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  “It’s Oriental,” Aidan explained. “The Witches of Morganefaire are known for their craftsmanship in creating the most exquisite embellishments. They sell their brands for thousands of dollars. You wouldn’t believe the waiting list for this stuff.”

  “It’s not just merchandise they sell,” Kieran whispered behind me.

  I spun around and met his gaze. I had to admit I was very interested in what he had to say, but he clammed up when Aidan shot him his usual ‘shut up’ look.

  “Let’s get some rest. We’ll have a long day ahead of us.” Aidan touched my arm softly and kissed my neck. Even though I didn’t appreciate his decisive tone, I let him guide me to the first bedroom, vowing to ask Kieran what he meant later. I didn’t feel tired but I dropped on the thick brocade covers nonetheless, inhaling the softest whiff of crushed lavender as I figured I might as well close my eyes for a minute or two. When I woke up again, the sun was spilling through the high bay windows. I rubbed my temple to get rid of the heavy sensation inside my temples and brushed my hand over the covers to the empty spot next to me. Aidan’s imprint was still there, but the space had cooled down, signaling he must’ve woken hours ago.

  Sitting up, I looked around me. In broad daylight, the room looked spectacular with tall, white walls covered in embossed flowers and leaves that seemed to have a soft sparkle to them. The thick rugs I noticed upon our arrival felt as soft as melted butter under my naked feet. I took a moment to enjoy the tingly sensation, then slipped into clean clothes and headed out in search of Aidan.

  I found him in the hall downstairs, engrossed in conversation with his brother, which ended the moment he saw me. I couldn’t shake off the feeling they were hiding something.

  “Good morning,” Kieran said.

  “Good morning. Am I interrupting?”

  “No,” Kieran answered. “You’re like a glorious vision in that beautiful white dress.”

  I didn’t want to point out that I was wearing jeans. Something was definitely wrong with him because his compliments were beginning to suck more than usual.

  “Sleep well?” Aidan said, pecking my cheek. He smelled of lavender and honey, of home and hope that, now that we had arrived in Morganefaire, everything would turn out all right.

  “Like a baby. I haven’t slept that well in ages.” I smiled and wrapped my arms around him.

  “You look stunning,” he whispered against my neck, his soft breath making my skin tingle. My heart began to race. “Are you ready to leave? We’re being expected at the Council Court.”

  “Let me grab my purse and then I’ll be ready to go.” I broke our embrace and turned to head up the staircase, my mind already searching through the wardrobe for the right outfit to meet the Council when Aidan reached out to stop me.

  “Please, Amber, don’t sneak back into the bathroom or change your clothes again because we’ll be late.”

  “That’s so unfair,” I said. “I bet you two had enough time to prepare.”

  Kieran frowned but didn’t comment. I could sense he was worried about something, especially when he didn’t have a sarcastic comeback. Besides, he took forever in the bathroom and was never ever finished before me, which led me to the conclusion they had used my absence to discuss matters they didn’t want me to hear. There was definitely more to that conversation than they were letting on.

  I swung my purse over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of making a bad impression.”

  “Thank you…for not arguing more than necessary.” I could hear the relief in Aidan’s voice, which pissed me off a little. He made me sound horribly argumentative, which I wasn’t. I swear.

  Chapter 4

  The sun stood high on the horizon, bathing the medieval streets in glaring brightness. Even though it couldn’t be later than nine a.m., Morganefaire’s inhabitants were gathered on the narrow streets, going about their daily business, paying us no attention as we walked past. They were streaming toward what I assumed was the main business area, all of them witches and warlocks, all of them carrying Morganefaire’s magic inside their blood. It was a melting pot of origins, of ages and sizes, but not necessarily of fashion. After seeing our guest quarters, I don’t know what I expected. Maybe white wigs and the embroidered satin corsets of seventeenth-century France, or black robes and lots of pentagrams that screamed magic. What I saw, however, was mostly our century’s trademark: blue jeans and cotton shirts, sprinkled with the odd flowing, oriental dress. I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Had I seen any of them walking down London’s High Streets, I would never have guessed they were involved with the paranormal world.

  Aidan seemed to know the way well for he navigated through the crowds at a hasty pace, only stopping here and there to utter a greeting or shake a hand. As I followed after him, I tried to ignore the sudden pang of hunger in my stomach and the burning sensation on my skin. Even though Kieran turned me after the Shadow ritual was performed, the spell was not fully passed onto me. Or maybe it malfunctioned because recently I had begun to suffer from bloodlust and now the sun was slowly starting to burn my skin.

  “Are you okay?” Aidan whispered, sensing my thoughts.

  Gritting my teeth, I nodded. “I’m fine.”

  “You shouldn’t be out here in the sun until we figure out exactly what’s going on.”

  “I’ll buy a long sleeve shirt or something because I swear I’m not going back,” I said.

  “Let’s check out the booths,” Kieran said. “One’s bound to sell clothing.”

  I rolled my eyes. Why were they so protective? “It’s not like we’re going to be in the sun all day.”

  “Yeah. Maybe a sweater or a shawl,” Aidan said to his brother, ignoring me.

  I shook my head grimly and pointed at the crowd ahead, wishing I had never told him because since I did Aidan couldn’t stop worrying. “There’s no time,” I said. “Please, let’s get this over and done with.”

  “As you wish.” His remark was hesitant. There was defiance in his stance, as though he didn’t want to honor my wish but couldn’t bear upsetting me. I hated being treated like I had some deadly illness—or worse—like a damsel in distress that needed constant attention and rescuing.

  “He’ll get used to it,” Kieran whispered in my ear. I shot him a thankful look even though I knew Kieran was wrong. Aidan always cared. It was part of his charm and one of the reasons why I fell for him in the first place. He would never stop worrying about anyone who mattered to him, which made us all weak spots in his otherwise perfect armor. I had to get rid of this bloodlust or else I might just prove the vampires’ downfall.

  A strong, burning sensation made me gasp. I looked down at the blisters forming on my arm. Kieran followed my line of vision. I pressed a finger against my lips, signaling him to be quiet, then hid my arm behind my back. He grimaced but kept my secret.

  Nudging me, he whispered, “You need sunscreen. SPF 50+. I’ve heard that’s the strongest out there. I’ll get you some, okay?”

  “Whatever.” Even though I didn’t want to acknowledge it, his concern touched me. Slowly I was becoming a part of their family.

  “In here,” Aidan said after what felt like an eternity walking in the burning sun. “Are you two coming?”

  I smiled weakly and rubbed a hand over my forehead out of habit rather than to wipe off any sweat as we crossed an open space lined with marble pillars. He led us through a broad gate into a large hall with granite floors and yet more pillars. The air smelled of stale lavender incense and something else. I sniffed and almost gagged when the telltale craving hit me.

  Blood. And lots of it.

  What the heck were they doing in here? Opening up a slaughterhouse?

  “Are you all right?” Aidan asked, steadying me. I felt Kieran’s hand holding my arm, as though he, too, worried that I might just collapse into a messy heap.

  “There’s—everywhere.” I choked on the word ‘blood’, unable to speak it out loud because of the po
wer it held over me. My thirst was getting stronger by the day. If I didn’t figure out how to stop it soon, I might just turn into a raging lunatic…or worse, start doing what Aidan and Kieran had been doing before undergoing the Shadow ritual: raid the local blood bank. I had fed a few times—mostly from myself—and it wasn’t pretty. As much as my stomach grumbled, the thought of ever drinking blood again sickened me to the core. It was disgusting and yet delicious. Bitter and yet sweet. Those contradictions messed with my head. I mean, how could something so terrible be so addicting?

  Kieran exchanged worried looks with Aidan. His eyes shifted uneasily a few times, communicating in that weird siblings way they must’ve perfected over hundreds of years. After a few moments of silence, Aidan’s mouth turned into a grim line.

  “Stay here with Kieran,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m going in alone.”

  “Oh, no, you’re not,” Kieran said. “I didn’t sign up to play babysitter. This is my fight just as much as it is yours.”

  I raised my chin a notch. “Nobody’s babysitting me because I’m coming as well. And since I’m a vampire, this is my fight, too.”

  Kieran met my gaze. “I’m with her on this one.”

  Aidan hesitated.

  “I’m not staying behind.” I shook my head vehemently, just in case he wouldn’t pay attention to my words. “I’m a vampire and I’ll fight for my people. Well, half of them ‘cause the other half’s bad—” I waved my hand expressively “—you get my drift. Anyway, I have every right to be in there.”

  His stance hardened. “We don’t have time for this.”

  “In which case stop just standing there and wasting away a perfectly fine day.” I smiled and marched past him, praying I wouldn’t make a fool of myself by walking in the wrong direction or getting lost in the vast corridors. Getting constant chuckles out of everyone around me wouldn’t exactly aid my plight to be taken seriously in the paranormal world.

  Chapter 5

  To my delight, my sense of direction didn’t forsake me. After a few turns, I found the Council room. Granted, I sort of followed the gathering mass spilling through the vast corridors framed by yet more marble pillars and carvings, but it still counts. The way I saw it, the word ‘council’ equaled a huge audience, meaning all those people were probably heading the same way as I was. Or so I hoped. For all I knew about Morganefaire, the council might as well hide in their medieval towers and communicate via carrier pigeons.

  As soon as I reached the heavy mahogany double doors, I felt Aidan’s hand on my shoulder. I turned and shot him a sideway glance. “Finally managed to keep up with me?”

  “Not quite but I definitely tried.” A radiant grin lit up his face and for a moment it even managed to erase his worry lines.

  “See? I didn’t wither in the sun,” I said. Although I had to admit it felt like it when the scorching sun hit my exposed skin. Even though I would’ve loved to dive my arms in a bucket of ice, I played hardball. “I’m not the delicate daffodil you sometimes seem to think I am.”

  “Of course not.” Aidan leaned into me and perched a quick but hot kiss on my lips, and my heart almost stopped in my chest. My mind made another entry in my personal mental diary, next to the many other entries marking various anniversaries. First meeting, first time holding hands, first date, first kiss, first time he said he liked me, then the other big L word, which made me want to declare my undying devotion to him for all of eternity. And now our first public kiss. I almost squealed with delight.

  “Would you like me to bind you to a lamppost before you take off into the vast heights of the morning sky?” Kieran whispered behind me.

  I signaled Aidan I’d stay close behind as he greeted some acquaintance, then whispered to Kieran, “Is it that obvious?” Amusement flared in his blue eyes and quirked the edges of his lips. There was my answer then. I frowned. Damn. My plan of keeping it cool and easy breezy light for the sake of staying interesting was flying right out the window. “Do you think I should tone it down a bit?” I asked. Kieran laughed. I narrowed my gaze. “What’s so funny?”

  He wiped a fake tear from his eye. His laughter stopped abruptly at my menacing expression, and he cleared his throat. “I remember a time when Aidan asked me the same question, that’s all.”

  My heart fluttered in my chest. “Really?” A sense of pure love washed over me. I still couldn’t get rid of the fear that my boyfriend might not be that into me. I mean, gorgeous vampire guy, perfect in every sense, falling for a chubby girl who lacked his sophistication, life experience, and knowledge of the world. It was hard to believe we shared an eternal bond. I still pinched myself every now and then, just to make sure it wasn’t just a dream. Kieran’s information definitely helped. I opened my mouth to beg for details when Aidan appeared at my side.

  “Are you coming?”

  His gaze wandered from me to Kieran and lingered there a tad too long. Something shifted in his expression: an unspoken warning, but that was about all I could pick up through our bond. Kieran smirked and walked past, ignoring him. Aidan grabbed my elbow and guided me inside. Unlike my usual self, I kept quiet because something else drew my immediate attention. As soon as we stepped through the doors, the blood scent became so intoxicating it made me choke on my breath. I clenched my hands until my fingernails cut through the barrier of my skin, and willed myself to gather my composure before I turned into a raging lunatic right there and then. But I knew I had to get this over with fast if I wanted to avoid the inevitable.

  ***

  We came to a halt in a big round hall with more marble pillars and stone carvings. In the middle of the high ceiling was a glass ornament in the form of a hexagon that captured the light in a million facets and reflected it in a strong beam in the shape of a single bright star across the marble floor. Witches and warlocks were gathered to the east and west of the star. Their gazes were averted, but I could feel they were watching us. Waiting. Wondering. In front of us was a raised podium with a few seats. For the Council, I gathered, but the seats were empty.

  “We’re here. So what happens now?” I whispered to Aidan, pointing at the vast hall filled with people.

  “We need to be officially seen and greeted,” Kieran explained through gritted teeth. “It’s all a terribly formal, meaning boring, custom. A bit like assessing an opponent in an open field, with lots of prancing up and down to figure out all his strengths and weaknesses, and trying to intimidate him along the way.”

  “Interesting.” I glanced around, not really getting it. “So, exactly who is on the Council?”

  “They’re not here,” Aidan said.

  “But we’re in the Council room at the designated meeting spot.” I wondered why we were called to the Council room when there would be no council.

  Aidan leaned closer to whisper, “The Council is a private organization made up of some of the most powerful people in Morganefaire. We’re not allowed in without an invitation.”

  “Ah, I got it.” I rolled my eyes inwardly. So, we were here to fluff our feathers like a glorious peacock and make a good impression. If we did our job well, then we might be allowed to meet the big wigs.

  “This is the finest pretentious crap you’ll ever see,” Kieran said. I peered at his amused face, unsure whether he was being serious, or making fun of the gathering. Either way, for once I had to agree with him.

  “Aidan McAllister and his companions have arrived,” someone said. The room fell instantly silent. Countless eyes fell on us. I could feel their prodding gazes on my back, brushing over my skin.

  “We’re happy to have you back, brother,” a towering, blond guy said, inching forward.

  Aidan took his hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “It’s good to see you again, Logan.”

  Logan greeted Kieran, then turned to me. “And this is your lovely lady?” His hazel eyes narrowed in a scrutinizing look. Surprisingly, he seemed quite young, around twenty or twenty-five. I wondered why he called himself one of Aidan’s brethren
when he was barely older than me. Maybe Botox, I figured, until he smiled and fine lines creased the thin skin around his eyes.

  I returned the smile. “I’m Amber.”

  “A beautiful name,” he said. “It suits you.”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Thank you,” I whispered, not sure what else to say.

  “Your brethren have been expecting you,” another male voice said. My attention snapped to the man standing to my right: just as tall as Logan, but at least ten years older with black curls, and more poise in his demeanor.

  He walked over to Aidan and bowed this head slightly while making a strange gesture with his hands. “Merry Meet, and may the three Gods bless you with honor, strength and truth.”

  “This is one of the kickass Council guys,” Kieran whispered. “It seems like they might honor us with their presence after all.”

  “Riley,” Aidan greeted him. They exchanged a few words but my attention was already elsewhere engaged. Behind Riley stepped someone I immediately recognized.

  Chapter 6

  “Hi, Blake,” I said, taking in the tan skin and dark hair that brushed the collar of what looked like an old-fashioned waistcoat stretched over his broad chest. Even though the large room wasn’t fully illuminated, the pendant—a sapphire eye inside a triangle—dangling from a golden chain around his neck, shined unnaturally bright, almost as bright as the bronze flecks shimmering in Blake’s burnished gaze. I swallowed hard at the memory of the same dark eyes focused on me when he tried to kill me only a few weeks previously in the hope to stop the Prophecy of Morganefaire. Aidan let him live, but only if Blake never came near me again. And then Blake saved my life from a werewolf and Rebecca’s ghost, and asked me to bring Aidan to his brethren. He was once Aidan’s best friend so, naturally, I had forgiven him a long time ago, but my boyfriend hadn’t.

  Aidan froze to the spot. Someone cleared their throat and then the room fell silent again. I knew Aidan wouldn’t greet Blake over a cup of coffee and muffins, but his icy stance and lack of willingness to acknowledge him at all took me by surprise. Aidan’s eyes swept over everyone but Blake, as though he wasn’t standing only a few feet away from us. I wondered what would happen if someone locked them up in a tiny room, alone and with no means for escape. Would Aidan’s Scottish temper boil over? Or would they kiss and make up like normal people?