Page 23 of Blood Bound

Mom sinks onto the couch, looking drained. “At least Seraphina was able to handle the situation with the vampires. That’s something, isn’t it?”

“For now,” Dad mutters, pacing the room. “But who knows what concessions she had to make to keep the peace?” I watch Dad’s face, his features stormy. He takes a deep breath, his shoulders sagging slightly as he turns to me.

“Rowan,” he continues, his voice softer than before but still edged with worry, “I need you to understand something. When I think about you and this vampire, Drake, I’m terrified.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up a hand, silencing me.

“Let me finish, please,” he says. “I know you’re an adult, and I know you believe you can handle this. But vampires…they’re not like us. They’re predators, Rowan. They’ve survived for centuries by being cunning, ruthless, and manipulative.”

He runs a hand around the back of his neck, kneading the muscles there; it’s a gesture I’ve seen a thousand times when he’s stressed. “I’ve seen what they can do. I’ve witnessed the aftermath of their hunger, their violence. And the thought of you being anywhere near that world…it keeps me up at night.”

I feel a lump forming in my throat. Despite my frustration with his attitude earlier, I can see the genuine fear in his eyes now.

“Dad, I—”

He shakes his head, cutting me off again. “I’m not forbidding you from seeing him, Rowan. I know that would only push you away, and God knows we can’t afford to lose another daughter.” His voice cracks on the last word, and I feel my heart breaking a little. “But I’m begging you,” he continues, “to be careful. To think about what you’re doing, about the risks you’re taking. Not just for yourself but for all of us. If anything happened to you…”

He trails off, unable to finish the thought. I see tears glistening in his eyes, and I realize just how deeply this situation has affected him.

“I’ll be careful, Dad,” I whisper, my own voice thick with emotion. “I promise.”

Gran, who’s been quiet since the messenger arrived, finally speaks up. “I think it’s best we all get some rest. We have some big challenges ahead of us, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes our way.”

We all murmur in agreement, the idea of returning to the dining room to finish our meal completely forgotten. As we say our good nights and start to disperse, I can’t help but wonder what Seraphina has in store for us. I hug myself, feeling a chill despite the warm evening. The thought of facing the Conclave again, of having to explain everything once more…it’s draining.

Kara steps up next to me, nudging my shoulder. “Hey, it’ll be okay.”

I give her a weak smile, grateful for her support.

Kara shoots a look at where Mom and Dad are seeing Gran out the front door. She dips her head toward my ear. “Can we meet up tomorrow? I’ve got some ideas about finding Mia.”

My heart skips a beat. “Really? What kind of ideas?”

She glances toward our parents, still chatting with Gran by the door. “Not here. Let’s grab coffee early, okay? Say, seven?”

I nod, excitement and apprehension bubbling in my stomach. “Okay, seven it is.”

As Kara heads upstairs, I’m left with my thoughts in turmoil. Part of me is thrilled at the prospect of actually doing something to find Mia. After all this time of feeling helpless, the idea of taking action is intoxicating.

But another part of me is scared. Everyone’s warnings echo in my head – Dad’s fear, Mom’s worry, even Gran’s cautious approach. Are they right? Am I about to walk into something dangerous?

Well, duh, Rowan, that’s a given.

But then I think of Mia, wherever she is. Is she scared? Hurt? Does she think we’ve forgotten about her? The thought makes my chest ache.

As I head down the path to my cottage, I weigh the risks in my mind. On one hand, we could be putting ourselves in serious jeopardy. The vampires aren’t to be underestimated, and we’re still learning about the extent of their power and influence.

On the other hand, this is Mia we’re talking about. My sister. If there’s even a chance we could save her, isn’t it worth the risk? The responsible thing would be to wait, to let the Conclave handle it. But how long have they been “handling” it already? A year has passed, and we’re no closer than we were the day she disappeared.

Maybe it’s time to take matters into our own hands. Maybe Kara and I can do what the Conclave couldn’t. As I step onto the patio and head to my front door, one thought keeps circling in my mind: for Mia, I’d risk everything.

8

Chapter 8

Darick

God, she’s stubborn.

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