Familial connection?

Caine’s mouth twitched with apparent irritation. “My mind is perfectly sound, Ambrose. I had no idea she’d be so stupid as to rush through a portal into a demon realm.”

Now that is just insulting. “Okay, hang on a second,” Rosalind said. “First of all, I’m not stupid. Apart from everything I’ve done tonight. But I was acting desperate because I needed answers. This is the first I’ve ever heard of this mage thing, and it seems that both the Brotherhood and the demons know more than I do about my two souls. And why do you all care if I live or die? No one has explained that to me yet.”

The female vampire crossed to Ambrose, handing him a cloth. The Vampire Lord wiped the blood off his hands, green eyes locked on Rosalind. “Why did you come, girl? What exactly was your plan?”

“I wouldn’t say I had a plan, as it were.” She added that last bit to sound more formal. It wasn’t like she’d ever spoken to a Lord before, even if he was a demon.

“Not a plan.” His eyes roamed over her wet clothes, lingering on her transparent white shirt. “Just a desire.”

She flushed. She could imagine what he was thinking. “Exactly.”

“I can understand that.” He licked his lips. “And what was your desire?”

“I needed to learn why the Brotherhood think I’m a witch. I needed to know where I came from. I need to know how to get my life back.”

Ambrose cocked his head. “Your life back? Why would you want that?”

“I was happy.”

He frowned. “No, you weren’t. And now you know why you’re important. You have the potential for great power, just like Caine. In fact, you’ve just seen him demonstrate a bit of that power, when he cut down half my Council.”

Caine shrugged. “Horace was an ass, and he needed to be put down. I did you a favor. And now, I must return her to her own world. I’m going to need to open another portal.”

“I hope that when you train Rosalind, you’ll instill obedience in her even if the concept doesn’t suit you.” Ambrose’s green eyes drank in Rosalind. “Her blood tastes of hawthorn bark. Funny, that.”

How do I respond to a comment as creepy as that? It was an odd coincidence. “They’re my favorite trees.” It was the best wood for staking vamps, though now was not a good time remind him of that. Anyway, it was more than that. Her best dreams took place in hawthorn groves, the earth carpeted by white petals. “The blossoms are pretty, and they bring good luck.”

He stepped closer, staring into her eyes again. “Tell me, Rosalind. Do you dream of the forest?”

Another creepy comment, but—how does he know that? Can vamps read minds? “Yes. Often.”

He edged closer, touching her neck, and she shuddered. Apparently, vampires weren’t big on personal space. The candlelight flickered over his porcelain skin, and she caught a hint of his scent—burning cloves. “You will stay here tonight. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Tomorrow, Caine and Aurora will take you back to your world.” He nodded at the willowy female. “I’m assigning them to protect you from the Brotherhood. Your behavior is unpredictable, and they will need to watch you closely.”