They were powerful and ancient. They were together as one and they were angry. Three of their own had been murdered in front of them, and they were ready to enact their revenge.

Everything stopped in that moment. Heartbeats slowed. Breaths were held. No one moved, not even turning over a small rock in the gravel beneath our feet. No crickets chirped, no breeze swept around us. It was the calm before the storm, and holy crap, my bones knew it was going to be the storm of my life.

Then Damien broke the silence. “You brought them here?”

“It was either that or die at their hands. I was outnumbered.” Kellan threw an irritated look at him, but no one else said a thing. “I’m stronger by Shay’s side. Strong enough now anyway.”

“Shay…”

I jumped, feeling my father. His voice was strong as he called to me. I felt my blood churn inside, hearing part of its ancestry.

It freaked me out. Without thinking, I reached for Kellan’s hand and squeezed tight. He moved closer so our hands were hidden, but he squeezed back, and the other blood in me calmed down. I needed him.

The twenty pairs of eyes moved back, parting waves. Everything moved to the side, and I was staring at my father. He was over seven feet tall with long blond hair held back in one large braid. My eyes were drawn to his clothes, a loose fitting tunic as a top and pants that billowed around him.

“Look at me.”

I flinched and looked away, at Aumae who had a resigned expression on her face. She caught my gaze and winked, the resignation switched to an eager defiance. “We’ll be fine, Shay. Answer your father.”

“Do not speak to my daughter. You’ve done enough, Aumae, you and your sister,” my father roared, flying forward and landing in front of us with a force that was fierce. The earth moved beneath him, and we all moved as well.

Aumae snapped her head to the side as if she’d been slapped. When a red mark appeared on her cheek, I realized she had been slapped. That pissed me off, and I snapped inside. My fury built inside of me like a volcano, boiling and churning upward until I reared back in the air and sent two bursts of energy at my father.

Kellan followed with his own bursts of energy, as did Damien.

My father was slammed back, past his followers. Kellan went with him, and I caught a flash from his hand. He meant to use the dagger on my father. My gut sparked, and I knew it was a bad idea if Kellan stabbed him. I didn’t know why, but I flew after them. When my father tumbled to the ground, still dazed from the onslaught, Kellan landed on top of him and raised his hand.

“No!” I caught his hand and clawed, trying to unleash the dagger.

“What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” I panted. “This is not a good idea.”

“He’s going to kill everyone, Shay.” Kellan took my hand and shoved me backward.

“Kellan!”

He turned back, but my father was on his feet again. Laughing. “You think that little thing will kill me?”

Kellan fell silent.

I stood, cautious. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m a first lineage messenger. Those things give us strength. They don’t harm us.”

I hadn’t wanted to look at my father. The power in him was enormous, and it drew me in, captivating me. I’d fought against it, not wanting to feel connected to him. Perhaps that had been my fear—that I’d want to be with him and somehow I’d be brainwashed into forgetting everyone else. Aumae, Damien, even Gus, especially Kellan. I couldn’t forget them, and when he first spoke my name, I knew that was what he wanted. But now I looked at him. His eyes were intelligent, old, and they spoke of memories. However, when I looked into them, I knew one other thing. Those memories weren’t from my blood.

“You’re not my father.”

Kellan was tense beside me.

Something was coming, something was going to happen, but I didn’t know what. I just knew it was bad, very bad, and I had no way of stopping it. And then the messenger’s laughter faded, and he nodded. “You’re right. I’m not your father. But I am supposed to bring you to him.”

He grabbed my hand—Kellan yelled—and we were gone in the next instant.

My feet hit the floor, and I rolled with it, coming back up to stand in one smooth motion. I looked around, but Kellan wasn’t there. His shout echoed in my ears and it was like he was still there. I could still feel him. No. I was alone. Breathing hard, the sounds almost drowning out Kellan’s voice, I hunched forward. My knees were bent. My arms out. I was ready to battle, but I swung my head around and no one was there.

I was in a dark room.

The wood floors creaked under my weight.

Edging forward, they protested loudly, but I kept moving forward ninja-style.

“You think to sneak up on me?”

A loud voice boomed through the house. I gritted my teeth. A piece of hair fell over my forehead, blocking my vision and I swiped at it. “Come on. When you bring a girl to an old house, sneaking’s not the first thing that comes to mind.”

I had no idea why I said it, but it was out there. My heart was still pounding against my chest, and I waited for his response.

There was none.

I kept moving, going from room to room. I was on the second floor and all the rooms were empty. Coming to what must’ve been a bathroom, the back wall was completely blown out. It looked like a grenade had been thrown in the room. Black smudges plastered the wall, and half of the sink was gone. I stepped down, and sucked in my breath. The hole was there where the toilet should’ve gone.