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.

the Wright family, Colin's final wish wouldn't be for

Those who delve into forbidden magic usually harbor great ambitions and won't easily expose their weaknesses. But, everything has its origin, and the source of the backlash is bound to be with the

had a plan forming

his box, attempted to make a quick

his apprentices caught a glimpse of the box's contents, he doubted they'd

Vivienne asked, "Master, ever come across a condition where someone's scared of sunlight after

"You ran into a

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

family you mentioned before. She heals by consuming human hearts and fears light." Finnian gasped, "To think we'd encounter such a monstrous being after so many years. The research potential

before?" Vivienne caught the

claim to have seen every creature

hopes too high, though. Such tales are often embellished over

raised an eyebrow, "How

back to the Rockies, give me

and

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

Finnian

nodded, offering a verbal assurance, "Three days, I'll exchange what you find for the lotus, guaranteed." "And about that box of treasures, let's pretend I saw

up, "That's

her chin, "Can I go

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

Vivienne didn't respond.

such an efficient means of getting what

In the hall.

helping the barely standing Leopold to a

She said apologetically, "Leopold,

blame my grandpa or

worried

make

for such

mistake, "That's

grandpa playing along, does that mean

out a chuckle mixed with disbelief, "Leo sometimes I think you're in your own little world, man. Didn't it strike you as odd that the invitation was only sent to your place?"

in confusion, not quite