Page 9 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER SEVEN

I go back to the kitchen and open the fridge.

I need to feed. I keep some bags of blood hidden in the back of the fridge, wrapped in plastic bags.

Emergency use. This qualified. My body is sluggish.

I feel sore. I should never feel sore. Within five minutes of any injury, no matter how catastrophic, I should be fully recovered.

I used to be fully recovered. That’s the way it always was right up until I was given that fucking poison from the magickal realm when Leon Miller was trying to kill my entire family.

Now it seems to take me much longer to heal, and I never quite feel as strong as I once did.

I take the bag out and slide it into the microwave for a few seconds.

Warm blood is always better than cold. The microwave beeps, and I remove the bag, cut the corner, and drink deeply.

As the blood flows down my throat, my stomach contracts, and then I feel a powerful surge in my muscles.

My body instantly heals itself. No more soreness or stiffness. I am whole again.

I finish the bag and throw it in the garbage.

I walk around the island, heading to my room.

It will be daybreak soon, and I need sleep.

Having to feed more often is becoming a big pain in the ass.

Hiding it from my brothers is worse. I know they’re back to normal, but I’m not.

It pisses me off more than anything else.

I hate being vulnerable. I hate it even more that so far, there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to fix it.

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket. I glance at the screen as I answer. “Esme.”

“Nico, are you okay?” Esme’s voice is filled with concern.

“I’m fine.” I try to keep my voice neutral.

“But you weren’t. I could feel it. The protection spells I put around you were shattered. What happened?”

Figures the witch would know. I should have known better than to think I could hide anything from Esme. “I was thrown off a catwalk and then blown up. I’m fine now, though.”

She snorts. “Sure. Fine. Uh-huh. I can tell that you’re still not at full strength. Did you feed?”

“Yes,” I ground out. “I know how to take care of myself.”

“Do you?” she shoots back. “Because being thrown off a catwalk and getting blown up doesn’t sound like you’re doing a good job.

“Hazards of doing business.” My voice is cold, and I know it. Esme doesn’t deserve my anger. I relent. “I’m fine. I’m going to get some sleep, so I should be good when I wake up.”

Esme sighs. “I’m still looking to find something to help you. So far, no luck. It’s hard to dig up any information without sharing what’s going on.”

“Esme, we’ve been through this. No one can know I’m not at full strength. If the wrong people find out I’m vulnerable, then I’m dead.”

“Which makes my job harder.” Her voice cracks. “There’s no reason why you should still be weak. None. It defies logic.”

I let out a chuckle. Since when did anything in the magickal realm follow logic?”

She let out another snort. “You’re right, I guess. It’s just frustrating. I want to help you, and I can’t seem to.”

“You’ve helped me many times, Esme, and I’m sure we’ll figure this out.

” It was true. Esme was a powerful witch, and she’d saved my ass a few times with spells and potions that helped me defeat some enemies.

She was the kid sister I’d never had. Esme said we were linked from a previous life.

Maybe. Who knew? It was possible, I suppose.

Either way, we were linked in this one. She was family as far as I was concerned.

A little sister. It didn’t matter that vampires and witches didn’t normally get along.

We were peas in a pod, and I was grateful.

I didn’t care that the rest of my family wasn’t so keen.

“On that topic, I have some news.”

I brace myself and lean on the door frame. “My mother is dead. You found proof.”

“No.”

I relax. Esme has been trying to help me find my mother for a while now.

Renzo and Luca and Father all think she’s dead.

So does the rest of the magickal realm. Died because of the shit she tried to pull.

Turning herself from just a vampire into a vampire witch.

No one wanted or needed one of those to exist. But I know differently.

I don’t know how I know, but I do. She’s not dead.

At least I don’t think she is. I think she’s been…

dormant for a few hundred years. Hiding.

“So, what’s the news?”

Esme hesitates. I can feel her reluctance.

“You have more evidence that she is likely dead?” I ask.

For the last while, I have had the feeling that my mother was…

waking up, for lack of a better term. Like, she was coming back to life after a long coma or something.

That thought haunts me. It’s why I asked Esme to help me track her down.

If she is still alive, I need to find her.

“No, the opposite in fact.”

My heart rate ticks up and my blood runs cold. “You’ve found her?”

Esme hesitates again. “Not exactly. I’ve found a very faint trail. She is trying very hard not to make waves in the magickal realm, but like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples flow outward for a long time. I think I’m finally on to her.”

“Do you know where she is?” I demand. “I can come help you find her.”

“No,” Esme chuckled. “The last thing I need is you crashing around. You’re a bull in a china shop. Your mother will know that we know she’s alive. I can’t have you tipping our hand. I will keep tracking her quietly, slowly, until I finally find her. Stay patient.”

I grunt. Despite living for hundreds of years, patience was not something I am good at. “Fine. Let know the minute you find something on either front.”

“I will, but, Nico, you have to take better care of yourself. I can only work so many miracles, and bringing you back to life isn’t one of them.”

I smile faintly. “Ego much?”

Esme giggles. “What do you mean? You know I am a miracle worker.”

“Sure. Sure.” I let out a sigh. “Thanks, Esme. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

“And you should.” She let out another giggle and disconnect the call.

I walked over to my bed and put my phone on the charger on the nightstand. I strip off my clothes and crawl into bed. Esme is right. I need sleep, and I need to stay on top of things. If I let myself get too run down, it will be obvious that something is wrong.

I replay the conversation in my head and try not to get too excited.

My brothers never connected with our mother the way I did.

They did not mourn her loss like me. If she is alive, I want to see her.

I close my eyes and try to adjust my expectations.

Maybe she is alive and maybe she isn’t but if she is, I have so many questions and I’m damn sure going to get answers.