Davina (Davy Harwood #3)

Talia had been her sister. Their bloodline was among other thread-holders. She was honored to be Talia’s sister. She always had been even when she was taken and hidden by the Roane family. She knew Talia loved Lucas Roane, but she knew that Talia had loved the werewolf as well. Both loves had been true and unconditional. Talia was a gentle soul. She was beautiful in spirit and body. Tracey understood why both men became besotted with her.

And now, as she watched her niece kicking a ball around, she saw similar traits in her. A soft smile spread over her face. It felt alien. Her cheeks were stiff. She hadn’t smiled in so long, but this was right. She had come all this way for her niece. Her mission had been the correct one. No matter what happened, she would remain at her side. She would guard this child with her life.

“She looks like her mother?”

Her niece’s mother, the Mori who adopted her, sat beside Tracey. Her name was Suhnah, which meant sunny and warm in their language. She explained it to Tracey the first night she welcomed her into her home. When Lucan brought all of them into the village, their reception was much different than the first time. They were captives then. They were visitors now. And being able to walk among the Mori freely, she realized they were good people. They just weren’t aware of Lucan’s evilness, but that would be corrected soon.

The Immortal was coming. Tracey felt it in her gut. And she was coming for her niece. When The Immortal would arrive, Tracey didn't know what would happen, but she knew there would be chaos, death, and misery. Lucan would no doubt unveil his true self. He wanted the thread for himself, but the thread would never go to a man. It could only go to a female and the Mori had kept her niece human. Suhnah told her that they wouldn't turn her into a true Mori vampire until she decided what age she wanted to be for eternity. They thought that would be her future. That's what they wished anyways. Tracey hoped her niece had a future at this point.

“Lily!” Suhnah called, standing up from where they were sitting on the grass. “It is time for your meal.”

Lily stopped in mid-kick. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were elated. Her blonde hair was in a mess, sweat-darkening streaks near her forehead, but to Tracey, she had never looked more alive than ever. This was the magic of humans. This was why they were to be treasured and cherished. They were alive in the truest form.

Their heart beat. Their blood warmed their faces. They had a child-like naivety that never left them. Tracey felt the same quality from Davy, even until the end. It was there, like a light that had been dimmed, but it was still there. Tracey yearned for that never to happen to her niece. She always wanted her light to burn bright, no matter what forces of evil were at bay.

“Are you thinking of your sister?” Suhnah asked, holding her arms open as Lily came running. A giggle escaped her niece and she stopped, breathing hard, but smiling so widely as Suhnah closed her arms, folding a robe around her child.

At the mention of ‘sister,’ some of the glee left Lily. She gazed up at Tracey, like she had since she first arrived as a guest in their home. No words had been exchanged. Suhnah told her that they never explained her connection to a thread-holder or that Tracey was her aunt through blood, but she knew. A look of wonder showed over Lily’s face every time she focused on Tracey. She knew deep down, whether she spoke the words or not. Lily knew Tracey was her aunt.

She took her hand, tipping her head back so she could look all the way up the bigger vampire. “You’re missing my mommy.”

Suhnah gasped, but Tracey felt a burning behind her eyes. She was trying not to cry. “You know who I am.”

Lily nodded. Her little hand squeezed Tracey’s. “But you know that I knew.” Her cheeks puffed out. The color had started to fade, but it pinked again. “My mommy comes to see me. She told me about how nice you are. You came all this way to protect me.”

Suhnah’s head lifted. She stared at Tracey intensely. “Protect her? From who?”

“The other lady that broke them out, Mom.”

The burning moved to her throat. Tracey felt a lump forming. Her niece was trying to reassure her Mori mother, but she looked back to her and when their gazes collided, she knew that the child was aware of so much more than she should’ve been. Tracey knelt down. Her hands rested on Lily’s tiny shoulders. “What do you know about that lady?”

“She’s here.” Her voice dipped low. She glanced over her shoulder, as if looking for her to arrive right then and there. “She’s coming because she’s scared that I’ll take the thread from her.”

“What do you mean? She is the thread.”