Page 49 of The Vampire's Seduction

“No.”

“This may all sound like nonsense, but fate has a plan. This book, which hasn’t done anything in the centuries I’ve had it, led me to you just as Marek found you. What are the chances?”

Olivia’s attention snagged on something Andrea had said. “Centuries? You’ve had this for centuries? But… you’re not a vampire.”

Andrea scoffed. “Vampires aren’t the only ones blessed with immortality.”

So many questions. How old was Andrea? She looked to be in her thirties. Not important.

“One of my ancestors gave this to you?” she asked instead.

“I believe so,” Andrea replied.

But why her? Unlike Andrea, Olivia didn’t believe in things like fate. Or soulmates. But Andrea also had a point. This timing couldn’t be a coincidence.

She didn’t want to be a witch. After Betsy turned eighteen, all she’d wanted was a normal life, to find love like her adoptive parents, to devote herself to VB research so others would have more time with their loved ones.

This changes nothing.After Betsy was safe, she would return to her old life. Without vampires. Without witches.

Olivia refused to acknowledge the pang in her chest and said, “Let’s do it.”

“Great.” Grinning, Andrea jumped up, crossed to the kitchen, and returned with a paring knife. “Here. A small cut should be fine.”

Olivia didn’t move. How much did she trust Andrea? If she was centuries old, then she might be as cunning as the vampires. This could all be a trick.

Marek might be right. She shouldn’t do anything without learning more about Andrea.

“You don’t have to do this,” Andrea said, her gentle tone cutting through Olivia’s doubts. It wasn’t only her instinct that said Andrea was trustworthy. The grimoire called out to her like a long-lost friend.

Like she’d been waiting for this moment all her life.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

Olivia took the knife and winced as she cut her index finger. She squeezed until a drop of blood swelled.

Before Olivia could talk herself out of it, she pressed her finger on the ruby. It felt like the right spot.

One heartbeat. Two. Nothing happened.

It didn’t work.Or she’d picked the wrong spot?

Green light flared, suffusing the book before racing up her finger, her hand, her arm, until it enveloped her. Pressure and heat built in her chest. Magic. Like when she’d unlocked the book at the hospital. She recognized it now.

It wasn’t tugging at her like last time, nor was it painful. The magic expanded around the grimoire until the book vibrated.

Yes, finally,a ghostly voice sighed.

A blinding flash of green. Right before an invisible force punched her and launched her into the air.

Chapter Twelve

“Currently,wedon'tknow—”

Boom.

Marek froze and gripped his chair’s handles. Sascha stopped mid-sentence. He was in a conference room with Sascha and other CDI members. Though the sun was still up, he’d scheduled an early meeting after the delay from the past few days. So far, they’d gone over recruitment and training status. Sascha was about to give an update on the missing vampires in Denver.

Boom. The building shook.