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.

could bring peace to the Wright family, Colin's final wish wouldn't

then added, "That's just the simplest solution. Those who delve into forbidden magic usually harbor great ambitions and won't easily expose their weaknesses. But,

Vivienne had a plan forming in her

settled, Finnian, clutching his

apprentices caught a glimpse of the box's contents, he doubted they'd leave anything for

"Master, ever come across a condition where someone's

"You

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

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 on this is

seen this before?" Vivienne caught the importance in his

deflecting, "I'm no saint, can't claim to have seen every creature of

too high, though. Such tales

raised an eyebrow, "How

back to the Rockies, give me

and turned

wild snow lotus you promised me? You didn't forget, did

sound, Finnian felt played, "You're

master all too well, Vivienne nodded, offering a verbal assurance, "Three days, I'll exchange what you find for

up, "That's more

tilted her chin, "Can

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

Vivienne didn't respond.

she let go of such an efficient means

In the hall.

barely standing

She said apologetically, "Leopold,

my

worried what would happen if I did marry

Leopold, make a

for such extremes. Knowing you care is

"That's not what I

Griffin, when you mentioned your grandpa playing along, does that mean the invitation was also

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

confusion,