Page 76 of Her Ghostly Embrace
AURORA
“I’m worried about starting a wildfire,”Aurora said as the flames raged.
Viv looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Give Mr. Vamp a few more minutes to crisp, then we can put it out.”
Aurora couldn’t argue with that, but they might as well start with the trees.
A cursory investigation revealed that the fire was magically contained to the Thornfield compound, preventing it from spreading to the surrounding forest. Even though Aurora had destroyed the binding magic, the fire’s link to the boundary spell must have kept it in check. While trees and buildings within the grounds turned to ash, nothing beyond the borders caught fire, so it seemed there was nothing to worry about.
The Lockwoods, who had been nearby creating the diversion, helped Aurora and Gia put out the flames, finally extinguishing the house once Viv deemed Franco properly destroyed.
As they’d hoped, a group of Thornfields had come to investigate what the Lockwoods were up to in the park, but when the fighting broke out, and they realized they were free, they wasted no time escaping.
It seemed not a single living Thornfield had stuck around, and Aurora didn’t blame them. She hadn’t been the only coven member longing for freedom. Or vengeance, as evidenced by the dead bodies of Stan’s entire advisory panel, as well as the man himself and Aurora’s mother.
Maybe witnessing her relatives’ gruesome end would have hurt more if they hadn’t buried her, knowing she’d suffocate when she returned to her body. As it was, Aurora didn’t want to spare any more feeling for them than they’d spared her.
The humans were long gone. Well, not all the humans, Aurora noted. Gia’s mobster brother still hovered awkwardly along the periphery. Aurora couldn’t tell if Gia was too dazed to notice or was simply ignoring him.
Aurora wouldn’t blame her if she were.
“Before we go, I’d like to ask him some questions.” Aurora pointed to Marc.
Gia blinked at her brother. She seemed exhausted—no, dead on her feet. Being covered in dirt and blood didn’t help. Aurora was sure she looked just as bad. As one might expect after crawling from a grave and then fighting for your life.
“That’s probably a good idea.” Gia sighed and called out to him. “What are you still doing here, Marc?”
He hurried over like he’d been waiting for permission. Blood splatters stained his fancy suit, a pained expression on his face. “I wanted to know what you’re going to do now.”
“None of your business.”
Marc flinched.
“What are you doing here in the first place?” Aurora asked before he could collect himself. “How did Franco find Gia?”
Marc ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Father suspected Gia might come to Shearwater Landing.”
Aurora had meant here at the compound, not in the city, but she let him continue.
“Once Father’s witch was able to track you successfully, Gia, he knew he’d been right. You found your link to the Shearwater Landing witches. Father had reached out to this coven before”—he waved a hand vaguely, indicating the destroyed compound—“about an unrelated alliance, but the Thornfields weren’t interested. He made another offer after you ran, and must have said something right because they agreed immediately.”
Aurora rolled her eyes. “More like Stan’s scheme with the Nightingales fell through, and he was desperate.”
“Sure, whatever. I don’t know the details.” Marc scowled, barely averting his attention from his sister.
“Father agreed to ally with the Thornfields if they helped us bring you home. He was busy for the last few days meeting with the coven leader behind closed doors while witches and Salvator tracked you and kept tabs. But Gia, he wasn’t a…avampire.”
Marc might not know the details, but Aurora suspected Trey had been involved. He’d never been there for her soul or the Lockwoods at all.
“He was a vampire,” Gia said curtly. “He’s been messing with my mind since I was a child. I had to get someone to undo his hypnosis. I saw him drink blood in the memories he erased. The fact that he erased my memory at all is evidence enough. Even if you didn’t know before, come on, Marc, open your eyes. Franco could have hypnotized you to believe he was mortal and that you’d inherit his empire.”
“But—”
“Didn’t you see his eyes glowing? He wasn’t human, and he wasn’t a witch, or why would he need me to use magic?”
Marc inspected his surroundings, as if he might find answers in the ashes. “You’re right about the magic.Okay. But I’m so confused. Why am I remembering things differently all of a sudden?”
“Differently how?” Aurora asked.
