together to figure out what his heart’s desire might be.
Standing in front of the throne-like chair, Aiden rubbed his fingertips along the arm. “Sofia…do you truly believe this will bring us together? That I can keep both vampires and humans safe?”
Sofia moved around him and draped her arm over the tall back of the chair and leaned against it. “Aiden, darling, I’ve got my own people to worry about. Do you think I would suggest something that would make my life harder? If you don’t take the throne, a war will start, and I have to put all my people in danger defending you and your family. Because everyone here knows the Variks will be in the middle of any fight to tear down injustice.”
From where Winter was standing, he could see a hint of a smirk on Aiden’s lips. “I would certainly hate to trouble you with a war.”
“Exactly. That’s why only you can pull our people together peacefully. Help us find a way forward.”
Aiden sighed. “It’s temporary. Just until we can set up a new base of leadership that provides a voice for all vampires, whether they are in a clan or not.”
“Excellent.” Rafe clapped his hands together and pushed to his feet again from where he’d been cuddled on the sofa beside Philippe. “Father kills Damon and claims the crown, calming all our peoples, so we can go back to normal life. I like this plan.”
“It’s only a plan if we know where to find Damon,” Marcus pointed out.
“That is where Winter and his ghosts come in,” Zelda said. She turned her eyes on Winter, their weight both tender and a little sad. “Go talk to her. I think she can help.”
Winter didn’t want to, but if it got him closer to Fox, he’d swallow down all his jumbled feelings and do it. Standing, he walked over to where the werewolves and Bel were tangled together. Just seeing his studious brother wrapped in a werewolf sandwich made him want to smile. Of all people…
Very slowly, Winter drew off the ring and held it out to River. “Hold on to this for me.”
Bel let out a little gasp, his eyes closely following the ring’s movement from Winter’s hand to River’s. The werewolf smiled broadly as he closed both hands around it and tucked it against his chest.
“Why does he get to watch over it?”
“Because it’s not science, Bel. It’s magic,” Winter teased. He started to turn and stopped, narrowing his eyes on River. “Plus, he knows that if he ever wants to touch my guitar collection, he’s going to guard that with his life from you fucking heathens.”
There was a little laughter, but the room turned oppressively quiet as he approached the door. He could feel all eyes on him, and he didn’t doubt that his brothers knew exactly who Winter was going to talk to. He was a little surprised they all weren’t jumping to get one last conversation in, but he was glad they weren’t. This chat was long overdue.
The whispers didn’t return to him until he was in the hall. So very soft, he almost didn’t notice them at first. And then a little girl ran across the hall chasing a bouncing beach ball. She looked as if she were maybe five or six, and she was dressed in a swimsuit. Poor thing was a far way from the beach. But she didn’t seem to notice him or the world around her. It was just about the ball.
Part of him relaxed to see the ghost. It had been weeks since they’d been a regular appearance in his life. It was almost like slipping into a comfortable pair of worn shoes. He descended the stairs to Marcus’s grand foyer. There were no other ghosts besides the passing child. His mother was usually right here watching them as they came into Marcus’s home.
Something white caught his eye in the doorway to the parlor, and Winter followed it. She was standing near one of Marcus’s pianos, an expectant look on her beautiful face. It was the same face he’d known his entire life.
“Mother,” Winter whispered, his throat suddenly raw.
“My poor, sweet Winter,” she said. Her voice wobbled as if she were close to tears as well. She held out both hands to him, and Winter quickly crossed the room to her side. He reached out to take her hands but stopped himself. His hands would only pass through hers, and he couldn’t take that right now. She lowered