Page 26 of Desired for Her Blood

“You must understand,” I continue. “The connections I am making in my thoughts at this moment, they are untested and highly theoretical.” I cannot believe I am even going to verbalize the highly improbable link that has crossed my mind.

“Please.” She pats my chest impatiently.

“Just over twenty years ago—“ the time fits “—Octavia told me that some magic keepers had discovered a descendant of Gullveig living right here in Pennsylvania.”

“A descendant of Gullveig?” Ember’s voice is full of trepidation. “You mentioned that name before…”

“Yes. One of the many myths about the Illuminant holds that the powers are inherited through the descendants of Gullveig, the goddess who first brought magic to earth.”

“Goddess? You can’t possibly think I’m one of her descendants.” She sounds more horrified than pleased.

“I believe that you may be.”

She tenses, her belly contracting as her knees pull in toward her chest. “I don’t understand.” She shakes her head. “How does any of that relate to my dream?”

“These keepers of magic—”

She taps my chest. “You keep saying that. Do you mean witch?”

“Witch is considered a slur by some.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.”

“These magic keepers told Octavia that they had discovered a woman whom they believed to be the Illuminant, living right here in Pennsylvania.”

“Did they find her?” she asks me softly.

“I do not know.” I wish I could provide her more assurance, more definitive answers. “Octavia told me that the trail went cold. The house the magic keeper lived in was burned, and the woman and her two female children were killed in the fire.”

“She haddaughters?” Ember’s voice quivers. “Two?”

I nod. “That is what I was told.”

“And my nightmare? You think… Did I know them? What does any of this have to do with me?”

I cup her head. “You are right. I am sorry. I should not have mentioned any of this to you. Not only is this all pure conjecture, it is based on information obtained from Octavia whom I no longer trust.”

She frowns. “Conjecture or not, clearly you had a theory about how this related to me, so tell me.”

I shake my head. “It was a foolish notion. Pure speculation.” Although, every instinct inside me says that I’m right.

“If it’s just foolish speculation,” she says. “What’s the harm in telling me?”

She has a point there.

“What if that magic keeper and her daughters were somehow related to you?” I say. “What if your mother hid you from the fire that killed the others.”

Her body tenses in my hold. Her eyes widen and I can almost see her processing the possibilities too. “Did I have sisters? Cousins?” She squeezes shut her eyes and her brow wrinkles as if she’s trying to conjure more memories. “Why wouldn’t my mom say something?” She shakes her head.

“It is only a theory,” I remind her, stroking her back.

She nods. “The memory or nightmare was traumatic… Maybe mom didn’t want me reminded.” Her body heaves with a deep breath. “So you think I could be related to these…descendants of Gullveig?”

“I believe that it is possible.” In fact while I do not yet have the proof, nor do I understand her or her mother’s connection to this rumored fire, I believe sheisthe Illuminant.

Ember’s eyes open. “Tell me everything you know.”

“Everything I know would take a very long time—“