Page 34 of Fighting for Her Heart

“My darling girl,” she says. “You have no idea how special you are.”

I frown. “So everyone keeps saying.”

“I haven’t told you the half of it.” She smiles. “Your powers will grow as you continue to let those vampires feed on your blood.”

“Whatpowers?” Before she seemed skeptical that I hadanymagic.

“The more times those vampires feed from you, the longer they’ll be able to walk in the light.”

“You know that for sure? You said it was a theory when you suggested it to Zuben—”

“I didn’t want to give all your secrets away.” She winks. “And, while I know less about this part—” her hands clasp on her lap “—I also believe that feeding from those men will increase your abilities as a vampire.”

I take a long breath. Zuben’s said that too. He explained that, as a baby vampire, the more often I feed, the stronger I’ll get.

“And.” Nora smiles. “I also believe that feeding those vampires more often could improve your ability to wield magic.”

“So Idohave magic?” I frown at the inconsistencies twisting my mind. “Did you always know that, because before you acted surprised.”

She smiles, but it almost seems like a smirk. “Honey, given your ancestry, you have always had greatpotential, but I don’t want those vampires to know more than they already do.”

I pull back from her slightly, disappointed that she so thoroughly distrusts the men I love, and she clearly has no idea that they’re certainly listening to our conversation right now.

Mom turns on the bed, folding up one leg. “Honey, the most important thing you must know about magic is that our secrets aresacred. Everything about magic is sacred to those who keep it. You mustneverdiscuss magic with anyone who is not also a keeper of magic—especially not a vampire.”

I study her face, trying to figure out if she really doesn’t understand that the men are listening. “Mom,I’ma vampire.”

She nods.

“And…vampires, they—we—can tune in to voices from a long way away. Mom, the men are listening to us right now.”

Smiling, she winks. “No, they’re not.”

“Oh, Mom…” Part of me wants to just agree with her. I don’t want her lessons to stop before they really start, but I’m not sure I can lie to her either. I’ve never been able to. “Mom, I can pretty much guarantee that at least one of them is listening to our every word.”

She shakes her head.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because of my magic.”

“What kind of magic?” Worried for the men, I jump off the bed and stride toward the edge of the forest. The blue glow follows me, extending further each time I think I’m nearing its end.

Halfway across the field I stop to let Nora catch up.

Panic and fury rise inside me. Ryker promised they’d stay on the porch.

“Where are they?” I love Mom, but if she hurt my men…

“Right where you last saw them,” Nora says.

“No, theyaren’t.” I glare at her. “They were sitting on the porch.” I point toward it. There’s no way they’d leave until I got back, especially not Ryker. He promised.

“Trust me, dear. They’re right there.” She gestures toward the house. Is she gas lighting me? They clearly aren’t there as she claims.

I turn to her, studying her face, my heart rate rising. “If you didanythingto them, anything at all… Mom, I will never forgive you.“ My hands form fists and my fangs spring out.

“Sweetie.” She cups my face. “I promise I won’t hurt those vampires—not without yourpermission.” Her head tips to the side. “Or if they’rethreateningyou.”