Page 11 of Fighting for Her Heart

“No need.” Mom crosses her arms over her chest. “But what’s this about leaving?”

“Mrs. Cross,” Zuben says.

“Call me Nora.”

Zuben shifts. He’s clearly annoyed at Mom’s interruptions and uncomfortable using her first name. “The keepers of magic, the ones from whom you have hidden Ember all these years…”

“What about them?” Mom interrupts again.

“I think you will agree,” Zuben says sharply, “that it would be best if these keepers of magic do not find your daughter.”

“They can’t find her here.” Mom gestures around the property. “There’s a concealment spell.”

The moon comes out from behind the clouds to bathe Mom’s features. In my eyes, she’s barely changed in the eleven years since I’ve seen her. As a child, it was hard to imagine anyone more beautiful. Still is.

“With all due respect, Evanora.” Zuben’s tone is clipped. “By your own admission, keepers of magic have broken through your spell here before.”

“That was different.” Mom takes a step forward. “I messed up back then.” She turns toward me, then looks down. “It’s my fault they found us when you were fourteen. I thought enough time had passed. I let down my guard.” Her voice breaks, and I rush to her side, wrapping my arms around her.

“I’m sure you did your best, Mom.” I hug her tightly, and she rubs my back, making me feel like a little kid again, comforted by her parent.

“Witches aren’t our only threat.” Axe’s deep voice rumbles through the night air. “The vampire who tried to kill us, as soon as she discovers we escaped from that cave—”

“She already knows,” Ryker interjects.

I turn toward him. “Really?” My heart accelerates.

He nods.

“I don’t want to leave, but I’m starting to think Zuben is right.” I turn back toward Mom. “If Octavia’s coming for us…” I close my eyes, not wanting to finish the sentence or imagine all the ways she might hurt us. The things she’s already done…

“Tavi’s not a threat anymore.” Ryker’s mouth quirks up in a half smirk.

“Why do you say that?” Taking his hand, I look up into his eyes. I know he wouldn’t purposefully put me in danger.

“I’ll tell you more later, but let’s just say that, not only does Octavia think you’re dead, she’s lost her magic.”

“This vampire had magic?” Nora steps forward. “How would a vampire obtain magic?”

“I’ma vampire andI’vegot magic,” I remind her. “You just need to teach me how to use it.”

Nora nods. “But given your ancestry, you had the potential for magicbeforeyou were turned.” She looks toward Ryker, then at Zuben. “The vampire who imprisoned you, didshehave magic before she was turned?”

“No,” Zuben responds. “I do not believe that she did. Her name is Octavia and, for nearly ninety years, she was my boss at DEFTA.”

“Def-what?” Nora asks.

“A vampire syndicate,” Ryker says. “Think mafia, but with vampires.”

“DEFTA is more akin to a corporation than to organized crime.” Zuben frowns at Ryker. “Octavia is the CEO of DEFTA, and there is ever-increasing evidence that she gained her position using powers of persuasion or obedience, which were granted to her by keepers of magic.”

Mom’s amazement is clear on her face. And I’m a bit amazed too that she hadn’t heard of DEFTA. Not many people know that DEFTA’s a vampire syndicate—I sure didn’t, and neither did my boss at Sanctuary House—but the company is prominent in the city.

“Octavia can persuade people to do things against their will,” I add, and Axe grunts, looking down. I hate that I had to bring up what she almost made him do to me.

“Fascinating,” Mom says. “But why would witches grant powers to a vampire?”

“I have not yet come up with an acceptable theory as to their motive.” Zuben frowns, his body shifting. “Perhaps that is something with which you can assist us, Evanora.”