I glanced at Carter to see if he’d noticed.
He hadn’t or he was good at acting.
“She enjoys spending time with them,” I explained.
Fuchsia’s brow rose. “Spending time with them?”
Christy groaned and looked extremely annoyed at my explanation. “Violet is sleeping with as many vampires as she can, and she walks a very fine line. Carter thinks she’s trying to turn. I don’t know, though.”
Fuchsia’s gaze locked on mine. “What do you think about your sister? Do you think she wants to turn?”
I closed my eyes and wished it weren’t true, but I knew in my heart that it was. I blinked my eyes open and nodded.
“Yes, I think she wants to turn. I think she wants to become one of them.”
Chapter Eighteen
Carter
I wanted to pretend that hearing the word them roll off Ivy’s lips with such disdain didn’t cut me a little bit, but it had.
It had cut deep.
Ivy stood and helped Christy and Fuchsia make tea, and I wandered over to the painting above the fireplace. It captured a time only a few hundred years ago where man and beast fought until neither could fight any more, and it had all been orchestrated by one being.
A sorceress.
The knot in my chest tightened. It wasn’t unusual for witches to acknowledge the great battle. After all, it was when the Wards united and formed the Nightfall Realm. Before the war, each Ward was its own realm. Invite only, really.
After the war, the Realm became its own sanctuary for mystics. Vampires were allowed a place in each Ward, but it was a cold welcome.
It was something I was sure Ivy knew little to nothing about, and I didn’t understand why.
Why would her grandmother, who embraced magic so fondly, push her granddaughters away from it so forcefully?
Unless she was afraid for them.
Laughter came from the kitchen, and I knew undoubtedly that I’d become the source of their jokes. Fuchsia’s cackle said it all.
I roamed into the kitchen to see all three women looking up at me.
To my horror, Fuchsia had pulled out a photo album.
And no. It wasn’t true that vampires couldn’t be photographed.
The flash of the bulb didn’t make us go—poof! Just like the sunlight didn’t either. Would I spend my time in the Arizona desert? No, but could I venture outside on a somewhat cloudy day? Probably. We just avoided direct sunlight or it would start a very unpleasant process.
We also didn’t want to be immortalized in photographs.
Because of this very moment.
I stared at Fuchsia, who chuckled viciously. “Oh, don’t be a party pooper. You were handsome.”
Ivy smiled, bringing her gaze to mine, and I felt that charge again.
That connection.
Only now it was stronger, so much stronger.
“You two dated?” she asked, her brows raising.
Fuchsia nodded as I shook my head. “I wouldn’t call it dating.”
Fuchsia frowned and shoved the album toward Ivy. “Then what would you call it, Carter?”
Why did I not just keep my mouth shut?
“I’d call it a friendship that soured.”
Christy laughed and shook her head before throwing her hands in the air. “Oh, no, you don’t. We’re friends, and I sure as hell haven’t gotten down and dirty with you.”
Ivy giggled and looked relieved about that revelation.
“Okay, it was complicated.” I shrugged. “But I did value our friendship and was saddened when it dissolved.”
“Dissolved with the physical.” Fuchsia’s glare froze me in place.
Ivy cleared her throat. “Anyway, these were fun, but I think after the tea, we should start on the training. Whatever it is.”
Fuchsia closed the photo album and nodded. “Agreed.”
“Should we leave you two alone?” Christy asked Ivy and Fuchsia.
Ivy shook her head. “No.”
“Actually, it would be better if you didn’t have any interruptions.” Fuchsia glanced in my direction. “And I think he’s a big one.”
Ivy’s gaze connected with mine, and she nodded. “You’re probably right.”
“Christy and I need to take care of some stuff, anyway.” I glanced at Christy, who nodded slowly.
“Yeah. We have some things we need to take care of,” she repeated, looking anxious and starting to usher me toward the door.
“So, when should we return for Ivy?” I asked.
“A few weeks. That should give her a break before she returns.”
Christy stopped in her tracks. “Oh, no. We don’t have that long.”
Fuchsia cocked her head slightly. “How so? There’s no such thing as time in the realm.”
Christy traded a nervous glance with me. “Right, but we have business to attend to in the mundane world.”
“I see.” She narrowed her eyes on Ivy. “And what kind of business is that?”
Ivy stood tall and smiled. “You wouldn’t believe it if we told you.”
“Yeah? Try me.”
“The vampires want to take over the world.” She placed her hands on her hips. “And we’re going to stop them.”
Fuchsia laughed hysterically. “You’re right. I don’t believe you. But whatever. If you don’t want to tell me, fine.”
Ivy chuckled. “My friends are just overly dramatic, but can you teach me as much as you can in the next twelve hours? I need to get back to my sister.”
Fuchsia looked horrified. “Twelve hours? I’ve spent a lifetime gaining my knowledge, honing my craft, and you want me to teach you everything in twelve hours? Insulting.”
I hid a smile as I watched Ivy negotiate. “I wouldn’t ever pretend to know what you do, but my first goal is to merely not kill anyone or anything with whatever it is that’s going on inside me. I don’t need to know everything you do. I’m quite certain that’s impossible.”
Fuchsia softened slightly. “That’s it? You don’t want to know how to call a storm or lasso a vine as a weapon or hear the secrets of others from the roots?”
Ivy smiled. “I’m more concerned about what happened downstairs. I don’t want to unleash on someone because they shut a door in my face or tripped into me.”
Fuchsia brought her finger to her chin and nodded. “Remarkable.”
And I had to agree. Ivy was a remarkable woman.
She’d been handed a platter full of magic sorcerers couldn’t even dream of attaining, and Ivy didn’t crave the power that lured so many.
“What’s that?” Ivy asked.
“You are Tru’s daughter, and your father would be very proud.” Fuchsia smiled. “Have you wanted to meet them?”
The statement caught Ivy off-guard, and her gaze whipped to mine, but I didn’t know what to say.
Fuchsia was powerful. I knew that much, but I didn’t know she could call the dead.
Ivy sat on a stool next to the kitchen counter. She looked equal parts stunned and horrified.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” she said softly.
“You could too.” Fuchsia explained, looking puzzled. “It’s not that difficult, really. Just a matter of tracking them down and—”
“This is a lot,” Ivy interrupted. “I’d like to focus on the craft, the training. I . . .” She cleared her throat, and I realized she was holding back tears.
I wanted to run to her, to hold her, but I knew that would be ridiculous with Christy and Fuchsia here. Ivy wasn’t a delicate flower that needed protecting, but it killed me to see her like this.
“I’m not ready to meet my parents.” She brought her gaze to Fuchsia’s. “But I’m ready to be trained.”
Fuchsia nodded, and Christy grabbed my hand, knowing she’d have to pull me out of Fuchsia’s house.
I glanced over my shoulder one last time, and I saw Ivy staring at the ground while she tried to sort out everything that had just landed at her feet,
and I wondered if she’d ever be able to go back to the carefree Ivy I’d first met.
The moment I stepped outside Fuchsia’s home and onto the sidewalk of Raven Ward, I remembered why I hated this place.
The smell.
The air in Raven Ward reeked of desperation. The streets were filled with sorcerers who’d trade their souls for power. The pixies who strode through the Ward were always fire-eyed and ready to pounce on unsuspecting victims. Unlike Juniper Ward, the streets were filled with gambling halls, drinking holes, and plenty of prostitutes.
The people who chose to roam the streets of Raven Ward always rubbed me the wrong way, but knowing that was their preferred Ward to hang out in told me all I needed to know.
When I’d met Fuchsia, I was still wild. I didn’t care about much. The anger after hundreds of years still hadn’t died down.
I’d wanted revenge.
She liked that about me.
Our nights were crazy, but the days were depressing.
Everything I thought I wanted to become was repeated in front of me in a sick pattern of greed, lust, and gluttony.
Everywhere I looked, the living gorged on a way of existing that would kill most in the mundane world, but in the Realm, it was okay.
By the time I’d realized how sick it was making me, I couldn’t even look Fuchsia in the eyes any longer.
The last night I spent with her, I crawled down the tunnel sick from the air around me. By the time I made it to Juniper Ward, I was a changed man.
I vowed to be better.
She never forgave me for it.
And why would she?
I was basically telling her in not so many words that her way of existing was crude and anything but uplifting.
“Earth to Carter.” Christy tapped my shoulder. “Have you heard one thing I’ve said?”
I smiled and glanced around. We’d made it several blocks, and I hadn’t even noticed.
Not good for a vampire with a bounty on his head.
I looked up at the gambling hall next to us and sighed. “Have you ever noticed that nothing ever changes in Raven Ward?”
“Yeah. The place gives me the creeps. I’d gladly live in any of the other wards.” She shook her head and shuddered. “But not this one.”
“Same.” I glanced down the street and saw a group of six vampires walking our way. “Christy, I think we have some trouble.”
“Huh?” She spun around to see what I was talking about. “Shit.”
“Pretty much.”
“Do you recognize them?” she asked.
“No, but I didn’t recognize the ones the other day either. I think Lux is reaching wide for this.”
“Maybe he doesn’t trust your crew. He could think that they’re more loyal to you than to him.”
I shrugged. “Possible, but unlikely.”
The vampires spread into a line as they marched toward us. They were all dressed in black. They were all over a hundred years old.
“Why don’t you pop into one of these places?” I whispered.
“And let you go it alone? No way.”
I turned to Christy. “I’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.”
“But one of us has to be here for Ivy,” Christy said softly.
I nodded, and she smiled. “Fine, but please don’t go getting yourself killed quite so quickly. I think Ivy kind of likes you.”
I smiled as Christy bounded down the sidewalk, and I turned to face the crew coming toward me.
There was no point in running or hiding in Raven Ward. If they wanted me, they’d find me.
I’d only hoped that they would have taken longer to find us.
“Carter Voss.” The one in the middle started talking. He ripped off his sunglasses and stared at me. “I thought it would be harder to find you, and I certainly didn’t think it would be in Raven Ward.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I guess it’s your lucky day.”
“I guess so.” The vampire smiled and stepped forward as the ones behind him braced for a battle.
“What do you want?”
“I think you know what we want.” His voice lowered. “You were supposed to take care of the pixie and the sisters.”
“I guess Lux doesn’t like his orders being disobeyed.”
“Guess not.” The man squinted his eyes toward me. “Why wouldn’t you just do it, man? Why let it come to this?”
“It wasn’t the right thing to do.”
The vampire threw his head back and laughed. “Since when did Carter Voss start caring about doing the right thing?”
I scratched my chin and laughed. “I honestly don’t know, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.”
The vampires laughed.
“So, what do you want to do?” I asked, widening my stance.
“Lux doesn’t want us to hurt you. He wants to speak with you.”
I was sure he did before tossing me to a fate worse than death.
“And the pixie? The twins?”
He shrugged. “My men will handle them.”
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
The vampire looked surprised and twiddled his thumbs, which struck me as odd. “Just that simple?”
My head turned slightly toward the sky. The charcoal grey clouds were thick with the secrets I’d hated about this place.
Things I never wanted Ivy to know.
I brought my gaze back to the vampires in front of me.
There was a chance if I fought off these vampires, I’d win, but there might be a chance I wouldn’t.
They were older than the others.
I took a step forward. “Have you ever wondered what would happen to you when our kingdom falls?”
The vampires shifted uneasily and looked toward the leader of the crew for clarification.
“Because all kingdoms do fall, eventually.” I smiled, which made them more nervous.
“Enough chatter, Carter. Let’s get going.” He snapped his fingers at his crew. “Go find the pixie.”
He took a step forward. “Tell us where the twins are.”
“Not on your best day.” I shook my head. “And this is your worst.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ivy
“My first piece of advice for you, Ivy” —Fuchsia smiled— “is not to fall for Carter Voss. He’ll leave you broken, and worse, he’ll leave you questioning.”
“Thank you for that bit of advice.” I pushed a smile to my lips.
Like I’d take dating advice from an ex.
“Seriously, Ivy. You seem like a good kid.”
My eyes widened, and I laughed. “I’m turning thirty in less than a week.”
“Like I said . . .” Fuchsia laughed. “You have so much to learn. Most thirty-year-olds do, but you, more so. You’ve been sheltered.”
“I don’t feel like any therapy sessions right now.” I let out a sigh, feeling her words slither under my skin.
She shrugged. “No problem. It was just one woman to another, but I get it. He’s . . . charming.”
I turned around and rolled my eyes just to get it out of my system. I didn’t need to blow up all of her china or vases in her kitchen.
“Okay, so let’s go into my study. It’s down the hall and to the right.”
I nodded and followed her directions. I looked out the window and saw Christy and Carter wandering down the sidewalk a few blocks away. Christy was in deep conversation, but I wasn’t sure Carter was paying any attention.
“Okay, so we know that anger puts you in a powerful position.” Fuchsia came into the room and shut the blinds. “But what about love?”
I turned to look at the study I’d somewhat blindly walked into and noticed it matched the sitting room more closely with its dark colors and books on the Craft.
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love.”
She gasped as if I’d just committed the cardinal sin. “Never?”
“No, never.” I scowled. “It’s not that big
of a deal.”
She didn’t need to know I was also a virgin. I’d messed around and come close when I was a teen, but I never let myself get to that next step.
“You’re nearly thirty.”
“And a second ago, you thought that I was a child.”
She laughed, which only made me angrier. “Well, not when it comes to sex. I mean, how could you go that long?”
I folded my arms over my chest and shook my head. “You know, it’s not that big of a deal. There is more to the world than sex.”
“Oh, I don’t dispute that, Ivy.” Fuchsia smiled, grabbing a wand off the wall that had been arranged with several others. “Take this.”
I eyed the piece of wood she’d handed me. “Don’t tell me Agatha never let you play with hers.”
I shook my head, wondering why my grandma had kept us in the dark.
Was this why Violet wanted so desperately to turn into something she wasn’t? Because neither of us knew what we were, where we belonged?
“Well, I guess you’ll be experiencing a lot of firsts in the coming months.” She winked at me, and I scowled as she picked out a wand for herself.
“I’m not going to sleep with Carter Voss,” I blurted from nowhere.
Fuchsia spun around and chuckled. “Whatever you say, Ivy.”
“It’s true. I despise vampires.”
“Carter is no ordinary vampire.”
“He’s still a vampire.”
She shrugged. “I used to be like you.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, it’s true.” She nodded thoughtfully. “I’d spend my nights curled up by the candlelight reading books to expand my mind, learning spells to recite, and being quite content with my feline. Of course, this was nearly a hundred years ago, but you get the picture.”
It annoyed me that she had me down pat, could look at me and know I happily spent my weekends at home with a good book and Glinda by my side.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, but what I’ll teach you over the coming months will change your views on life.”
“I rather like my views on life,” I mumbled more to myself than Fuchsia.
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