The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Behind the Martinez family's back door, a figure clutching a box sneaked away.

"Master!"

Vivienne stood with her arms crossed, silently watching him, waiting for the moment he would notice her.

Finnian stiffened, then turned around with a grin, "You little rascal, what brings you here? Looking for me for something?"

Vivienne returned the smile, raising an eyebrow at him, "Thought you were heading back to the Rockies, you made it back pretty fast, huh?" Finnian, "..."

Seeing the box in his hands, Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "What's that you got there?"

Finnian instinctively hid the box behind him, "Nothing, nothing at all."

Vivienne saw right through him, "Master, taking gifts for your own disciple's matters? If Leopold finds out, you sure he won't come crying to you?"

Finnian's smile twitched, quickly pulling Vivienne to his side, "Come on, that fool of a kid is getting hitched, a little 'running errand' fee for his master isn't too much, right?" Vivienne just stared at him silently.

Feeling guilty under her gaze, Finnian gave in, "Alright, alright, I'll splurge on a fat check for his wedding, that should do it, right?"

But his treasures were off-limits.

With so many protégés, if this precedent was set, the rest of the Wolf pups would surely come sniffing around.

Vivienne glanced around, cutting to the chase, "Master, we talking here, or somewhere more private?"

Finnian, cautiously clutching the box, coughed lightly, "Here's fine!"

Changing spots might not guarantee his escape, after all.

Vivienne nodded, getting straight to the point, "About that backlash from forbidden magic you mentioned, is there a remedy?"

Finnian frowned, "Hard to say, the aftermath of forbidden magic varies greatly, and the cause is as elusive as a curse, even if cured it's only temporary."

"Generally speaking, the most direct way to break the curse is to eliminate the practitioner of the forbidden magic!"

Vivienne doubted it was that simple.

peace to the Wright family,

magic usually harbor great ambitions and won't easily expose their weaknesses. But, everything has its origin, and

this, Vivienne had a plan

Finnian, clutching his box, attempted to make

apprentices caught a glimpse of the box's contents,

come across a condition where someone's scared of sunlight after getting

confused, "You

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

human hearts and fears light." Finnian gasped, "To

Vivienne caught the importance in

saint, can't claim to have seen every creature of

tales are often embellished over time,

an

thought for a moment, "A trip back to the Rockies, give me three days

nodded and

missed something crucial. Realizing, he stopped Vivienne, "Wait, what about the wild snow lotus you promised me? You didn't forget, did you?" Vivienne spread her hands, unfazed, "I've been at the hospital dealing with Leopold's mess all morning. Do you think

logic was sound, Finnian felt played, "You're not tricking

a verbal assurance, "Three days, I'll exchange what you find for the lotus,

up, "That's

her chin, "Can I

waved her off, "Off you go. And tell those kids to stop bothering me. They're

Vivienne didn't respond.

go of such an

In the hall.

helping the barely standing

She said apologetically, "Leopold,

blame my

agreed to this bet out of. concern for me. They were worried what would happen if I did marry you and you changed

Leopold, make a decision, it's either

bitterly, "No need for such extremes. Knowing you care is

"That's not

along, does that mean the

out a chuckle mixed with disbelief, "Leo sometimes I think you're in your own little world, man. Didn't it strike you as

confusion, not quite catching on