Page 26 of Fading Sun

My heart twists at the sight of them. Not just with pain from how much I miss them, but also with a strange sort of jealousy. Because they’re together, and I’m here, without them, for the first time in my life.

The others in the coven move in the background. They’re blurred and indistinct, since it’s Willow that the spell focuses on, her every strained breath visible in the unsettling clarity of the vision.

“Willow,” I whisper, as if she can hear me through the magical channel.

She can’t. My visions only go one way.

Zara leans closer to her, reaching for her, but stops herself before she touches her.

I’m not surprised. Zara’s never been the touchy-feely type. The reminder of it as I look down on them now almost makes me smile.

“You need to rest,” she says, her voice echoing through the vision.

“No.” Willow shakes her head stubbornly, a lock of her auburn hair clinging to the sweat on her forehead. “Not until he’s back. I have to bring him back.”

“You will bring him back,” Zara assures her, as confident as ever. “You’ve been doing better every day. But you’ve pushed yourself enough for tonight. You can try again tomorrow.”

Someone else moves into the vision—Tristan. One of the three vampires of the Blood Coven. He puts his arm around Willow’s shoulders, coaxing her closer to him.

She leans into his touch, as if it’s one she knows well, as he whispers something into her ear.

I still, shocked.

Willow and Tristan.

Are they together? How could I not have known?

Easy—because I’ve refused to check on my sisters since leaving them. And now, at the sight of what’s apparently a budding relationship between Willow and Tristan, I feel more guilty about not checking in on them than I did before.

Whatever he says to her makes her pull her hands away from Ambrogio. And from the way he cradles her head, resting his forehead against hers, it’s clear that yes, they’re together.

Tristan—a man we’ve just met—is there for my sister when I’m not. She trusts him more than she trusts me.

A sob rises in my throat, followed by a tear making its way down my cheek.

I need to help her.

But how?

The only way to get through to her is to put myself in the path of the Blood Coven. To go there, to them, in their lair.

If it came down to it, I don’t think my sisters would hurt me.

But the others?

Three vampires—one of them centuries old—and the most powerful known witch in the world. They’re dangerous. Extraordinarily so.

Yes, I’m a powerful witch. But I’m realistic enough to know that if it’s me against the entire Blood Coven, I don’t stand a chance.

Besides, the reason I checked in on them in the first place doesn’t matter. Willow’s losing herself to her magic. She’s pushing herself too hard with her attempts to revive Ambrogio, not even knowing if reviving him is within her powers to do.

At the rate she’s going, she won’t have enough magic left to try healing me from whatever curse Blaze accidentally put on my mind.

Assuming it was an accident?

No, I shake the thought from my mind. Blaze didn’t do this to me on purpose. He wouldn’t do that. He has no reason to do that.

Or does he?

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