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I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to find out if I possessed the same immunity to such wounds, but how did it come to be if that was the case? One thing had become abundantly clear: my parents knew about the Cure. There was only one way the lineage had disappeared from the Coven of the Blood and ended up hidden in a box with my family crest on it. My parents stole it when we ran from the coven. Even beneath the mass of rust, I recognized it. Was this why my parents brought us to America in the first place?

“Mac?” Aurora’s voice edged with concern. “Are you alright?”

I nodded. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“About what?” The tilt of her head elongated the side of her neck. Her heart still pounded. I surmised it was because of being trapped with a vampire. With her veins no longer constricted, the delicate aroma of her blood wafted toward me. I wanted to alternate between kissing her neck and sinking my fangs into it. I feared neither would entice her to work with me while I struggled with why I felt such a deep attraction to this woman.

“Nothing. We should leave this place.” I sighed before looking around the room to assess what had been disturbed. I returnedto the hole where I had found the metal box and filled it in before stomping on the flames to put them out.

Aurora giggled nervously. “I can’t see anymore.”

“It’s a good thing that I can.” Her infectious look drew me to her. I wanted to run my hand down her cheek just to feel it. Instead, I walked to her and assisted in packing her bag. I placed the lineage securely in straps on the front pocket.

She turned her flashlight back on and scanned the area. She turned to me, following my lead. “I guess that’s all. How do we do this?” Her wavering voice betrayed her nerves.

I cleared my throat. “Can you climb onto my back with your pack on?”

She nodded.

I held the bag for her and helped guide her arms through the straps while she stayed seated to keep off her ankle.

“Are you ready to stand?” I asked when it was situated.

“I think so.” She bent her knees, placing her feet on the ground. I slipped my hands under her arms and lifted her as I would an opulent statue.

“Thanks,” she murmured, balancing on her uninjured foot.

“Ready to keep going?”

She nodded with a slight smile that made my heart twist. “I’m ready.”

I turned away from her and felt her arms wrap around my neck. I placed my hands under her ass and lifted her onto my back. When she wrapped her legs around my center, she grasped with her uninjured leg and balanced the other gingerly across. I battled the imagery in my mind of her in a similar position, with me facing her and my cock buried deep inside her.I clenched my jaw and climbed the wall with a slow, steady movement.

When we were on level ground again, I helped her down. “How are you doing?”

She swallowed. “I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here.”

When I picked her up this time, I cradled her in my arms and carried her to her campsite as the night air closed around us.

“How did you know this was where I was?” she asked.

I placed her down at the edge of the protective circle next to a tree. “I ran into this on my way to the cave. It was obvious it was yours once I knew I was dealing with a witch and a powerful one at that.”

She tilted her head but said nothing, balancing against the trunk.

I looked around for a stick she could use as a cane and located one near us. I darted toward it and back to her. “I’m not going to even try to cross the boundary.” Her face shone under the light of the moon.

“Thank you for coming to rescue me,” she said.

“You’re welcome.” I removed the lineage from the bag. “But I think I’m going to hold on to this.”

“What? Why do you get to hold it?” Her eyes flashed with anger.

“So you don’t run off with it.”

“Like I’m running anywhere at all.” She gestured toward her leg.

I held it out to her between both my hands. “This just guarantees it. We’ll find the Cure together, and then I’ll help you find the vampire.”