“You’re not going alone,” he warned.
“Fine, then go with me.” I ducked under his arm and rushed for the path.
Trent barged into the cabin before I could, and I came to a sudden stop beside him. Sean, Jax, Whitney, and Wyatt stood in the living room with a group of three women—members of the Rose Coven. A thick current of fear hung in the air, and I rubbed my hands up my arms.
Trent stepped in front of me and said, “You’re not welcome here.”
Sean glared at Trent. “They simply want to talk.”
Trent scowled.
I stepped forward so I was once again standing next to Trent rather than behind him. He wrapped a protective arm around my waist. Jax eyed me, something sinister brewing in his expression. I shuddered.
“You must be Chloe.”
A woman stepped forward. She wore dark green leggings with a deep gray tunic. Silver hoop earrings hung from her earlobes, and a matching silver necklace with a rose hung around her neck.
“I’m Ivy, leader of the Rose Coven.” She extended her hand.
I stared at her for a long moment, then hesitantly reached out to take her hand. Trent’s hold tightened, and he growled.
I shook Ivy’s hand. “Hello.”
“May we speak for a moment?” she asked.
Did I really have a choice in the matter? I nodded.
Her gaze darted around the room. “Alone?”
“Absolutely not.” Trent guided me behind him.
“I see,” Ivy said with an air of authority that sent a chill through me.
“It’s okay, Trent.” I slid my hand into his, lacing our fingers.
He glanced down at me, his features relaxing.
“She just wants to talk,” I said, surprised at how level my voice sounded.
“I give you my word. We are not here to harm Chloe,” Ivy said. “Why don’t the rest of you go out onto the porch so we can speak privately in here? Consider it your assurance that we won’t attempt to kidnap her.”
Trent, Jax, Sean, and the twins all turned to look at me, silently asking what I wanted to do.
I nodded. “It’s okay.” My tone was a lot more self-assured than I felt.
Trent clutched my face and kissed me with so much desperation I whimpered. And then everyone was gone, and it was just me and Ivy. I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress and took a deep breath. Nervous energy crackled in the air around me.
“Let’s sit.” Ivy nodded toward the couch.
I sat at the opposite end.
“You look very lovely. Celebrating something special?” she asked.
“My birthday.”
She smiled, sat, crossed her legs, and then chanted something in a language I didn’t understand.
My ears rang with deafening silence. “What did you just do?” I asked.
“I soundproofed the house. Those vampires and their enhanced abilities. We don’t need them eavesdropping, do we?” She folded her hands on her knee. “Do you know why we’re here, Chloe?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I shifted on the couch. Why did this suddenly feel like it was going to be an interrogation?
“So, then, you must know who you are and who we are.” She raised a brow, waiting for an answer to a question she never asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” I cleared my throat.
“You know of Samara as well?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Hmm.” She adjusted her tunic as if stalling for time. Why, I had no idea. “There’s a natural order to everything, Chloe. The universe is built on the yin and yang, good and evil, light and dark… for every death, there’s a new birth.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, drawing out the word. Why was she telling me this?
“When that balance is upset, it causes a ripple effect. Do you understand?”
I nodded, though I wasn’t completely sure what she was talking about.
“When Rector cursed the Halsteads, he used an immense amount of dark magic. He drew upon sources that should never be touched, and he upset the natural balance of things. It has severely weakened every coven in the eastern hemisphere,” Ivy explained. “Ours most of all.”
I sat straighter, my body tense and ready to run if needed. Though I doubted I’d get very far, especially in these stupid heels. When I’d tried to run from Isach, he’d shouted one word and I’d been rendered immobile. I suspected Ivy and her coven could do the same. Or worse.
“We’ve lost much needed resources and several sisters in our quest to restore the balance,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
And I truly was. Death wasn’t easy, neither was the constant grief. At least when I finally died, I’d find peace from the pain of loss. That was a relief Trent would never have. I momentarily closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.
“You know how important you are.” Ivy moved closer, and her hand rested over mine. “Will you help us restore the balance and end this ridiculous feud?”
This was it—time to make a choice. Too bad I still didn’t have any of that strength I’d wished for.
“You do know that to break the curse I have to become a vampire, right?” I asked.
Ivy nodded. “Yes, that is a rather unfortunate consequence, but considering you’re in love with one of them, I don’t see the problem.”
I laughed. She didn’t see a problem. Of course, she didn’t. I shook my head and stood. “What if I say no?” I asked as I moved around to the opposite side of the room, needing some distance from her.
“That’s really not in your best interest.” Ivy stood, too, and we faced off across the coffee table. She was a petite wisp of a woman, but she radiated intense power.
I wasn’t going to provoke her, but I needed a little more time.
“We know that Samara sought you out when you were a young child. At the time, we didn’t know it was you, but we knew she was close to figuring out a way to break the curse. Then she disappeared, and we spent years searching for her, for answers as to what happened.” Ivy’s voice was soothing; it was easy to get lost in her words.
“He
