His eyes turned that smoky gray color that always melted my insides. At least I wasn’t the only one affected by our nearness.

“Okay, you lovebirds, no making out in the jet,” Jordan said from across the aisle. “We’ve got work to do and all you two can do is make eyes at each other.”

The pilot came over the intercom and told us to prepare for landing. My stomach dipped, but it had nothing to do with Nikolas or the plane’s descent. After months of searching and almost giving up hope, I was finally going to confront Madeline and get the answers I was looking for. After she told us who the Master was, the Council would send their forces after him. That vampire had wrought so much pain and grief in my life, and a part of me wanted to be there to see his fall. But a larger part of me had no wish to ever lay eyes on him. I just wanted him gone from our lives forever.

We landed at McCarran Airport and taxied up to a private hangar where several large SUVs waited for us. When we disembarked, a black Mohiri male with a shaved head came over to greet us. His name was Geoffrey and his unit was one of two that had been here for the past year. Apparently, there was enough vampire activity in Vegas to warrant a larger Mohiri presence. Maybe that was what Adele had meant when she said no one would expect Madeleine to be there.

The warriors were all business. Before I knew it, I was in a vehicle with Nikolas, Chris, Jordan, and Geoffrey. The four warriors who had flown with us climbed into the other vehicles with Geoffrey’s team.

Geoffrey drove, easily navigating the busy streets. “We scouted the address you gave us and saw a female there, but she doesn’t look like Madeline.”

“Madeline is using a warlock glamour to mask her identity,” Nikolas told him.

“Which warlock?”

“Orias.”

Geoffrey let out a whistle, and I began to wonder if there was anyone who hadn’t heard of Orias. “It’s no surprise no one can find her. How are you going to know for sure if it’s her?”

“We have a way to see through her glamour,” Nikolas answered vaguely. Despite what had happened at Westhorne last fall, few Mohiri knew about my Fae heritage. The rest were on a need-to-know basis.

“You got the warlock tied up back there?” Geoffrey joked lightly. “Ah, here we are.”

My breathing fogged the window as I leaned close to it to stare at the glass building that was so tall it appeared to disappear into the Vegas sky. Somewhere up there behind one of those windows was my mother. Not that I was looking for a mother-daughter reunion. But it was surreal to know that in a few minutes, I might actually talk to her for the first time.

“Are you ready?” Nikolas’s eyes were dark with worry.

“I’ve been ready for this for a long time.”

Armed and alert, Nikolas, Jordan, Chris, and I entered the marble lobby along with two of the warriors from the California team. The rest took up positions outside in case there was trouble.

I barely noticed our surroundings as we waited for the elevator to arrive, and by the time we stepped off the elevator on the forty-second floor, my heart was pounding. Nikolas’s warm hand captured mine and squeezed it gently, and I gave him a small smile.

We stopped in front of door 4220, and everyone but Nikolas and I moved away from the door. We’d decided on the plane that the two of us would talk to Madeline while the rest waited outside. Too many visitors might spook her and make her less inclined to talk. She knew Nikolas well and I was her daughter, so she might open up to us. In any case, she wasn’t running this time – unless she sprouted wings.

Nikolas rang the doorbell and I could hear the faint chimes ringing through the condo. I pictured Madeline walking quietly to the door and peering at us through the peephole. Her eyes would grow round in shock when she saw who was on the other side of the door, and she’d pretend no one was home and hope we would leave.

Several long minutes passed. Nikolas knocked this time. “Madeline, we’ve had our people watching this place, so we know you’re in there. We just want to talk.”

Silence.

I moved in front of him. “An hour of your time, and we’ll be out of your life forever. You owe me that much... Mom.” Okay, maybe I put more than a little sarcasm into that word, but really, who could blame me?

The deadbolt clicked and the door opened as far as the metal security guard would allow it. A blue eye peered out at me warily, and I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry but you have the wrong address. My name is Claire and I have no children.”

“Now that really hurts,” I replied dryly.

“I don’t know who you are, but I’m calling the police if you don’t leave.”

I leaned closer to her and spoke softly. “Before you do that, I think you should know I can see through glamours... even Orias’s.”

Shock and recognition flashed in her eyes before she could hide it. Her lips clamped together, and the door slammed shut. It wouldn’t do her any good. We weren’t going anywhere, and neither was she.

Seconds later, the door opened and I stood face-to-face with my mother.

The photos I’d seen of her had not done her justice. Madeline had a good five inches on me, and her figure was svelte in the blue pants and cream top she wore. Her platinum blond hair was pulled back into a simple chignon that flattered her delicate features and sapphire blue eyes. I could see why any man, including my father, would fall for her.

When I’d met Tristan, I’d thought it was strange having a grandfather who looked only a few years my senior. That was nothing compared to having a mother who looked like she could have been in my senior class. I should have kept the money I’d given Roland and Peter. I’d need it to pay for therapy when all of this was over.