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I stare at her, grab hold of her hand. It feels as real as my own.
“I’m scared,” I tell her. “Of the fire. I’m scared I’m going to hurt him. Is this because of your spell?”
“Only partly. The spell, or perhaps simply meeting Luca, unleashed power that had lain dormant inside you. You are brave, Rosa. Strong. You love so very fiercely that you burn with it. All Seers are powerful, but you? You have the heart of two. You know what I speak of.”
I close my eyes, whispering her name. “Serena.”
She nods, deep sympathy in her gaze.
“You will learn to control this power in time,” she tells me. “As for Luca, you will not harm him. He is d’Argento. He may be a vampire, but once he knows and embraces who he truly is, he will be more than that. He will walk through those flames, because he is silver, and silver does not catch fire.”
A heart-wrenching scream comes from the valley below us, and I clench my fists so tightly my nails dig into my palms. “What can I do?”
“You can leave me now. Go back to him. Keep him safe. Keep the world safe.”
Behind her in the distance, I see a bridge. It spans a river that was not there a moment ago. “This way?” I ask. She nods, passes me an apple. “For Luca,” she says. “He always loved them so.”
I walk to the bridge, see that the water flowing beneath it is bright silver. I lean over, finding my face reflected in its shining stream. Not just my own face. There is someone else, standing next to me. Someone heartbreakingly familiar.
Serena.
I whirl around, but I am still alone. As much as I ever am, I think, as I cross that bridge and go back to the real world. I need to be with Luca. I need to do what his mother told me and keep him safe.
I come back to consciousness on a couch in Bruno’s library. Less of a couch, I think, wriggling around, more of a fancy chaise longue.
“Hurrah! You’re back!” Minnie says, dabbing at my forehead with a damp cloth. “And you brought an apple.”
“How long was I out?” I ask, swiping her hand away and sitting upright.
“Ten minutes maybe?”
Oh. That’s weird. Luca was gone for so much longer. And while he was there, he said he felt confused, like the real world faded away. None of that happened for me, and while I’m grateful, it’s yet again extended my ever-increasing “Things I Don’t Understand” list.
Bruno stares at me. “What happened?”
I shrug. “Not sure. Went to some other realm. Met Luca’s mom.”
He shakes his head in wonder. “You met her? Caterina d’Argento? What did you talk about?”
“Oh, you know. This, that, the other. Some of your speculations were right. The Bargain wasn’t quite the selfless pact it’s been presented as. There was a lot of jostling for power, with the Firenzes jostling the most. It was them. Giulia, Vincenzo. They killed the d’Argentos. They kidnapped Luca, blackmailed her into helping them. Then transformed him against his will. The memory loss, the blood spell … it was all her.”
Minnie gasps, her eyes huge. “Oh. My. Goddess. I wish I’d been able to talk to her. I’d love to know more about that spell. I mean, I’m good, but that was next-level amazeballs …”
I let her fangirl for a moment as I go through everything Caterina told me, making sure I don’t forget a single fact. “She said he was in danger. That the world was in danger. I think I have to go back, Minnie. You can stay here and do more research, but I need to leave.”
There is more to tell her, and there are more questions to ask Bruno. But I feel a sense of urgency in my gut now. I don’t know if it’s because of all the magical woo-woo churning around in my system, but every instinct I have is telling me I need to get home.
My amulet flares ice cold and silver for a single pulse. Looks like it agrees.
Chapter 24
Luca
She walks into the room just as I’m about to leave it. Dressed in tight black jeans that make her ass look spectacular and a fitted sweater that clings to her chest. Her hair is up in a bouncing ponytail, and the second I lay eyes on her, I want to sink myself into her.
“Hi honey, I’m home,” she says, taking everything in with a quick glance. She frowns at the sight of the guns, the stakes, the small army of men at my back. They’ve been getting prepped. Aiming for peace, ready for war. “You’re having a party? Did my invitation get lost in the mail?”
She puts a hand on her hip, tilts her head. Pouts a little. My cock immediately goes hard, and she smiles when she sees it. Her eyes lingering on my groin make the whole situation even worse. I growl and close the distance between us. Push her back against the wall, kiss her so damn hard she’s left breathless, clinging to my shoulders. “What are you doing here?” I ask, once I feel like I’ve shown her who’s in charge.
