Page 89 of Fighting for Her Heart

“Is anything down here real?” I ask her unable to hide my anger. “Areyoueven real!”

“Very real.” Taking my hand, she guides me to one of the chairs, but I remain standing as she sits in the other. The warmth from the fire at my side penetrates my body and the sound of its crackling seems genuine, but I know she’s a master of illusions.

I draw deep breaths, reminding myself that it’s very possible nothing I’ve seen down here is real. It’s possible my men are fine. That they aren’t being abused and tortured. But my heart refuses to believe that.

“I can explain everything,” Mom says calmly, her voice comforting me like it always did when I was a child. “Once you understand—”

“Free them first!”

“Patience, daughter. Once you let me explain, you will have everything you’ve ever wanted, the entire world will be yours to claim.”

I frown. I don’t want to claim the whole world. I only want to release the men I love from their bondage and take them into my arms.

But I recognize the expression on Mom’s face. She is not going to yield, and I can’t break this magic on my own, so the quickest way to save the men could be to hear her out.

“If I listen, do you promise that you’ll release them after?”

She nods. “If that’s what you want.”

“Okay. Then tell me whatever it is that’s so important you’re forcing me to wait to save the men I love. Quickly.”

She gestures for me to sit, and I fold my legs up to sit cross-legged in the chair. The moment I sink into the soft cushions, I realize I’m exhausted. Perhaps I need blood. But I can’t think of my own needs right now.

“Start talking, Mom. Why have these witches trapped my men? Why have you let them!”

“They are extracting their valuable bodily fluids,” she says like it’s obvious. “Collecting their blood and their semen.”

I can’t hide my revulsion, feeling my nose crinkle up in disgust. “Butwhy? And why aren’t you helping me free them?”

Placing her hands on her thighs, she leans slightly toward me. “Vampires, even those who know about the Illuminant, do not understand her true power—yourtrue power.”

“What do you mean?”

“They believe your power, your purpose, is to let vampires walk in the light, but they are wrong.”

I cross my arms over my chest.

“The true power of the Illuminant,” she continues, “yourtrue power and purpose is to create lambent vampires.”

“How is that any different? Lambent vampires can walk in the light.”

Smiling smugly, she nods. “That is true, but the blood of lambent vampires has an even greater value.”

My stomach tightens. It was Mom who encouraged me to turn the men lambent. Fear rises inside me, but I fight to hide it as I wait for her to continue. At our side, the fire crackles and sparks. “What value?” I ask once it’s clear that she’s waiting for me to speak.

“How old do you think I am?” Nora asks, brushing back her curls with her hand.

I shrug. But unease scrambles inside me. My whole life my mother has seemed the same age to me. If I had to guess, she looks to be in her thirties, barely, but that’s not possible. I’m twenty-five and she was an adult when she found me in the ruins of that burned house.

“You look very young for your age. You always have.” It’s likely an illusion she creates.

A huge smile spreads on her face, tinged with arrogance. “I am one hundred and seventy-two years old.” Her chin lifts and her chest expands.

My veins ice and I shake my head. “That’s impossible.”

Her expression doesn’t vary.

“So, this—” I swish my hand around between us. “The way Iperceiveyou—how I’vealwaysseen you—it’s always been an illusion?”