Page 21 of Awakened Light

When my ring slid north on the map, my heart plummeted to my feet. “It works on vampires.”

Catrain stood quickly and took my hand. “It doesn’t mean she’s dead.”

“What else can it mean?”

An iron grip of fear squeezed my insides.

Annella dead? No. No way.

Not only was it impossible to imagine a world without her, it was impossible to imagine someone being able to kill her. Annella was fierce and strong. And why would they risk killing her if Lothaire’s death is what they wanted?

“It can mean a lot of things,” Catrain said, tightening her grip on my hand. “Don’t lose hope. I feel in my gut that she’s still alive.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Thank you for trying, Cat.”

“I’m sorry it didn’t work. But you need to go now. My mother certainly felt me lift the protection spell and will be here soon.”

“I appreciate you letting me come back and wish I could spend more time with you. But I don’t want to get you in trouble, and I need to go find Annella.” I squeezed her hands and stepped into her space. “Please tell me you’ll let me come back and see you again after we save Annella. Maybe talk to your mother and make her see that I’m not the monster she thinks I am.”

“Thorne.” She closed her eyes. “You can’t come back.”

“No, he cannot,” Liùsaidh said, startling us both.

When I looked to the trees lining the beach, I saw Liùsaidh and Cat’s sister, Alpia walking toward us, with a dozen warriors behind them.

“Mother.” Catrain dropped my hands and stepped back. “I’m sorry. He just needed my help.”

“We will not help vampires again,” she scolded, stabbing her staff into the sand.

“It was just this once,” Catrain said. “Annella was kidnapped, and he needed me to do a locator spell. That’s all. It didn’t work, and now he’s leaving.”

She looked at me and gestured for me to get into the boat.

“It will not work because she is not on island. The magical barrier prevents magic from leaving.”

“What?” I asked, stepping forward, but Catrain stopped me with a hand on my chest. “So, it won’t detect anyone off the island? She’s not dead?”

Liùsaidh rolled her eyes. “Not likely. You are impossible to kill.”

Catrain spun back. “She’s right. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it, but the barrier that protects us would stop my magic from crossing it. That means I can’t perform the spell to find her unless I’m on the other side.”

“It will work if you cross the lake?”

“I think so,” she said, excitement brightening her eyes.

“Please. Cross with me.” I reached out my hand, but she just glanced at it before looking back to her mother.

“Catrain, please. You can’t let them die. I need your help,” I begged.

“You leave now.” Liùsaidh pointed her staff at me. “Do not return.”

Catrain looked at her mother and then lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Thorne. I hope you find her.”

“Cat,” I said on a sigh. “Don’t do this. You have a choice. You’re not a prisoner here, are you? You can leave and come back to your tribe.”