An End of Night (A Shade of Vampire #16)(7)

“What differences?” Mona asked .

The vampire frowned. “That’s a little too personal for me to feel comfortable discussing in front of strangers.”

“Ernesta,” Kiev said, standing up and walking over to her seat. “We need to find your brother. Do you have any idea where he could be now?”

“Why do you need to find him?” she asked.

Kiev exchanged glances with Mona and Matteo, then turned back to Ernesta. “Are you aware that your brother was in love with an Ancient?”

Ernest shook her head. “No. I had no idea… Even when we were in touch, we were never close enough to discuss romantic relationships.”

“Are you aware of the situation with the black witches?” Matteo pressed.

“I have been out of touch with affairs going on outside of this island.”

“Well, now is the time to enlighten yourself,” Mona said impatiently, also standing. “They are attempting to carry out a ritual that has never been done before. If successful, it would have catastrophic consequences not just for humans, but all species too weak to fight off their powers. Even The Tavern would not be safe. Lilith—the Ancient your brother was in love with—is a key part of this ritual they are trying to carry out. We need to end her before they can complete it—”

“I still don’t understand why you need my brother.”

“He is the reason Lilith is still alive. She loved him deeply, madly, and it’s that bond of love that is keeping her hanging on. We must find him so he can help us break it.”

Ernesta’s lips parted in disbelief as she took in Mona’s words. This was the first time I had heard a full explanation about why we needed Magnus, so I was grateful that Mona had explained it.

“I see,” Ernesta said, swallowing hard. “Well, the last I heard of my brother, he was residing in The Cove.”

“The realm of the mermaids,” Mona muttered. “But you have no idea if he might still be there now?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can only suggest that you travel there and ask if anyone there knows where he is. Even if he isn’t there, perhaps you will be able to pick up his trail. I’m sure they would be able to give you more insight about Magnus than I can, in any case.”

“When Mona and I were last near those shores,” Kiev said, “the Hawks had taken over the merpeople’s land. Do you know if this is still the case?”

“Oh, no,” Ernesta replied. “At least, the rumor is that the Hawks were forced to retreat from The Cove in order to return to their own realm, Aviary. They needed all the reinforcements they could get in their war with the Elders.”

“Do you know what the outcome of that war was?” my mother asked. “Or is it still ongoing?”

“It was brutal,” Ernesta said. “They attacked each other’s realms so fiercely and weakened each other’s resources to such an extent that neither side is much of a force to be reckoned with anymore. The Elders finished off huge numbers of Hawks and destroyed many of their natural resources, while an army of Hawks managed to penetrate Cruor and destroy their supply of human blood and vessels.”

“I see,” my mother said. “Thank you for that information.”

“Now, is there anything else you could tell us about your brother that might help in tracking him down?” Matteo asked.

Ernesta bit her lower lip. “There’s not a lot I can tell you of his past that would be relevant now, because it was so long ago. But I can warn you, if you do manage to find him… be careful. My brother can be… unpredictable.”

With that, she stood up and looked toward the door, indicating that we were now at risk of overstaying our welcome.

Mona, Matteo and Kiev looked dissatisfied, as all of us were, but it seemed Ernesta was done offering information. Mona made Kiev invisible again before we all exited the sitting room, walked along the hallway and bundled out onto the street outside.

“Good luck,” Ernesta said, eyeing us one last time before shutting her door.

“What happened?” Ibrahim asked.

“She couldn’t tell us much,” Mona replied. “Last she knew of her brother, he was in The Cove.”

Ashley heaved a sigh. “So now what? We’ve got to travel to The Cove?”

“It’s the only lead we have,” my father replied.

“Hey, Mona! Matteo!” a gravelly voice called behind us.

We whirled around to see a gray wolf running toward us. As he neared, I realized that he was missing an ear.

“Oh, hello, Edward,” Mona murmured.

“I haven’t seen you around in a long time,” the wolf said. “What have you been up to?”

“Too much,” Matteo said.

Edward chuckled. “We’re having a roast out on the beach tonight,” he said. “Why don’t you join us? Ronan’s wife is cooking and there will be blood, too.”

“Very tempting,” Matteo replied, “but we are just passing through. We have to leave now. Thank you for the invitation, in any case.”

“Suit yourself,” Edward said. “It’s good to see you both. Hopefully we can catch up one of these days.”

“Thank you,” Mona replied. “Enjoy dinner.”