Tavish’s face softened almost immediately. “Aye, he is. She makes him very happy. It’d be good to see another as happy, if you catch my meaning.”

Castle Mackenzie, Scotland

November 2010

‘We’re going to our home in South America. She’s devastated, Father. More than I’ve ever seen before. Since she’s turned, she can’t see any of her human family. She cannot see Benjamin. I’m asking for your help. I cannot watch her descend into despair like this. I cannot. She needs you, my friend. We both do.’

Carwyn clutched the letter that had finally reached him from China. He’d read it three times, but the contents never seemed to change.

Beatrice De Novo’s father, whom they had searched the world for, was dead.

The book, the manuscript that Lorenzo had been looking for, was gone, taken back by the monster who had torn his family in two. Had Ioan known of the book, somehow? It contained a mysterious formula purported to be the Elixir of Life, but there were more questions than answers in its discovery. Had this been what Ioan had been tortured for? So many of the answers they sought had died with Ioan and now, Stephen De Novo. But… there was an elixir. An elixir for humans that a vampire wanted. It had to be connected somehow.

Beatrice, like Brigid, was a vampire. Her father, Stephen, had sired her only weeks before he had been murdered by the same scum who killed Ioan.

Carwyn’s head fell in his hands. His friend had lost her father and her sire.

‘She needs you, my friend. We both do.’

Giovanni Vecchio, the immortal Carwyn had called on so many times to protect his family or help a friend, asked him to come to comfort. To counsel. Carwyn sat on the edge of his bed and looked at the shaggy face of the wolfhound puppy who watched him. He took a deep breath and ran a rough hand though the scruff at the dog’s chin.

“I have to go, Madoc.”

The dog only offered a whine.

“I know. I won’t make you go on the boat. Will you stay here? Keep an eye on things?” On her.

Brigid was stronger every day, and so was his fascination with the young vampire. Carwyn took a deep breath and a mental step back. He knew he needed distance. He had become infatuated with the girl, and he was coming to understand what Anne had been trying to say to him weeks ago. His reasons for staying were selfish.

He needed to leave.

His hand rubbed over the scar over his heart. Carwyn set the letter on the dressing table before he stood and opened the door. He paused on the stairs and caught the tail end of a conversation Brigid was having on the phone in the downstairs library.

“…I’d say no more than a year.”

There was a pause as she let the other person talk.

“No, I’m doing quite well.” Another pause. “Yes, Cathy Mackenzie from Edinburgh.” A low laugh. “No, Murphy, she’s not trying to get me to stay. I think one fire vampire per city is enough, don’t you?”

Murphy. Carwyn smothered the low growl and continued walking.

“Don’t tell me you’ve found someone to replace me already!” He could hear the smile in her voice. She was teasing the water vampire over the phone line. Friendly and familiar, with none of the awkwardness she often had in his presence.

“I’m grateful. No, I am. You don’t have to do that, but I won’t lie, I miss working. I hope… I just hope I can be the asset that you need.”

She was grateful? His Brigid was grateful to the upstart Dubliner? Didn’t she have any idea how valuable she was? Murphy should be thanking his lucky stars and all the saints that Brigid was willing to come back to the city that had so many unpleasant associations. With her skills, connections, and elemental ability, Brigid Connor could have had her pick of new beginnings. Terry and Gemma would love to snatch her for their organization in London. His allies in New York had long sought a more permanent connection with his clan. Not to mention all the people who owed him or Ioan favors. If Brigid had held a special status as a human, she had no idea how valuable and sought after she would be as a rare and well-connected fire vampire.

But Brigid was grateful to Murphy. It stuck in his throat.

“I need to go. It was great talking to you. And say hi to Angie and Tom. Declan, too.” Another pause. “No, of course not Jack. Tell that arse he better invest in some fireproof pants.”

Carwyn grinned. There she was. He saw the expected scowl when he walked into the library and she turned to look at him. Brigid lifted her hand in a small wave and turned back around.

“No… no, Murphy, I really need to go.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Okay. Okay. Bye.”

He gave her a moment to collect herself. He could feel her hot energy spike as he came in the room, but he could also feel the waves of amnis that emanated from her begin to smooth and even out. Finally, she turned and leaned against the back of the sofa.

“You look serious,” she said.

Carwyn closed the oak door and leaned against it. “I have to go.”

She only blinked. “Where?”

“South America.”

Brigid was frozen for only a moment before she spoke again. Her energy was heating up again, but not to an alarming level. “Is there anything wrong with Isabel and Gus?”

“No, it’s my friends. Do you remember my friend, Giovanni? The fire vampire? His mate, Beatrice… they’re on their way to South American now. She turned when she was in China and her sire—who was her human father, too—was killed shortly after.”