an ambush?” Lucca asks eagerly, earning an annoyed glance from his girlfriend.
“Give him a minute,” she snaps.
“I see a great shadow covering the entire town … no, not shadow, more like a sentient black smoke. It has … red eyes.”
My blood turns ice cold in my veins. I haven’t seen anything quite like it, but that sounds like something from demonic origins. I can’t simply sit around and wait for Elena to show her hand. And since there most definitely won’t be any wedding happening, Ryker’s plan is pretty much garbage at this point. There’s only one thing left for me to do.
“You should head to Ember Emporium and see what the dragons want,” I sigh.
“What about Rikkon’s vision? Are we going to simply ignore it?” Vivienne asks.
“No. That sounds like something triggered by dark magic, which means it falls in my domain.”
“Bullshit, Rora. I know what you’re thinking. You’re not going to face off against that old hag alone,” Saxon retorts.
“I’m not going after Elena. There’s someone else I need to see, and I have to do it alone.”
“Who?” Cheryl asks.
“My mother.”
My heart is heavy as I drive to my old childhood home. I texted Miranda, asking if Mom was home. I could call her directly, but I’d like to have the element of surprise. But it’s not only the prospect of seeing my mother that’s making my chest tight with worry. Saxon went with his friends to Ember Emporium. The last time he faced a dragon, he almost died. And from what Cheryl told us, it didn’t sound like they were invited to a party.
I’m so torn. I wish I could have gone with Saxon, but I can’t postpone what I have to do. We might be running out of time. This conversation with my mother can’t wait until the morning, especially with Rikkon’s vision hanging over our heads. No one in town is equipped to deal with a demon besides the damn warlocks, and even so, just two of them might not be enough. I have to stop Elena at all costs before she unleashes what Rikkon saw in his vision. Even if there’s no solid proof that she’s behind that dark cloud, my gut is telling me she’s the villain.
When I park in front of my mother’s house, I’m taken over by jitters. My stomach is clenched tight and my heart has decided to run a marathon in my chest. I’m not only going to tell Mom about Elena, I’m going to come clean about everything, including my bond to Saxon. It’s damn stupid that I’m feeling so nervous. I’m a grown woman, for fuck’s sake.
I get out of the car before I lose my nerve, and march toward the front door with squared shoulders. In hindsight, I’ve always known that it would come to this. I was in denial land thinking that I could break my bond with Saxon. We were never meant to be a one-night stand, mating bond or not. I’ve never connected more deeply with anyone in my entire life, but my prejudice against vampires didn’t let me see what was right in front of me.
I still have the house key, but I opt for ringing the bell. A moment later, Niko opens the door sporting a Cheshire smile, and a glint of mischief in her dark eyes. I can’t possibly begin to imagine what she thinks she knows, unless Miranda opened her big mouth about Saxon.
“Oh, you’re in trouble.” She smirks before letting me through.
“When am I not in trouble these days?” I mumble under my breath.
“Is that Aurora?” my mother asks from the den.
“Yep. The prodigal daughter returns!” Niko laughs.
Miranda joins us in the entry foyer, and without missing a beat, hits Niko upside the head. “Stop being so gleeful, brat.”
“Ouch!” She rubs the sore spot, glowering at Miranda.
Niko has always taken advantage of being the youngest, and Miranda and I indulged her. We took turns pampering or protecting her from our mother’s tongue-lashings or punishments. Sometimes we even took the blame for something she did.
She’s the one who takes the most from our Japanese heritage, which is why she looks twelve instead of her actual age of fifteen, and also explains the reason we babied her so much. We couldn’t look at her adorable face and the puppy look she’s perfected without caving. That’s quickly changing these days.
Our mother stops in the hallway, glaring at me so hard I almost believe she’s hexing me somehow. There goes my chance