Page 26 of Fighting for Her Heart

“So, can I take it you approve?” My chest warms, realizing that some of Nora’s assessments of me came from my love.

“Can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. Very much.” She stretches her arms over her head, then leans forward to rest her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands. “The idea of my daughter being with vampires, of being one herself…itisa lot to accept. I spent her entire life trying to hide her from your kind, but I’m grateful she’s no longer alone.”

Getting up, I kick a half-burned stake back into the fire, using the protection of my boots to nudge it back into the inferno of coals.

“You can trust me, Ryker,” she says softly.

I slowly turn back toward her. “Whywouldn’tI trust you? You’re her mother.”

Her soft neutral smile doesn’t waver. “Because you don’t trust easily. You’ve been tricked in the past.”

I shrug. “Who hasn’t?”

“I suppose you’re right.” She leans back.

“Hey.” I step toward her. “Weren’t you supposed to be doing something about the excess window situation in the house?”

She gestures back toward the building. “I bought yards and yards of blackout curtain material, plus some other fabrics. It’s all sitting on the porch.”

“You didn’t take it inside?” And how the fuck did I miss her crossing the field earlier?

“I thought I’d come over for a chat before going in. Maybe see if you’d help me cover the windows?”

Everything she says sounds reasonable. I’m finding it harder and harder to dislike her. Sitting back down, I stare into the flames wishing they held he answers I need.

“So,” she says quietly, “today wasn’t the first time you’ve sampled my daughter’s blood?”

Turning toward her, I nod.

“I wonder how long the effects will last?” she muses, tipping her head to the side.

“Only twenty-four hours or so, based on the last time.”

“I wonder if it might be longer the second time.”

“Is that how it’s supposed to work?” A crow flies overhead, and I watch it swoop and flutter against the bright sky. Because, counting my part in turning her, this is my third time to take Ember’s vein.

“I really don’t know,” she says. “But there are legends that say that if a vampire drinks the Illuminant’s blood enough times, he will be able to walk in the light forever.”

“Forever?” Excitement ripples through me, but I tell it to calm the fuck down. “That’s a legend. You don’t know that for a fact.”

She shrugs. “Perhaps your friend Zuben knows more. He seems very learned in the subject of the Illuminant.”

“Why aren’t you more…learned?” My distrust rises again. “I mean, if you were the one tasked with taking care of her…”

“But I wasn’t.” Her shoulders rise and fall.

“What do you mean?” I lean back, studying her face and posture, remaining alert to signs of deceit. “But you hid her for over a decade. Used spells.”

“Yes,” Nora nods. “I did hide her and protect her, but not because someonetoldme to.” She shakes her head. “I acted on instinct when I found her. I knew the basics of what her blood might do, but none of the details.”

“So…” Standing, I poke at the fire with the last remaining stake, watching the sparks and flames rise. “Zuben thinks you’re part of some dark magic group. Is that part true?”

“No.”

I turn toward her, trying to seem casual. “You lied to Zuben?”

She shakes her head. “No. He assumed. I merely didn’t correct him.”