Page 92 of Princess Avenged

I steel my resolve. Even if I can’t regain Ana’s trust, I need to protect her. And I need to cross that portal with her. It’s time this witch gets on board with that program.

I follow Ana up another staircase, wooden this time but still grand, and it leads to another floor of rooms, at least four large bedrooms. In the corner of one is a winding wrought iron staircase that’s barely wide enough to accommodate my shoulders.

At its top, an ornately decorated metal door opens to reveal the nighttime lights of Paris. I draw in a sharp breath. It’s not my first time in this city, but past trips have always been on business, to complete some kind of mission, and I’ve never really seen the city from a vantage point like this. Never long enough to enjoy it anyway.

The Eiffel Tower’s lights are flashing, making a spectacle of themselves, and many other tourist spots are flooded with lights that make them easy to spot. Even the Seine is sparkling, reflecting all the surrounding lights.

Ember leans against the stone railing. “Isn’t it amazing!”

“Is it your first time in Paris?” I ask her, acting as if this view is no big deal for me.

Grinning, she nods. “Until recently, I’d never been outside of Pennsylvania. Barely outside of my house to be honest, and never at night.” She beams as she takes in the view. “The four of us have talked about traveling, but Axe isn’t keen, and I suppose now that I’m a vampire, we have lots of time ahead to do it.” Her eyes fill with wonder. “I don’t know how much Ana’s told you, but I haven’t been a vampire very long.”

“No one needed to tell me.”

“Oh, right.” Ember nods.

If she’s still learning magic, it’s clear that being a vampire is still new to her too. Her status as a baby is beyond obvious.

“What did you want to discuss?” I ask somewhat brusquely. As gorgeous as it is up here, I’d rather be closer to Ana, making sure that she’s safe.

“Before we start,” Ember says. “I need to cast a spell of privacy around us.”

I frown. “Why?” I hate magic. Probably because I don’t understand it, but still… She’s a witch. She could do anything to me.

“If you’re serious about crossing the portal, there are things you need to know, things the others can’t hear.” Her volume drops on that last phrase, going so low I wonder if she mouthed the words. But I feel no sense of avarice or deception from this woman. And Ana trusts her.

“Okay.”

Nerves scramble inside me as she creates light out of nowhere, an electric ball so bright it rivals the lights of the surrounding city. Then, lifting her arms, she drapes the light over us, but it disappears into the ether.

“Guess it didn’t work?” She is a beginner.

“Oh, it worked.” She smiles. “No one can hear what we’re saying now. Not even vampires. Not even if someone were standing two feet away.”

I lean back against the railing. I couldn’t care less if her magic is working. My intention to cross through the portal isn’t a secret. And nothing she can say will talk me out of it.

“So.” Standing not far from me, she leans one arm on the railing. “If you’re still serious about crossing, I think it’s a good idea.”

I blink, startled that I won’t have to argue.

“But there are some things you should know.”

“Secret things?” I narrow my eyes. “I don’t keep anything from my brothers. Or from Ana.”

She tips her head to the side. “There are things Phil can’t know—or rather, the demon can’t know—but there are some things I don’t want to tell Ana, either.”

I frown. “I’m not keeping anything from her.”

She lifts her chin. “Don’t decide that, until you hear what I’ve got to say.”

Turning toward her, I plant my feet solidly and cross my arms over my chest. “Let’s hear it, then.”

She draws a long breath. “I barely know where to start.”

“How about the beginning?” She’s the one who wanted this fucking chat, and now she expects me to direct it?

“I guess the bottom line is—” she glances out toward the city view, then back toward me “—crossing through this portal, with or without a demon, will be unbelievably dangerous. And I need you to go with Ana, to make sure she has at least a chance to get back.”

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