I stared at her in disbelief. After all we’d been through at the hands of these witches, led by her late sister, I couldn’t believe that she had the gall to even suggest this.

I had neither trust in nor patience for this woman. “If you think you can fool us into thinking you’re here for some benefit of ours, you should leave right now. We’ve had more than our fair share of dealings with you people. The only reason you’re here now is that you need us.”

Brisalia’s face flushed red, and anger sparked in her eyes. I assumed that as royalty back in the Sanctuary, she wasn’t used to being spoken to in such a harsh manner. But I didn’t care who she was. She could be empress of the universe for all I cared and I’d still treat her for what she was—a heartless, backstabbing narcissist, like they all were back in The Sanctuary.

Although it was a shock to learn about the Ageless’ death, and I wondered how she’d died, I couldn’t honestly say I felt even a moment of sorrow over the news. After all, it had been the Ageless who had separated me from my husband and twins at birth—all in the name of keeping their own realm safe, keeping their precious balance.

I turned to Mona and gripped her arm, forcing her to face me. “I don’t care what these witches say they can offer us. I want them off this island.”

I stormed toward the exit and was about to leave when Brisalia called after me.

“What about the return of your daughter?”

That stopped me cold. I turned slowly to face her, barely breathing.

“We have better intelligence than you could ever have about the black witches,” she continued. “We could search out your daughter and bring her back to you, in exchange for your cooperation.”

My mouth felt dry as I stared at her. As much as I distrusted the witch, I wasn’t sure I had it in me to refuse such an offer. I was so desperate, I was beginning to believe I’d do anything to get Rose back.

“And perhaps,” Brisalia continued, “we can shed light on why they decided to target Rose. We can clear up your confusion, tell you what’s really going on with these witches.” She brushed her hand over Csilla’s shoulder. “I’d take the offer, if it was my daughter.”

I knew how treacherous these witches were. Yet another part of me—the part of me that was closer to desperation—argued that perhaps we could use their help without putting ourselves at risk. Mona was here to keep control of them, after all.

This desperate part of me wondered if perhaps I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. The problem was, this horse felt too much like a Trojan horse…

My lips opened, but no words came out. Finally, I said, “Give me some time. My son is turning into a vampire… I need to speak to my husband.” I gripped Mona’s shoulder and looked at her sternly. “Make sure these witches don’t take a step out of here in the meantime.”

Chapter 27: Rose

I woke to banging. My eyes shot open. My bare form still entwined with Caleb, I shook his shoulder. “Caleb, wake up.”

His eyes opened slowly. I was about to call out not to come in, but Caleb leaned over me and caught my lips in his. His kiss was strong, intense, demanding. He held my head in his hands, not allowing me to break free to gasp for breath. Although I could have stayed in bed kissing him all morning, the urgency of the knocking was beginning to worry me.

“Caleb,” I managed, when he finally allowed me to resurface. “The door… Micah?” I called out. “What do you want? Wait—”

But it was too late. The door swung open and Micah entered. I was surprised to see that he was soaking wet, his long hair dripping onto the fluffy cream carpet. He raised his brows and took a few steps back.

“Uh,” he said, pulling his eyes away from us and looking down at the floor. “I need to show you something.”

“What?” Caleb grabbed one of the sheets to cover himself and got out of bed.

“Just follow me.”

I picked up my bathrobe from the floor and wrapped it around me before following the two men down the corridor. Micah stepped out on the deck and beckoned. Caleb went into one of the bathrooms and grabbed a thick bath towel. Holding it over his head, he stepped outside with us, squinting.

Micah walked to the edge of the boat and pointed down at the waves. “One of you needs to jump in to see what I’m talking about.”

“I’ll go,” I said, tightening my robe around me. “Caleb will get burnt if he does.”

I gripped Micah’s shoulder and used him as support as I swung my legs over the barrier and dipped into the water. The waves were crystal clear and warm as they lapped against my skin. I swam forward a few meters, then looked back.

My heart leapt into my throat. The boat had vanished. In its place, nothing but empty waves.

“What’s wrong?” Caleb’s voice came from a few meters away. I looked up wildly toward his voice.

“Caleb?” I gasped.

“Rose, what’s wrong?” His voice was beginning to sound anxious, and a second later, I heard a loud splash and saw him surface in the waves a few feet away. He was wincing as the sun beat into his flesh. I pointed toward where the boat had been. His face contorted with shock as he looked at it.

“I told you, you needed to see this,” Micah called out.

I looked at Caleb, his skin beginning to dry out in the sun. Pushing my shock aside, I swam up to him and tugged at his arm. “Come on, let’s get back to the boat.”