Page 20 (1/2)

He repeated the aze locked with hers The flash of recognition in her silvery-blue eyes convinced hih, she turned away from him

“I have been thinking about the cure,” she said, and he could tell from the thread of confidence in her tone that she would drink thesome trepidation, I will drink the potion After all, no one wants to subject thelance “I would give anything to live norst the heather and have the sun war but blood”

A cold chill breezed over hi experience, surely it posed no risk to her life “I assuain?”

Leo glanced at Ivana before speaking “I must be honest with you Everyone reacts differently When we had the ability to compel our friends to sleep, it helped them to cope with the pain When I drank the elixir, I was not as fortunate Thus far, those who have taken it have woken to find their body has healed”

“But you cannot categorically say Isla will do the sa to keep his tone even

Leo’s grih Lachlan’s heart “No I cannot know for sure how she will react”

Lachlan turned to face Isla “I’ll repeat what I said earlier Will you not reconsider? Can you not live as you have done these last few years? You have Douglas and Malmuirie to help you”

Douglas nodded “Aye, I’ll stay here as long as yer need me There’s nae need to worry on that score”

“And ill she do when you are gone?” Ivana asked “Who will look after her a hundred years from now?”

“A hundred years?” Lachlan could not prevent the snigger bursting fro in riddles”

Ivana focused her gaze on Isla “I assume you know the afflictionof loneliness that has consuine an eternity of such misery”

Isla nodded “I have heard Nikolai’s ghostly whispers inthe first year after he left The instructions were so clear I would often glance back over ed “If I stay out of the sun, drink blood and ensure my head remains on my shoulders, I can live forever”

“Forever” Lachlan repeated the word in the hope he hadas immortality”

“Just as there is no such thing as drinking blood or having fangs that burst froum” Isla’s tone carried more than a hint of sarcasm “After what I have experienced, I would never discount the impossible”

“So ye plan to live here forever?” Douglas rubbed his bri