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“When I crossed back with the book,” I murmur, not able to hold his eyes, “someone came with me. My shadow self, or whatever.”
He drops his hands and takes a step back, looking to where V stands as if he can see her. “That’s what you and Feddei were talking about.”
“She—uh—well, she thinks she can help. With the whole Westcott situation.”
“Knows,” V corrects. “Knows she can help.”
I expect some exasperation, maybe a lecture to remind me how making a deal worked out last time. That is, if he actually believes me and doesn’t try to get me committed to the hospital for observation.
But instead, he turns back to me, the intensity in his eyes smoothing into something closer to curiosity as he shoves his hands into his pockets.
“What did she have in mind?”
CHAPTERTWENTY
I’ve spentmy life surrounded by power-drunk and bloodthirsty vampires, so it shouldn’t come as a shock. I shouldn’t be surprised as everyone at the Auclair estate gathers around the TVs to watch news coverage of Westcott’s compound burning like it’s their most anticipated event of the year. The cheers and satisfied smiles should be expected as impossibly orange flames fill the screen and the camera pans out to show the black smoke billowing up toward the sky.
Even with how far away the shot is taken, I swear you can see hands frantically beating on the windows inside.
The fire was days ago, but all of the news stations have been replaying the footage on a loop ever since.
I’d known Westcott wouldn’t negotiate. That no amount of threats or hostages would be enough to make him bend, but watching it play out was an entirely different matter.
Westcott let them all burn.
Welet them all burn.
And now that the estates have had a taste of vengeance, they won’t stop. I know they won’t.
They’ll target a different compound.
Westcott will target a different estate.
And on and on the bloodshed will go.
Unless.
Unless.
I let out a frustrated breath through my nose and scan the page of Magnolia’s book again. It describes harnessing dark magic much differently than V had. It explains summoning the darkness and letting it in, like it’s an external force. Maybe that’s what it’s like for someone without a natural connection to dark magic.
“You’re overthinking it.”
Connor slams the book shut.
“I was reading that.”
He snatches it off the bench and paces farther into the gardens. With everyone still eagerly watching the news coverage inside, it’s quiet out here tonight, the same way it’s been for days.
“You didn’t get the hang of your blood magic overnight either. You’ll get it.”
“I don’t havetime,” I snap. “If I can’t pull this off, this is never going to stop!” I jab my finger back toward the estate.
“Val…you can’t take this all on yourself. No single person could.”
“At least with my blood magic, I couldfeelit. Things were happening right away. I just had to learn to control it. To shape it. But now, Connor, you don’t get it. I don’t feel anything.Nothingis happening.” My voice hitches at the end, and I clench my teeth and look away from him, not wanting to see the pity on his face.
I’ve read every word in every book I could find on dark magic three times over in the past few days. And when I wasn’t reading, I was practicing. And still, no improvement.None.
