere you need to be? The president’s lockdown will go into effect soon. We must shelter-in-place to prepare for a war with Lua.” I nod, and Mom’s eyes widen. “Is Wilder okay? I haven’t been able to reach him in Aurora.”
I shrug. “He is with Leigh, so I hope so.”
Mom nods, but fear for her son’s safety and the instability threatening the nation consumes her expression. But she takes a deep breath, saying, “You’ll have to sleep here.” She pulls away from me, turning to the whiteboard. I glance at Vane, who shrugs. We can sleep in one of the on-call rooms at sunrise. “Do you have any idea what this cure means?”
“It will mean nothing unless we find a way to synthesize it and get it to Leigh. It’s the only way to stop this war.” Vane is by my side. His hand finds mine.
Mom’s brow lifts at our interlocked fingers. She undoubtedly wonders about Jaxson, but there’s no time to explain. “Leigh needs the cure?” Mom asks instead.
I nod, my expression grim. “Prince Alden’s mate was turned into a vampire. Leigh will offer him the cure in exchange for peace with Lua.”
Mom’s forehead pinches. “There’s no reliable way to synthesize a stable cure from your blood until I’ve done tests, which could take weeks or longer. We also don’t know how it will work with werewolves.”
My smile fades. “W-what?” I hadn’t considered any of that. Vane and I exchange furrowed glances. Have we already lost?
Mom scribbles on the whiteboard, the marker squeaking against the surface.
“But what if they need the cure soon, like now?” I ask.
Mom glances at me. A shadow crosses her eyes. “The only reliable way would be to take it straight from your veins. You could bring Alden’s mate here, or you could?—”
“Go straight to the patient,” I finish.
Vane squeezes my hand, serving as an anchor in the spinning room. The thought of being at Alden’s mercy, of him taking what he wants from me and then imprisoning me, turns my world on its axis.
“You don’t have to do this, Desiree,” Vane murmurs. “We can find another way.”
But what choice do I have? The fate of my family—both witch and vampire—hangs in the balance.
“Fine,” I say. “Take what you need from me for your research because there’s a possibility you won’t see me for a very long time.”
Mom and I share a loaded stare. After a moment, Mom nods, and her doctor persona takes over. She barks orders to interns and healers, including Juliette, who glares at me from the hallway.
I smile at her. She can’t hurt me anymore.
The Aurora garrison fades away,replaced by an enchanting library I’ve never seen before. Intricate woodwork adorns the walls, the carvings of animals and flora so lifelike they seem poised to leap from the grain. Ancient tomes line the shelves. A fire crackles and pops in a massive hearth. As I move toward the inviting flames, I pass a window that offers a glimpse into a forest of snowy pine trees stretched out beneath an impenetrable black sky.
Alden sits before the fire in an oversized wingback chair, staring affectionately at a beautiful black wolf dozing on the floor, her glossy obsidian fur reflecting the flickering light like a miniature galaxy.
“Where are we?” I ask. I remind myself that I’m not here to trick Alden into working with me. Instead, I am banking on convincing him, despite the dream-like nature of our surroundings, that he should trust me rather than his brother. Revenge won’t give Alden what he truly desires. But I will. If he doesn’t sense I am dreamwalking, I will tell him. This isn’t a ruse.
“The library at the Nocturn Castle,” Alden replies without looking away from the wolf.
This wolf must be Tanith, his mate.
I sag into my chair with the weight of understanding. “I’m sorry,” I say, but the words feel inadequate. What lengths would I go to if Wilder was taken from me? Would I burn the world for him? I can imagine it. But dedicating my life to killing others in the name of one person’s loss would feel like a betrayal of my values. One life isn’t worth more than thousands. “Can you tell me about Tanith?”
If I can get Alden to reflect on his love for his mate and remember the depth of their connection, I can convince him to accept the cure and leave Corona alone.
Alden laughs. The sound chimes through the library. In this setting, he is transformed—at ease.
“You caught me in a sharing mood,” Alden begins, settling into his chair. “Tanith was extremely superstitious, completely obsessed with the concept of luck. She was the eldest of three siblings. Her mother and father were professors; they taught folklore and the magical integration of nature, and many of their beliefs rubbed off on her. She spent most of her life daydreaming of fairy tales.”
