Page 66 of Fighting for Her Heart

The sun feels amazing on my skin after so many centuries without it, but the burning-hot star’s rays are nothing compared to the warmth she has imbedded in my heart.

Chapter Twenty

Ryker

If vampire’s had spidey-senses,mine would be sparking an alert as we approach the Old City neighborhood. Nothing about this feels right to me.

I didn’t find out much at the club, and once night fell and we could leave without arousing suspicions, Axe and Nora ganged up on me, regaling the plan they concocted while I was trying to gather intel.

Sure, I had to drink and dance and flirt a little in pursuit of useful information, but it turns out the club bores me now. Anywhere without Ember bores me. I voted we head straight back to her, but Nora remains insistent.

And she’s sucked Axe in. He’s blindly following her to wherever it is she claims these witches are hiding. Following her, we wandered aimlessly around Society Hill, and then into south Philly, and frankly all over the goddamned place. She claimed our circuitous route was to make sure we weren’t raising suspicions or being followed. I couldn’t even begin to explain the insanity of that logic to her, so I didn’t bother.

Axe is going along with it all, and seems fascinated with how the city has changed since he knew it—both the new modern buildings and how the old ones have changed. We’ve been through some historic areas that were near-slums in his day, but have now been restored to their 1700’s glory. Only rich people can afford to live there now.

Me? I hate the part of the city we’re entering, too close to the Delaware shipyards—way too many memories of my days at sea. Usually, I only go east of Broad Street when I go to the club.

I follow reluctantly as she leads us along Christian street, closer and closer to the river. Every nerve inside me is crawling, reminding me of the spider analogy that ran through my mind earlier.

“Enough.” I stop. “Where the fuck are we going?”

“It’s not much further.” Nora beckons for me to follow.

“I’m not going another step until you tell me where we’re going.”

Stopping, she turns back toward me and then steps closer. “Old Swede’s,” she says in hushed tones.

“That old church?”

She nods.

“These witch friends of yours hang out in achurch?” I fold my arms over my chest.

“Under it,” she whispers, glancing around as if fearful.

“Who do you think might be listening?” I ask. “There are no vampires within a mile of us in any direction. Trust me.” Having not done any kind of a scan, I’m not a hundred percent certain of this, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Quiet.” She glances around again. Something clearly has her spooked. Either that or the Academy Awards will be including Nora in their list of nominations this year. I’d bet on the latter.

“You don’t understand the first thing about magic,” she says, her voice so quiet no one but vampires could hear it. And even then, only if they were focused in on her.

“Why not just cast a spell so that no one can see or hear us?” I glare at her, trusting her less and less. “We all know you can dothat.” She’s hidden herself and Ember from us on more than one occasion.

“It doesn’t work like that.” She checks over her shoulder again. “I can’t hide us fromeveryone. Not from other witches.”

“Come on,” Axe says gruffly. “Let’s at least check this church place out.”

“Don’t know about you, bear man, but I’m eager to get back to Ember. Give me one good reason we should go along with her wild goose chase?”

“For Ember,” Axe says without hesitation. “We need to make sure she’s safe.”

“You trust this witch?” I nod toward Nora.

Axe frowns. “Nora’s hermother.”

I’m about to argue, to point out that Nora isn’t Ember’sbirthmom, and that only a few weeks ago Axe hated witches more than anything on earth, but those arguments feel petty. Nora is Ember’s mom in every way that counts, and the church she’s talking about, founded in 1700, is close by. All we have to do is pass under the I-95 and it’s practically there.

“Fine.”