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“You’re the best. You’d be a great asset,” Sylvia said. “We could give you everything you ever wanted. Why be in a local regional grocery when you could be worldwide? Your wine all over the world. You’d be like a princess in our empire. All you have to do is work for us.”
A shiver ran down Alice’s back at the thought. Her wine . . . sold worldwide.
“You’d be a bridge to a better future. A brighter future. Vampires and witches working together. Just think about it. All because of you.”
Sebastian’s words flowed over her ears like a siren-song—tempting, teasing, and compelling her to choose their offer. She had already achieved her goal. Her wine was in stores, not hidden away in a clandestine nightclub. This was her chance to go to the next level.Worldwide.
Alice studied her wine display. Her eyes inspected greenish-blackbottles glistening in the store lights. She imagined shelves and shelves full of those bottles—her wine—all over the world.
“There is a catch, though,” Sylvia said. Alice fixed her gaze on Sylvia. “You have to give us something in return. We wantThe Lovers’ Kiss. We know you have it. A friend of yours told us you had it. Her name slips my tongue, but not the taste of her blood. Very sweet, I recall. She wore a lovely red hat.”
Alice clenched her fists beneath the table. There was only one person she knew who wore a red hat. Sam. Alice’s inhales became pronounced. Her emotions were a mixture of anger and concern for her former lover.
“Is she still alive?” Alice asked.
Sylvia smiled and tilted her head.
“Is she?” Alice pressed. Her nose snarled.
“Why would I kill a valuable asset? She helped to lead me to you, didn’t she?” Sylvia asked.
Alice released her clenched fists.
Sylvia continued, “We know you have it. We want it.”
Alice couldn’t hand it over. Not after promising her grandmother to guard and hide it. Not after all the people who died to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It was her duty—her obligation—to protect it, and at the moment, she was failing.
Why shouldn’t I hand it over? It’s brought me nothing but pain and suffering since I’ve had it. I wouldn’t have had to move and uproot my life if not for that stupid spell. I didn’t want it, anyway. Give it to them, and end this stupid war.
“Everything you ever wanted. Right there. For the taking,” Sebastian teased.
His words pulled her ever closer to blurting out the word yes.
“Let’s make a deal. What do you say?”
What about Hugo? If not for that spell, that wonderful spell, I would have never met Hugo. The love of my life. He’d still be lost and broken. I’d be miserable with Sam. I can’t give it up now.
Alice turned to Hugo, hoping for a confirmation to takethe deal and live out her dreams.He lifted his head, his eyes watery as if they were holding back tears. He swung his head left and right as if to beg her to turn down the offer. Alice shook her head, wiping away the temptation. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do it to her grandmother, her family, Ez, and Hugo. This was her burden. Her responsibility. Her legacy. She knew what she had to do.
Alice raised up to look at both Sylvia and Sebastian from under the bottom brim of her hat.
“Why would I want to be a princess when I’m already a witch?” she asked.
Sylvia slammed her hands down on the table.
Alice jolted in her seat.
“This is your last chance. Give us the spell and join us, or else face the consequences,” Sylvia shouted.
Sebastian placed his hand on hers.
“Or what?” Alice growled in a low voice. She ignited a purple flame of arcane energy in her hand.
Sylvia cowered back in her seat.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sebastian said as he threw himself against Sylvia’s body, attempting to shield her. “Let’s not do anything hasty.”
Sylvia snarled at Alice. “If you walk away or run or do anything else, we’ll find you.” She displayed her elongated fangs. “That’s a promise.”
