Page 90 of Fighting for Her Heart

Nora shakes her head. “Not an illusion.”

“Thenwhat?”

“How I look, how I feel, my health and youth—it’s all a demonstration of the benefits of lambent vampires.”

“I don’t understand.” But even as my words come out, my understanding clarifies.

“By consuming the blood of lambent vampires,” she says, “I can stay young and beautiful forever.”

“That’s why the Keepers of Light want me?” My stomach turns. “To force me to create lambent vampires?”

“I wouldn’t sayforce.” She tips her head to her side. “It is our hope that, once you understand, you will do so willingly.”

Our hope. Those words reverberate in my mind. Ever since Zuben explained about the two factions of witches, I assumed that Mom was a Keeper of Darkness. Why else would she have rescued me, protected me, hidden me away?

I don’t like any of the answers racing through my mind. And every moment we sit here is another moment my men are in pain.

I turn back, but even the glass wall is gone now. The entire room appears to be a comfy log cabin, fake sunlight peeking through shuttered windows. I can’t see any evidence of the men anymore. But Ifeelthem. I feel their presence deep in my bones and in my heart, and knowing they’re suffering is like a spike of pain constantly prodding, increasing my desperate need to set them free.

I need to be patient, pretend to understand. Nora’s my mom. Surely I can get her to see how wrong this is, so she’ll help me.

“Why do they hold the lambent vampires captive like that?” I ask. “They’re in pain. Maybe if the witches explained, the vampires would give their blood willingly.”

Her lips tighten. “That has not been our experience.”

“So you are a Keeper of Light?”

“Not anymore.” Nora’s back straightens.

“Then what group do you belong to? Whose side are you on? Tell me!”

“My darling daughter. Heart of my heart.” She reaches across the space between us to take my hand.

I let her, although I’ve never felt more aware that this woman isnotmy real mother. Not biologically. She may have raised me from a very young age, she may have cared for me like a parent would, but I’m starting to question that too. Did sheeverhave my best interests or safety at heart? I’m crushed. My throat, my entire body is closing in on itself under the weight of my anger and grief.

“First,” she says, as if we’ve got all the time in the world. “First, you must truly understand how special you are. Inside you resides the power of youth, the promise of everlasting life. Do you fully comprehend howvaluablethat makes you? How vitally important to the world?”

My icy blood warms slightly. “Can the blood of lambent vampires…can it cure diseases?”

Clearly stifling a laugh, she shakes her head. “No. But it canpreventthem. In some.”

My mind is swirling. I have too many questions and can’t sort out which to ask first. “The guys, they just became lambent. So how did you—” My voice catches. “How did you stay youngbeforeRyker and Axe…”

Was she drinking their blood back at the farm? I shake my head. They would have known and told me. Plus, if she’s over a hundred…

“Beforeyourvampires,” she says, “there were others.”

“If there are others, why do you need the men I love?” I don’t like the idea of her and her friends holdinganyvampire captive, but my first priority, my only priority, is to free the men I love.

“The others are…” Her lips tighten. “They are nearly used.”

“Used?” My stomach flips. “What do you mean?”

“Before your recent accomplishment, there was only one lambent vampire remaining, and he’s been lambent for thousands of years. Sadly, it’s our belief that this vampire now wishes to die. He refuses to feed. He’s growing weaker, and is no longer yielding enough blood to sustain us all.” She runs the back of her hand over her cheek as if testing its texture, and she picks up a silver framed mirror from the small wooden table beside her and admires her reflection.

How have I never noticed her vanity before? “How many of you were depending on this lambent vampire?”

“Our numbers have dwindled to four.” She looks genuinely sad.