The last two days of travel are tiresome and when Ember sees the glowing lights of Bucharest, she is so excited to sleep in her bed after weeks of being away.

It was clear that Ember wasn't the only one excited for this long journey to end.

Especially since the energy between her and Adrian has been tense and awkward after their heated argument a few nights ago. Ember couldn't wait until she was back in the comforts and solitude of her home so she could think clearly about her next move.

Because no matter what happened between her and the Kresniks, she would never stop her mission to find Donovan Reign.

The five of them were trotting slowly down the hill on their mounts towards the city with the sun shining brightly overhead. Not long after, the group was clambering over the stone bridge that crosses the Dâboviṭa River.

As they made their way to the horse stables in which they had rented the horses over a month earlier, Ember watched with delight as she took in her surroundings.

Tall, broad buildings rose into the sky, their domed roofs topped with elegant spires reaching for the blue skies above them. A flock of pigeons took flight as the group passed, sending a gust of feathers across the cobblestone sidewalk.

Everything about Bucharest was ornate and colorful with its elegant Parisian-style architecture and medieval aesthetic.

The city was alight with energy as people strolled past chatting and coaches rambled down the street. A mother hung out her window to draw in the laundry, not before hollering at her two young children who were running about the street to come inside.

There was the smell of fresh bread baking in the air, along with the warming smell of fire smoke that rolled out of chimneys.

For the first time in weeks, a delightful feeling of comfort overwhelmed Ember.

She was finally home.

An hour later the horses had been returned to their stable hand and everyone was walking back to the main street to catch a coach downtown.

Everyone, but Ember, was chatting good-naturedly as they walked. Soon they were all standing at the corner waiting to flag a coach.

"Ember," Adrian said, waiting for her to look at him before continuing. "Would you like me to escort you to your place?"

Ember gave him a small smile, "No, but thank you. I'll be fine on my own."

Adrian was about to protest when Turner whistled, waving down an oncoming carriage. When it came to a halt in front of them, Turner turned to Ember.

"Ladies first," he said with a kind smile.

"Thank you, Turner," Ember said before hugging him. She turned to Malcolm and pulled him into a quick embrace as well. She scanned the four of them with a strained smile. "Well, I suppose I'll see you around."

Turner and Malcolm waved, William made a point to look in a different direction, and Adrian watched her with a moody expression as she turned away and stepped into the carriage.

As soon as Ember had settled she gave Adrian one last glance as the coach started to pull away.

His eyes never left her until she was out of sight.

***

When Ember walked into her sunny apartment with the large bay windows and the familiar smell of bergamot lingering in the air, she couldn't help but smile as the feeling of contentment filled her.

Delighted to be back home, she dropped her suitcase on the floor and immediately went into the kitchen area to brew herself a cup of hot tea. While there was nothing to eat in her apartment, she knew she had some water in a clay pitcher for emergencies. After stoking up a fire in the iron stove, she put the kettle on to boil then went into the main living quarters to start another fire in the hearth.

As soon as she had brewed herself a cup of Earl Grey tea, she made her way back into the living room and sat down with her steaming cup. With a sigh, she watched some birds flit about on the window ledge and took a sip of her soothing drink.

While her mind was still spinning over the last week's events, Ember put it all out of her mind for that moment as she relished the comforts of her home once again. A feeling of peace and comfort overwhelmed her as she sat in the stillness for a few minutes.

After her tea was drunk, Ember put the kettle on once again to boil water so she could prepare herself a bath.

About an hour later, Ember was braiding her long blond hair curled up in her coziest robe on the daybed next to the window.

She watched as people bustled through the streets, listening to the chatter and commotion with a soft smile on her face. Suddenly there was a knock on her door.

Confused about who would be calling since she'd just barely returned home, Ember made her way to the door.

"Who is it?" Ember said loudly.

"It's Brianna," said a sweet voice from the other side.

Ember smiled happily as she opened the door to her downstairs neighbor and friend.

"Brianna!" she greeted excitedly. "How are you? Please come in!"

Brianna stepped in obligingly with her happy smile.

"I am well, thank you," she said politely. "Mrs. Brinham told me she saw you down in the lobby, so I decided to come see you as soon as I'd heard."

"I'm grateful you did," Ember said genuinely. "Come sit down, I'll make you a cup of tea."

"Oh, no I can't stay for tea today. Jaque will be home anytime and we are going to his parents for a late luncheon. I did want to stop by and see if you needed anything from Papa's shop. I imagine for how long you've been gone that the cupboards are quite bare."

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Ember said, sitting down on the daybed once again, Brianna following suit. "I haven't had a chance yet to talk to the baker either."

"Well I will be stopping by with Jaque anyway, so I'll tell him to bring your usual order?" Brianna asked kindly.

"Perfect, thank you, Brianna," Ember said, grateful for such a kind and caring friend.

"So, how was your visit up North?" Brianna asked curiously. "Did you find the gentleman you were looking for? Did he provide you with a good story for your novel?"

Ember couldn't help but pause at her question, almost forgetting the cover story that she'd told Brianna the week before she left for Sinaia.

"He did indeed," Ember said, trying to keep her tone in check. "He was quite an intriguing man, to say the least."

"Well, we will have to sit for tea so you can tell me all about him and the countryside," Brianna said standing.

"That sounds lovely," Ember said standing and giving Brianna a soft hug. "You will say hi to your father and Jaque for me?"

"Of course," Brianna said with a smile. "I" 'll have Papa drop off your order before this evening so you can have a filling supper."

Ember walked Brianna to the door, "Thanks again."

Brianna waved goodbye before stepping out the door, Ember closing it behind her.

Ember was still smiling softly, turning to walk back into the living room when she stopped dead in her tracks.

She was no longer in her sunlit living room.

Instead, she was staring from a cliffside across an expanse of stormy gray sea. A gust of salty air brushed past her face, causing her to gasp as the chilled air swirled her skirts.

Her gaze dropped to her feet which were tediously close to the edge of the cliff. A steep drop only inches from her toes.

With a fearful exhale, Ember took a step back until she felt the strong solid form behind her.

"Woe, destruction, ruin, and decay; The worst is death, and death will have his day."

The words of Shakespear left Donovan's lips as they caressed the shell of her ear softly.

Ember's stomach dropped as he held her so tenderly at the brink of death itself.

"I see you've made it back home, Miss Woods," he said softly, his nose dipping to the junction of her ear and neck. "Did you think that you were safe inside the sanctuary of your little town?"

Ember closed her eyes and tried to will herself out of this vision, but when she opened them again a lightning strike chose that moment to light up the horizon. Ember couldn't help but jump, pressing tighter into Donovan's chest.

"This can't be real," Ember managed to gasp out, her hands clutching for anything to grab onto, but only finding the strong arms of Donovan's.

Donovan chuckled as he lifted his hand to her chin and turned her face towards his. When Ember looked into his eyes, she knew in her heart that whatever was happening, whatever it was, wasn't a figment of her imagination.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and as he watched her, he slid his finger down her neck to rest on her pulse.

A satisfied shudder coursed through his body.

"It is only a matter of time," he said softly, his hand moving to cradle the smooth skin of her neck.

He had every opportunity to cut off her air, but instead, he moved his hand and replaced it with his mouth. Donovan kissed her skin softly with the tenderness of a lover and Ember gasped with a mixture of fear and pleasure when she felt the sharpness of his fangs brush against her skin.

Another gust of chilly sea air flooded Ember's senses, she closed her eyes against the breeze only for a moment.

When she opened her eyes again Donovan was gone and she was once again back in her apartment.