The sand under Vivienne was warm as she leaned against a palm tree at the edge of the beach, watching the sun as it traveled against the pristine sky.

The morning had been a head rush and she needed time to process not only the information, but also her emotions.

Quick is a killer.

Just when he seemed too good to be true. She’d be lying if she said it didn’t frightened her. It brought Ricardo to mind, even though Quick seemed nothing like Ricardo.

But Quick was huge and could crush her with one hand if he wanted.

So why did butterflies still erupt in her tummy when she thought about him?

And shit—

These weren’t humans, but shifters. She knew her dream wasn’t a lie. Quick was a shifter. She knew several of them on the island had to be. She just wasn’t sure which ones. Probably Maze, she imagined—there was something about him.

Shifters. She swallowed hard.

Beings she had zero experience with, who’d been the arch enemies of witches for centuries. An island of shifters.

She could understand why the island was a secret for most part.

If any of the witches in New Orleans got a whiff of this beautiful paradise, they would do anything in their power to control it and kill the shifters.

A shiver rolled down her back.

As long as I’m in charge, my people will be safe.

My people?

When did she start thinking of them as her people? The when part didn’t matter. Fact was, she felt an allegiance with them. Just like she felt toward Shelia when she needed help.

No one would harm what she was to protect. Not while she was in charge. Then she thought of what she’d just said to herself—as long as she was in charge, her people would be safe. When did she start thinking of herself as in charge? When did she decide to take over this responsibility?

The enormity of it flooded her.

This isn’t some Fantasy Island TV show episode. This is real life with real lives that depend on me.

Never before had she such responsibility. The most she’d had prior to losing her parents was to keep her goldfish alive.

Wasn’t very good at that.

Failure wasn’t an option. But this, this was so-o-o-o much.

And what about all that magic stuff Maze spoke about? She wasn’t trained in spell-casting. Her skills sucked. She couldn’t even control her empath skills. They seemed to grow stronger, even.

What was she getting into? She leaned her head back and let out a deep breath.

The crashing waves couldn’t ease her worried heart. The peacefulness that embraced her did not soothe her.

Vivienne.

Her head popped up, her spine stiffened.

She held her breath and listened again.

Vivienne.

Someone was calling her. It came from the trees behind her. Vivienne rose and started walking, pushing away wild limbs and overgrown brush.

“Hello,” she called out. Her sandals crushed leaves and twigs in her path. “Maze? Quick?” Who else would be looking for her?

Vivienne.

That voice wasn’t Quick’s. It wasn’t Maze’s. She didn’t even think it sounded like a man’s voice. Then again, it didn’t quite sound human either. It almost sounded like it was in her head.

No way. Hard to explain that one. She’d best keep it to herself.

A fog had settled in front of her, a cool, misty film that blurred her surroundings for a few seconds. She walked through it, still seeking the source of the voice.

When she came out of the mist, she noticed a cave’s entrance in the volcano she’d seen yesterday.

A light twinkled in the cave’s dark depths.

She walked toward it, though she questioned the wisdom of her decision. Noticing a large branch that had broken off a tree to the side, she picked it up.

At least I’m armed.

She held it up like a bat and walked toward the opening, making her way up the few rocky feet needed to reach the cave’s mouth.

Vivienne.

Definitely coming from within the cave, but still, it was as though it were in her head. As she made her way inside, the sunlight penetrated deeper than she thought possible. She turned a corner and was sucked into blackness.

Her stomach rocketed into her throat as she began a free-fall through nothingness.

Now she would die.

Wrong choice.

Story of her life.

Suddenly, her body was doused in cold—very freaking cold— water. She fought for the surface and air. How far under had she gone? Her lungs burned.

Light filtered through the water the as she approached the surface.

She broke through the water’s edge and gulped in a large breath.

Damn, that was close.

As she bobbed in the chilling water, she looked around at the cave surrounding her. It was made of rock, but nothing like the cave she fell from. These walls were covered in glistening crystals of every color.

No sunlight penetrated the room; the gems glowed from a light within. The brightness varied, making the cavern feel like a magical lagoon.

“This can’t be real,” she whispered under her breath, making for the shore so she could get out of the cold water.

“It is.”

She turned to the left.

A woman stood on the shore.

Vivienne froze. She knew this woman. She’d seen her picture in the room she slept in. This was Adriana. But how could that be?

“Get over here, child, before you freeze to death.” Dressed in a colorful sundress that draped all the way to her feet, her hair in long braids pulled back, Adriana waved Vivienne out of the water.

“Where am I?” she asked, though at the same time, wondered if she was talking to a ghost.

“You’re in the Cave of Souls.”

Vivienne dog-paddled toward the woman.

“Are you—” Though really, Vivienne knew she was.

She reached out. “I’m Adriana.”

Vivienne took her hand. She couldn’t believe it. “But you’re—you died?”

“Oh, that.” Adriana waved a hand in the air. “Magic never dies completely.” She winked. “Especially on this island.”

Vivienne sighed. “About this island…”

Her great-aunt laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the cave as she took a seat on a large boulder built for two. “Come, sit with me.” She sat and patted the rock next to her.

Vivienne wrung out her shirt and joined Adriana.

She wrapped an arm around Vivienne’s shoulder and hugged her to her side.

“I’m sorry about the drenching. But it was the only way to get you here the first time.”

“Here being the Cave of Souls?”

“More specifically, the other side of the veil,” her aunt replied.

“Veil? As in between the living and…” She was going to say dead, but that didn’t seem right. “—nonliving?”

Adriana laughed, throwing her head back. “Your intuitions are good.”

She remembered her dream. “With a little warning, yeah, I got it.”

“Vivienne, I need your help.”

“More than yesterday?” Vivienne asked.

“What you and Quick did yesterday was fabulous. Tiko was in danger, but I wasn’t able to help him. That’s why I needed you then and need you now.”

“What could I possibly do to help you. I can’t do spells very well, or any magic. I can barely waitress, and my dishwashing skills suck if you ask my old employers.”

Butterfingers they’d called Vivienne after she’d dropped more than her share of plates and glasses.

Once, before her parents died, she’d had such a promising future—the daughter of the high wizard and witch, living with those who loved her, and going to school to become a leader and high witch herself.

Then several years ago, her mom and dad were suddenly killed in a car wreck. Her uncle swooped in, had their bodies cremated, and took over high wizard position before she had the chance to fly home from school. Worse yet, the headmistress of Graylands Academy for Witches in Philadelphia told Vivienne the funding had been cut for her education and she had to leave immediately.

Tears of frustration welled in Vivienne’s eyes.

“Stop that,” her aunt insisted. “You are the daughter of the rightful leaders. You will get what’s yours one day. Don’t worry about that now. I need you. Skull Point Cay needs you.”

Vivienne nodded as she wiped tears from her cheeks.

“Time is running short.” Adriana turned to Vivienne and put a hand on each of her shoulders, squaring their sight on each other. “You need to run my island for me. I can no longer take part in the world outside the veil.”

“But I don’t—”

She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “The power is in you. Magic is strong in our family. And it’s time you let it out. You are a Devereaux. Your mother was a Devereaux. We come from a long line.”

“You don’t understand. There’s this powerful warlock after me.”

Her aunt’s eyes glazed over for a second. “Ricardo. I wondered if he’d get involved in some way.” Adriana sighed.

“You know Ricardo?”

“Ricardo is a powerful wizard. He’s been trying to get his hands on this island for ages.”

Vivienne paused to absorb what Adriana had just told her. “He knew about this place all along?”

Her aunt didn’t need to reply; the answer slapped Vivienne in the face. Meeting Ricardo at the bar she worked was no accident. He was there to find her. To trick her. Now everything—the spells to keep her under control, the constant hunting for her—it all made sense.

He didn’t want her though. She realized he’d never wanted her; he wanted access to the island.

Adriana was waiting for an answer.

Vivienne nodded. “I’m afraid so. Can he get to the island? I had to cast a spell to open the fog portal to get here and to Galveston.”

“Yes, but the ways of magic are mystical, even to those of us that have practiced it for ages. Don’t worry, child. I will protect you the best I can. So will Quick.”

“I don’t know about that. I don’t think Quick likes me. At least he didn’t when we first met.”

Adriana exploded in laughter.

Vivienne jumped, startled.

“I assure you, that’s not the case. Not at all.” Auntie patted Vivienne’s knee. “Quick has had a rough past.”

“He’s a killer. He said his mom was killed. But didn’t say…”

“No. He is not a killer. Ask him. He’s been more than a son to me. He’s the heir of my heart, and you are the heir of my soul and my bloodline.”

Vivienne felt a pull on her like an invisible rope.

“We’re out of time. Take care of my island. With Quick. You both need the island and it needs you. Make the magic happen to heal and help those who come. You will know what to do.”

The cavern began to spin. She raised a hand to her head. What was going on?

She felt her insides shift.

“One more thing.” Adriana sounded so far away. “Tell Quick to stop feeling guilty. It was meant to be.”

Adriana’s echoing voice faded to nothingness, as did everything else for Vivienne.