Free From the Ashes (Witches of The Demon Isle Book 8) by Rachel Humphrey-D'aigle

Emily-less as he lumbered inside to join them.
    “How is she?” Charlie hated to bring up another sore subject.
    “Kicked me out of the bookstore.” He plunked down on the overstuffed arm of a chair. “Claimed she couldn’t finish her work because I was hovering.”
    His siblings didn’t even bother trying to argue, they were sure he was.
    “Anyway, rather than pace around arguing with her, and get pissed because letting her stay there alone will drive me mad, I came home. So what’s going on in here?” He pointed at all the books, having a good idea already but wanted the lowdown.
    “Research,” responded Charlie and Melinda at once.
    “It’s much slower going without William’s super speedy reading,” informed Melinda.
    “Or knowledge in general of what’s in this library,” explained Charlie dejectedly.
    “I assume we’re researching vampires?” Michael picked up a book and thumbed through the pages.
    “Yes. We’re trying to figure out how to hunt one. How to set some kind of trap,” Charlie explained. “You know, the usual. Need to track and catch something, no idea how to do that.”
    “Oh. Joy.” Michael sounded about as enthused as his siblings.
    The afternoon drudged onward. As it turned out, they had a lot more information about vampires in their library than any of them had ever realized. Some of the books went back hundreds of years, with data collected and recorded by their own family.
    It was fascinating, boring, and tedious all at once.
    “My brain is permanently injured,” rumbled Charlie after a few more hours.
    Michael snickered. Melinda laughed, thinking about knocking him upside the head again to see if it sounded any different. Instead, she jumped out of the chair she’d gotten comfy in and plopped down between them on the sofa.
    “I think I’ve got something. It’s kind of so ridiculously simple it’s stupid really.”
    She showed them the entry.
    Michael rolled his eyes and leaned back. “I can’t believe we wasted hours researching this.”
    Charlie grunted, in annoyed agreement. “Blood. What else would call out a vampire? Freaking duh.” He rubbed his temples.
    “It’s not quite that easy though,” continued Melinda. “We need a willing victim. And it needs to be at night, somewhere remote enough that the vamp would not fear getting caught.” Melinda slapped the book down on the coffee table.
    “We are really off our game,” muttered Charlie. “If William had been here we wouldn’t have wasted so many hours.”
    “Or if we weren’t exhausted and still dealing with…” Michael didn’t bother finishing. He was getting tired of the topic. None of them needed the constant reminders of what they had lost, and gone through.
    He ignored the sympathetic emotions pouring out of his siblings.
    “So, a willing victim? I think that will be the hardest thing to find,” he said.
    “Not that I’m all that excited about it, but it’s got to be me,” said Melinda.
    Both brothers turned their heads thundering emphatic, “No’s,” at her simultaneously.
    “Why not? It’s not like I’ll be on my own. You guys will be in hiding, close by.”
    “If something goes wrong,” argued Charlie. “Just… no. Too many variables to account for. Cannot guarantee your safety.”
    “You don’t believe I can do it? Or you playing big brother?”
    “It’s nothing like that,” insisted Michael. “It’s simply too dangerous. Too unpredictable.”
    “But not for one of you,” she fired back pointedly.
    “Melinda…” Charlie’s tone begged her to drop it.
    She jumped off the sofa, arms folded, rant at the ready.
    “Everything we do is dangerous and unpredictable. You guys put your lives on the line all the time. I’m not saying I’m looking forward to it, but do you honestly think a vampire is going to be attracted to one of you?  Charlie, you’re out, because you know, werewolf. Vamp could kill you. And Michael, you may have a baby face charming enough to