Page 98 of Vampire's Breath

“What does it say?” Lorcan asked.

He glanced at Rory, who nodded her head. Sean recited the words, his voice low and even. “Bound in darkness by crimson light, to break the chains, fate’s bonds unite. With gifts most rare, one of each, essence combined to be complete. When desired it is to remove the night, consume the key to end the plight.”

As Sean spoke, the flames crackled as if the fire strained to hear the ancient words. The air thickened, the weight of forgotten magic pressing down on my skin.

Cormac looked at Lorcan expectantly.

Lorcan’s expression darkened. “I have no idea what it means. But we’re going to have to figure it out. And we’ll have to protect him—because if Aiden finds him, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

Rory tilted her head. “Do you think it’s that serious now? We all know the secret of the Cure.”

Cormac took her hand. “Aiden’s been after us for over a lifetime. We must keep Sean safe because, for all we know, he’san integral part of what we must do. We may know the words, but we have no idea what they mean.”

I stared at the flames, just starting to understand this world. Protecting Sean wasn’t just about keeping some distant cousin safe. It was about holding on to this family.

“But, Sean,” Lorcan asked, “do you know exactly what this cures?”

Sean shook his head, his eyes solemn. “The plight, whatever that means.” He smiled and shrugged.

We all leaned back in our chairs, the weight of it settling over us.

Cormac’s voice was strained. “We need to return to Dún Na Farraige.” He looked at Lorcan and me. “All of us, together.” He clenched his jaw as though he expected Lorcan to deny him again.

Lorcan exhaled, his gaze moving from one of us to the next before settling on the fire, the wind whipping at the flames. “Aiden’s coming,” he breathed. “We don’t know for who—or for what.” His lips curled into something between a smirk and a grimace. “But for the first time in centuries, he won’t just be facing one of us.”

Lorcan’s gaze flicked between his brothers and Declan, his voice steady.

“This time, he faces all of us.”

No one spoke. Even the wind seemed to hush, as if the earth itself was bracing for the coming storm.

A dhampir born from shadows. A vampire who can’t die. Bound by blood, divided by war—and undone by a desire they can’t control.

Vampire's Flame