Chapter 271

Tessa’s POV

I wasn’t sure how this woman knew who, or what, I was. But I knew I needed to find out. I was intrigued by the woman who silenced Elder Baine. Her aged eyes showed compassion as she looked at Joseph and then back at me.

“Come inside so we can talk,” the woman said, turning on her very expensive-looking heels, and walking inside.

Baine growled deep in his throat, making me freeze. Joseph took my arm, and I looked up at him to see him giving me a gentle and warm smile, which melted my entire heart. I returned the smile, hoping it didn’t seem too forced and then I let him escort me inside the manor.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the manor looked like a typical home. There were portraits of historical vampires on the walls that I’m assuming were previous Elders, or maybe family members. The floors were a nice dark wood with a soft rug that my feet nearly sank in. We walked down the long corridor until we reached a door that the woman opened and stepped inside.

Joseph followed her inside without question and I saw that we were inside an office. I hadn’t noticed Baine was also following us until we were inside of the office and Joseph was shutting the door. Baine glared at him as he stepped through the door and then his eyes never left mine as he walked around the desk and took a seat.

This must have been his office.

The woman was staring at me fondly and I felt a sense of unease wash over me.

“I have been waiting for you for a long time,” the woman finally said, breaking through the silence.

“Who are you?” I blurted the question before I could really think about it.

She looked bemused though and glanced at Joseph as if he had all the answers I needed.

“This is Amayah,” Joseph told me, motioning for the woman. “This is her home. She was head of the council until Baine took over. But she’s still basically in charge.”

Baine only rolled his eyes, but he didn’t say anything.

“But how does she know who I am?” I asked, looking between Joseph and Amayah.

“There was a time that vampires and witches got along,” Amayah said, a bit of sadness in her voice. “I was friends with your grandmother for decades. I was one of the first she told about the prophecy.”

“My grandmother, Constance?” I asked, raising my brows.

She nodded her head once.

“Yes. She told me that someday, a girl would be born, and she would reunite the world,” Constance explained. “Witches and vampires will live in harmony again.”

I cringed at her words; that was a lot of pressure to put on someone.

“And you knew that girl was me?” I asked, raising my brows.

“Word got around quickly,” Amayah said, shaking her head at the memory. “There was a war because of it. Everyone wanted the heart for themselves. They wanted the power.”

“But you didn’t?” Joseph asked, his brows pinched together.

She shook her head.

“Constance trusted me with her most prized secret. She told me to keep the memory in my memory box because one day, you will need my support,” she explained.

“A memory box?” I asked, my mouth hanging open in surprise.

“Some vampires keep a box of memories,” Joseph explained. “It’s so they can never forget important stuff. Growing up in a world of magic, some find it important.”

“Do you have a memory box?” I asked him out of curiosity.

Joseph shook his head.

“I never thought I’d need one,” Joseph said, shrugging.

“Not many vampires keep them I’m afraid,” Amayah said, shaking her head at the thought. “But because of the spell your mother cast, which affected the entire world, I’m glad I kept this secret in my memory box.”

“Why would my grandmother tell you about the prophecy? Why would she want you to remember it?” I asked, still feeling very uncertain.

“She knew you would need guidance someday,” Amayah explained. “When you were born, and your mother had the idea of a spell that’ll wipe the memory of the Heavenly Heart from everyone’s minds, your grandmother reached out to me and told me to lock my memory of the Heavenly Heart in my memory box. I knew better than to question the great Constance. Even though vampires and witches were against one another, Constance and I remained great friends from a distance. Most of our conversations were done in secret.”

“But why would I need guidance from you?” I found myself asking, hoping that I didn’t sound too rude. I was just so confused, and my head was whirling from this information.

“It’s quite hard to reconnect the nation without support,” Amayah said, a twinkle in her eyes. “She told me that one day you will be standing at my front door, and I needed to support you if I ever want to see this world restored.”

“How did she know I would be here?” I asked in wonder.

Amayah smiled and then looked at Joseph before looking back at me.

“Apparently your soul was very vocal when you were born. She knew exactly what she wanted.”

My eyes widened.

“Joseph,” I whispered; it wasn’t a question, but Amayah nodded anyway. “My grandmother knew I would end up with him someday and that I would need to come here to pledge myself.”

Baine huffed, folding his arms across his chest.

“I still don’t like it,” he muttered.

Amayah rolled her eyes at her son.

“I don’t care if you like it or not, Baine. That’s the reality we are working with,” Amayah told him, narrowing her eyes at him.

I had almost forgotten that Baine was in the office with us, and I suddenly felt stupid for speaking about this in front of him. He clearly hated me and my kind; there was no way he’d support me. Now that he knew I was the Heavenly Heart, he was probably already plotting ways to get me.

“You don’t need to worry about my son,” Amayah told me as if she could read my thoughts. “He was already aware of the Heavenly Heart. All of the council are, and we do not need it. We want to see this nation restored and we will do whatever we can to help you.”

“Don’t speak for me, Mother,” Baine muttered.

“Don’t sass me, Baine,” Amayah scolded. “You know as well as I do, we need her.”

My attention turned to Baine who looked annoyed, but he also looked defeated as he leaned back in his seat, his arms folded around his chest and his eyes fixed on his desk. He was desperately trying not to meet my eyes.

He finally sighed and lifted his gaze to meet Joseph’s.

“I will accept her pledge,” Baine murmured. “But if she betrays our trust, I don’t care who or what she is… she will die.”

Joseph tensed from beside me, but I didn’t let his words frighten me. I had no intention of betraying anyone’s trust, so I stepped forward.

“Agreed,” I said before Joseph could say anything.

Baine stood and walked around his desk. His eyes remained on me.

“Hold out your hand,” he ordered.

I held out my hand without hesitation and before I knew what was happening, he was slicing through my palm with his nail. I winced from the sensation and then I felt warm blood pooling from the wound. To my surprise, Baine grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, sipping the blood like it was fine wine or something.

I was too stunned to move; my mouth hung open as I stared at him. He took a deep drink of the blood and then he released my hand, licking the rest of the blood off his lips before he turned and walked toward a cabinet on the other side of the room. He rummaged through the cabinet and grabbed a smile vile before returning to me.

He grabbed my hand and held it above the vile, squeezing my hand tightly and making me shudder in pain. Blood filled the vile to the brim.

He released my hand and closed the vile with a cork before returning it to the cabinet. I had no idea what had just happened but then Amayah stepped in front of me, and she also took hold of my hand, but her touch was way gentler.

As she held my hand, she closed her eyes and started to murmur something in a language I didn’t know. I felt warmth spread across my hand and it expanded throughout the rest of my body. Once her words fell silent, she raised my hand to her lips and took a small sip of my blood before she brushed her fingers across the gash.

To my amazement and shock, the wound healed almost immediately. I gasped as I looked at my hand; there was no trace of a wound ever being there. Not even a scar.

Had I imagined that whole thing?

No, that wasn’t possible.

“Your blood oath has been received,” Amayah said proudly as she gazed down at me. “I’m so happy you have finally arrived, Heavenly one.”

My cheeks flushed from the nickname she had given me, and Baine only rolled his eyes as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Now can you leave?” Baine asked, still sounding like a prick.

“Actually, we are here for another reason too,” Joseph finally spoke after what felt like an eternity of him being silent. “One of our tribe warriors and Elder, Carter, fell into some trouble with the council and we are here to support him.”

“Carter,” Baine said, his lips curling in anger. “He’s meeting with the other council members now. I’m about to head there to give them my final say.”

“What is the issue?” Amayah asked.

“He turned a human into a vampire,” Baine answered for us, shaking his head with disgust on his face. “It’s against our new rules.”

“Rules are meant to be broken,” Amayah said, waving a dismissive hand in his face.

“Not my rules,” Baine said through his teeth. “I won’t have this kind of insubordination.”

“He did it because she was going to die,” I said quickly, looking up at Amayah who was having a staring war with her son. “She’s my best friend and she was going to die. Carter thought on his feet and gave her some of his blood.”

“And she became a vampire?” Amayah asked, surprised.

I nodded.

“Yes, mam,” I answered.

“Where is this girl now?”

“The vampire academy,” I answered.

“And Carter… he knows her?” Amayah asked, her brows raised.

I bit back a smile as I thought about Carter and Ruby. They truly were adorable together and Carter made Ruby so happy. She was miserable without him when he ghosted her for a month, but now she understood why, and it was obvious she still loved him.

I wasn’t planning on telling either of them this though, but Amayah could read it on my face just as easily as reading a book and she smiled.

“I see,” she finally said and then she turned to Baine. “Surely, we can overlook the rules this one time, Baine. Carter is obviously in love with her and if she truly is Tessa’s best friend, then she might be useful to us as well. The more vampires and witches who support the idea of reuniting the nation the better.”

Baine looked as if he was chewing the idea, but with one look at his mother, he knew it was a losing battle.

So, he sighed.

“Fine. We won’t punish him for his wrongdoings. But if he does it again without asking our permission first, then it’s out of my hands.”

And with that, Carter was safe.