“You could try,” Christy offered.
I nodded, feeling weak.
“What did Fuchsia say could help Violet?” Carter asked.
I shook my head slowly. “It was vague. She told me there was something that could awaken her. That I’d know it when I saw it, but it comes with a cost.”
“What’s that?” Christy asked slowly.
“A blood curse.”
Dace and Bakula whipped around in horror.
“The blood curses are worse than death.” The small female fairy flew over to me.
“That’s Bakula,” Christy said quickly.
“How do they come about?” I asked.
“The spell that woman cast involved things that magic should never touch.” Bakula shook her head.
“But if it helps my sister live . . .”
“It might not be much of a life.” Bakula fluttered back to Violet and touched her forehead.
“How do I know what will cure her? Fuchsia said I’d know when I’d found it.” Dace and Bakula looked at one another just as Lydia and Gary came inside, holding something in a small bag.
“What’s going on?” I asked, lifting my gaze to meet Carter’s.
Carter pulled my hand into his as my throat burned.
Lydia flew to my sister and shook her head. She brushed some hair off my sister’s forehead and said a little incantation.
Lydia sniffled. “Oh, Violet.”
“Our birthday is tomorrow,” I whispered, touching my throat.
Lydia spun around. “I know, dear.” She shook her tiny head. “And this certainly isn’t how I’d expected we’d bring it in.”
Lydia’s sudden kindness worried me even more. I saw the little bag in her hands.
“Is that for my sister? Will it help her?” I asked, eyeing the velvet sack.
Lydia turned around and shook her head. “No, it’s for you if everything had gone as planned.”
“Planned?” I asked, feeling the room spin.
I needed to drink something, anything.
“Is it because I’m a Gàrradh sorceress?” I asked.
Uttering the words grated my throat and made my eyes close in agony. It was like someone was sandpapering the inside of my mouth all the way down to my belly.
“That’s not all you are,” Christy said softly.
My eyes snapped open, and I removed my hand from Carter’s. “What do you mean? What are you talking about? That’s plenty enough.”
Christy pulled out the kid’s menu she’d copied the engravings on from what seemed like eons ago. She handed them to Carter, who nodded slowly as he read the two words.
“What? What did you come up with?” I asked with barely enough strength to stay awake. “Do you mind getting me a little more water? I’m still extremely thirsty.”
Christy nodded.
“I don’t think water will cure your thirst.” Lydia pulled out an amulet from her little pouch.
“What is it?” I asked, slowly reaching for the necklace.
Lydia twisted the cap off the amulet, and I immediately sensed what it was.
“Go on. Take a little sip.”
My blood ran cold as I looked at Carter.
What was going on?
“I’m a sorceress. I’m not a . . .”
Carter ran his fingers along my hair as I took the glass of water from Christy.
I preferred water over what was inside the amulet.
Always would.
I set the empty glass down.
“What was on our lockets?” I asked, staring at Christy.
She looked at Carter and then handed me the paper.
I looked down, the two words telling me absolutely nothing.
I reached my hand up for Carter as my body betrayed me, and I fell against him, unable to stay awake.
“Your blood is torn between two worlds, Ivy,” Carter whispered, his words lingering next to my ear long after they were spoken.
But I knew I could no longer survive on water alone.
Chapter Thirty
Carter
We’d moved both Violet and Ivy back to their grandma’s home. We’d laid Violet on the bed in the guest room, and Ivy was still sleeping on the couch where we’d put her. She didn’t even marginally stir. Glinda was tucked in behind her, sleeping.
“She’s touched her throat a few times in her sleep.” Christy shook her head. “I’ve tried to get Lydia to tell me what’s going on, but she’s been very tight-lipped. She had me keep the amulet for later.”
I nodded.
“But when I’d looked in the attic a few days ago, I found some odd stuff. I was hoping you’d know more.”
“Anything super interesting?” I asked, not wanting to pull my gaze away from Ivy.
“I think it might give Ivy some answers when she wakes up.”
I nodded and reluctantly followed Christy up the stairs to the second floor where another set of stairs took us up to the dark, dusty attic.
There were several trunks lined up on the back wall.
Christy shrugged. “This one trunk has an engraving on the lock that matches the ones on their lockets.”
She bent over and moved from trunk to trunk as I wandered through the rest of the attic, pushing cardboard boxes over and making a wider pathway.
“Here.” Christy pointed to the trunk on the end stacked on two others. “I can’t reach it.”
I made my way over and lifted the trunk to the ground. “It’s not very heavy.”
Christy bent over and read the engraving. “Yup, same as their necklaces.”
I knelt next to Christy as she started to open the trunk.
“You know what this all means, don’t you?” Christy’s eyes connected with mine. “You just haven’t wanted to say anything in front of Ivy.”
A chill ran through me as I looked at the two words that changed my life forever.
“Don’t open this,” I whispered, shaking my head. “This can’t be right.”
“What do you mean? You do know?”
I didn’t answer. I refused to let myself believe this could be happening.
But the lavender eyes.
My eyes.
I looked up at Christy.
Christy’s fingers slid to the lock. “Ivy needs answers.”
“Then open it.” I shrugged, taking a step back.
I nodded slowly, trying to understand what was happening.
Nothing made sense.
It had been so long ago.
I brought my gaze back to the trunk.
There was no denying the two words. They only had one meaning.
One purpose.
Those words shaped everything about me, who’d I’d become, who I’d never be.
“With her thirst . . . it makes sense.” I shook my head, knowing nothing made sense.
I knew she couldn’t get enough to drink back at Lux’s. I could see it as a thirst . . .
A craving, maybe?
But it didn’t make sense.
Ivy hadn’t been bitten, drained, or turned.
Had she?
“Yeah. It doesn’t matter how much water she downs. She still needs more.”
“You deal with the trunk. I’m going to go wait for Ivy to wake up.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Christy’s hands moved to her hips.
“If I knew, I’d tell you.” I started toward the stairs.
“You know more than me,” Christy muttered, sliding the trunk forward. “And you’re just not telling me.”
I darted down both staircases and made it into the living room within seconds. Ivy hadn’t moved since I’d seen her last.
My chest tightened when I saw her shallow breaths.
She was human.
I could hear her pulse.
Feel warmth running through her veins.
I sat next to her, brushing my hand across her cheek. Glinda was wedged between Ivy and the back of the sofa cushions, happily sleeping with her owner.
Everything seemed so normal, so ordinary.
Yet there was something inside of Ivy. Something was going on.
Ivy’s eyes opened, and she yawned, stretching toward the ceiling.
She brought her gaze to mine and smiled.
I slid my hand over hers and held it tightly. “How are you feeling?”
“Drained. Thirsty. Hungover without a sip of alcohol.” Her smile deepened. “You?”
“Fine. Just concerned about you.”
She slid herself up. “Don’t be. I’ll be fine. I’ve just been through a lot. How’s my sister?”
“The same. She’s sleeping upstairs.”
“I guess that’s what you call it.” She brought her hand to mine. “Do you think she’s at least able to dream?”
“I hope so.”
“Carter, what’s happening to me?”
“I wish I knew.”
She rested her head on my shoulder and reached for the water glass. “Remind me never to use fire again.”
I nodded, wishing deep inside that was all that had caused her thirst. “Noted.”
Ivy set the glass down and looked up at me. “Why are you looking at me so oddly?”
“Am I?”
She playfully smacked me. “Yeah. Knock it off.”
“Sorry.” I brought my gaze back to hers.
“Before I fell asleep, you said my blood was torn?” She squeezed my hand. “What did you mean?”
I wished I hadn’t said anything until I knew for certain.
Christy came down the stairs just as Lydia flew into the living room.
Lydia turned her attention to Christy’s hand.
“Good, you have it with you.” Lydia fluttered over to Christy and snatched the amulet out of her hand.
She flew over to the couch and glared at me.
I hid a smile. “Would you like me to move?”
Lydia pinched her nose. “What do you think?”
I moved, stifling a laugh. I highly doubted I’d ever get on Lydia’s good side.
Lydia shoved the amulet in Ivy’s face.
Ivy scowled. “I’m sorry, but I’m not just going to take a gulp of something because you’re telling me to.” She shook her head.
“Agatha said you might be reluctant.”
Ivy’s shoulders slumped. “It would have been nice if my grandma had told me a few things as well.”
“She couldn’t.” Lydia shrugged.
Ivy narrowed her gaze on Lydia. “Why’s that?”
“Magic folk know never to meddle in this kind of thing.”
Ivy brought a pillow to her lap. “And what kind of thing are you referring to?”
“We’ve been waiting for The One to turn for a very long time.” Lydia sat on the edge of the couch. “But every thirty years, something gets in the way.” She shot a dirty look at me.
“I’m not following you.” Ivy held onto the amulet, careful not to spill the contents.
“Your mother and her mother before her and so on come from a line of very strong women.” Lydia chuckled. “I think that’s the nice way of putting it.”
“You knew my mother?”
“And her mother before her, and so on.”
I looked at Lydia carefully, unsure of how old she actually was. Probably a lot older than I’d realized.
“The problem is that with every new generation, there have been obstacles.” Lydia shook her head and cupped her hands in her lap.
“What was my mom’s obstacle?” Ivy asked.
“Your father,” Lydia said snidely and shot me another look.
“I don’t understand. What’s so big about turning thirty?”
“Your powers strengthen. You become who you’ve always been meant to be.” Lydia fluttered from the couch. “That is, as long as you’re not mated by then. Not distracted.”
Ivy scowled. “Mated?”
Lydia zipped around my head. “Yes. Your mother found your father when she was twenty-nine, so the divination never came to be.
Christy sighed. “I’m so lost.”
Ivy let out a nervous laugh. “So am I.”
“You’re meant to be something special, Ivy Williams.”
“What about my sister?”
Lydia shrugged. “What about her? She’s not the chosen one. She’s already mated several times. She’s—”
Ivy held up her hand. “I get it. What is it that I’m meant to be?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. Not yet, anyway. Not until midnight.” Lydia eyed the amulet. “There’s too much at stake, Ivy. But I suggest that you take a sip of that liquid now and anytime you feel a thirst.”
Ivy’s gaze connected with mine, and my entire body tensed as I thought about those two simple words.
The ones on the lockets.
The ones on the trunk upstairs.
Those two words that changed an entire world.
“Okay, but how will I know that the divination you’re talking about is coming true?” Ivy cleared her throat. “What if I don’t even want it to come true?”
“The process has already started. You’ve clearly not mated with anyone. The powers have begun.”
Ivy’s cheeks flushed with an innocent embarrassment, which made me smile.
“You just have to wait and see.” Lydia clapped her hands as if she’d finished her lesson for the day. “But I think with your thirst, we can be pretty sure that you’re finally the one.”
By the looks of it, Ivy was more confused than ever.
“Go ahead, sip-sip. You’ll feel better.” Lydia tipped her head to the left.
Ivy brought the amulet up to her lips, sniffed, and took a little drink.
A euphoric expression washed over her face as her eyes closed, and I knew.
I knew deep inside.
Ivy put the cap on and hung the amulet around her.
“Good girl. I’m off to cook dinner for Gary. Just don’t let that vampire tempt you, Ivy. You’ve got one shot to make it to your birthday.” She stopped suddenly and turned around to look at Ivy. “And don’t be afraid, Ivy. You do have a choice. You will be able to choose your destiny. You can decide not to accept it.”
With that, she flew away as Ivy swayed on the couch for a few seconds before opening her eyes.
“I’m not thirsty anymore.” She smiled at Christy, but she refused to look in my direction.
“What did it taste like?” Christy asked.
Ivy’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I don’t know. Earthy.” She shrugged, obviously lying.
But I knew.
I knew the thirst was gone, but the hunger would be next.
“Does either of you know what’s going on? Because Lydia seemed extremely cryptic. She might have made sense to someone who knew what she was talking about, but I’m completely lost.” Ivy finally flashed a smile in my direction. “Other than that I have very clear instructions to stay away from you.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Story of my life.”
Christy stood and folded her arms.
“Would you tell us what’s going on?” Ivy studied me.
“I think I might be able to help explain.”
I prayed I was wrong.
That Lydia was talking about something much different.
When I saw the treasured family lockets with those two words engraved, my insides knotted.
It felt like a sick joke.
None of this made sense.
They matched two simple words. Sure, parts were rubbed off, but I knew what it said.
“What aren’t you telling me, Carter?” Ivy asked.
“Baobhan Sith,” I said slowly. “Does that ring a bell?”
Ivy shook her head. “Not in the slightest.”
“Your locket reads Baobhan and Violet’s reads Sith.”
“Which still tells me absolutely nothing. Sorry.” She tilted her chin up.
She leaned against me, waiting for more.
I wasn’t ready to tell this part of
my history, but it suddenly wasn’t mine alone.
It was becoming a shared history with a woman I was falling in love with.
“Carter . . .” Ivy prompted.
My eyes locked on hers, and I began. “The vampire who’d turned me all those centuries ago was a woman in the Scottish Highlands.”
Ivy looked shocked. “You were turned by a vampire female?”
“Not just any vampire and not just any woman.” I bit my lip. “She was nothing more than a legend when I’d first heard about her. I was tending to the fields when my sister teased me about getting bitten by the Baobhan Sith. I had no idea what she was talking about until I asked my dad. I was like twelve, but the story stayed with me.”
A deep ache stretched through me as I thought back to my sister, my family. We’d had so much to be grateful for and a life we’d all embraced, but my father’s blessing was a curse.
“I never believed in vampires, even though my dad believed in mystics and spirits. It just didn’t seem practical.”
Ivy laughed. “I’ve never thought of vampires as practical either.”
I grinned, feeling the tightness in my chest lessen.
Christy motioned for me to continue, looking extremely impatient. “So, why would Ivy and Violet be wandering around with that engraved on their lockets? And why would they have a trunk hidden in their attic with the same?”
Ivy straightened, touching her locket. “What is the Baobhan Sith?”
“It’s a form of vampire,” I explained. “The Baobhan Sith were female vampires from centuries ago in the Scottish Highlands. They hunted for pleasure. They lured their male victims merely by being beautiful and charismatic. They wanted nothing more than a feast. They weren’t searching for power, wealth, or acclaim.”
“Sounds completely opposite from today’s vampire,” Christy muttered.
I nodded. “They were merely feeding a hunger. The legend goes that they cast a spell on the men they’d entice. Once they captured them, however, they were ruthless, drinking as much blood from them as they could. The difference is they only fed once a year, no matter their vampire age.”
Ivy shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. My grandma was a sorceress. She must have just come into these things and kept them.”
Christy pointed at the locket hanging from Ivy’s neck. “But your necklace. That came from your mom.”
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