I couldn’t have heard her right.

My instinct kicked in and I took a large step back. “What?”

Thea’s cheeks gained a flustered tint. “I’m a witch.”

That didn’t make sense. How was she a witch? If she were, she wouldn’t have been chosen to come to the castle. We screened everyone who applied for an invitation and only picked the best candidates.

“That can’t be true,” I said, my words echoing what thrummed in my mind.

“It is.” She sighed. “Many years before I was born, Lord Reynard had trouble with a few witch covens, the Blackmarsh, the Bluemoon, and the Silverblood. He attacked Silverblood first, taking the witches by surprise. And he stole the heart of the coven. Do you know what that means?”

“The heart of the first witch from the coven,” I said, knowing well. “The witch may die, but her heart is kept alive, beating inside a chest. The heart is supposed to stay close to the coven, usually inside a sanctuary, otherwise the witches lose their powers.”

“Exactly. Lord Reynard stole the heart of the Silverblood coven. When he turned to the Blackmarsh and Bluemoon, they were prepared. They ran with the hearts of their covens and kept them safe.”

I nodded. “I remember that. I was involved with some werewolf business up north, but I remember hearing about it. It was about fifty years ago, maybe? Lord Reynard came back to the castle and showed the heart to all of us as if it were a trophy.”

Thea pressed her lips tight. “That’s the heart of my coven.” I sucked in a sharp breath. Oh, hell … “For fifty years, the witches in my coven have been weakening. I was born weak. We did what we could, using potions when spells wouldn’t do, but some covens crave war and blood. Blackmarsh know we’re weakening. We think they know our heart was taken, and they plan on attacking us.” She paused, staring at me with a harsh glint in her eyes. “They plan on attacking my coven, my family. And, without the heart, there isn’t much we can do to protect ourselves.”

It was like the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit together. “You’re here to retrieve the heart.”

She nodded. “We’ve been trying to get in here for many years.”

“But … how? We wouldn’t let witches in.”

“We have resources. Besides, we’re weakening, but our magic isn’t all gone. In a last attempt, we used a lot of it to trick the system, as you said, and get me invited in.”

Though it was a suicidal plan, and a little crazy, I had to agree it was also genius. “Why you?”

“Because I’m young and still have a little magic. Not enough to make a powerful healing spell, though.”

I hated witches, always had. They were a miserable, insufferable bunch who only liked to stir trouble and take advantage of everyone. I wanted to hate Thea. But she was doing what she had to do to keep her family safe. She was putting her life at great risk for a mission she was likely to fail, but she was their only hope. More importantly, she had saved me. She didn’t need to do that, but she risked Sarki and Thomas finding out what she really was to save me. If she hadn’t been here, if she hadn’t come to this castle, I would be dead by now.

“But … you could have been killed during the feast.”

“We took that part into consideration when devising a plan.” She fished a thumbnail-sized brooch from the inside of her nightgown’s collar. “I’ve been using this, because it makes my scent undesirable to vampires. They wouldn’t push me away, but they wouldn’t attack me either. That was how I planned on surviving the feast and be placed with the other blood slaves. Until you claimed me.”

That brooch was supposed to make her scent bad? How come it didn’t work for me?

“That’s why you like to roam around the castle,” I said, realizing the truth. “You’ve been looking for the heart.”

“In vain, though. I’m sure it’ll be hidden somewhere I can’t reach.” She bit her lower lip, her bright blue eyes shining. “I know you must hate me now, but I beg you. If you know where it is, please, tell me.”

“You know your mission is suicidal, right? Even if you can get to the heart, how do you plan to escape? It’s impossible.”

“Once I have the heart, my magic should increase. It’ll probably be hard, but as long as I make it outside, another witch from my coven would come and take the heart from me.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “So you did come to die?”

She lifted her chin. “If that’s what it takes, yes, I came knowing it’s unlikely I’ll walk out alive.”

“That’s crazy,” I muttered, pacing in front of her.

“Please, Drake, if you know where the heart is, tell me.”

“I don’t know where it is.”

“You don’t know, or you don’t want to tell me?”

Frowning, I halted in front of her. “If I knew, what would you do? Go there now, picked it up, and run.”

She stared at me for a moment. “Something like that.”

I shook my head, feeling betrayed. Not only because she hid who she was from me, but because she was willing to die for her coven. What about me? Didn’t she consider that? Did she think I wanted her to die? Or to run away and never look back?

“I don’t know where it is,” I repeated.

Her shoulders sagged. “And I’m guessing you won’t let me roam the castle anymore to search for it.”

Hell … What now? Was I supposed to keep her as a prisoner inside my quarters? Or inside her bedroom? I couldn’t do that to her. Though it hurt me, I understood what she was doing. I might have a problem with all supernatural beings—vampires, witches, werewolves, and the others—but that didn’t mean I wanted them gone. I just wanted peace between all the covens and packs and species.

“With the investigation into Reynard’s death, the castle is on high alert. It won’t do any good for you to roam around. In fact, I want you and Thomas inside my quarters at all times.”

“But—”

“I’ll look for the heart for you.”

Tears filled her wide eyes. “You would do that?”

The hope in her voice cut through my heart. I couldn’t deny it anymore. I cared about her too much. It didn’t matter if she was a witch or if she was planning on leaving me soon. As long as she was safe and well, I would be okay. And to make sure she continued to be safe, I would have to help her.

I took a step toward her. “I would do anything for you.”

A muffled sob caught in her throat, and a tear slid down her cheeks. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I cupped her face and wiped the tear away. “Don’t thank me yet.” I wound my arm around her waist and pulled her into me. I had to feel her body against mine, her heart thumping and vibrating under my hand. I wanted to wrap her around me and keep her for eternity.

That realization took my breath away.

I wasn’t falling for her. I had already fallen.

Surrendering to the pull inside my chest and the raw desire in my heart, I leaned into her and kissed her.