I searched her face, not liking her answer. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.” She turned and started up the stairs. “I need to visit my mother’s childhood home.”

I followed her. “Why? What did you find out?”

She spoke without looking back. “Whatever I am—it didn’t come from my father, like I thought. My mother had more secrets than I realized. And she had a very roundabout way of sharing them.”

“Why not be direct?”

She reached the top of the stairs and turned to face me. “I don’t know. Maybe she thought I was too young to handle it. Maybe there was a scenario where I never needed to know.”

I wasn’t sure I agreed with those reasons, but it wasn’t my place to say. “I’ll come with you.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I don’t care. I’m coming with you.”

She huffed and turned around. “Whatever. I’m not going to waste time trying to dissuade you.”

It was good enough for me. “I’ll tell Kenneth what we’ve learned so that he can add it to his research. I have him trying to decipher the carvings on the Shetland standing stones.”

“Excellent. Will you ask him to share that information with Seraphia? I think they could help each other.”

Guild City’s librarian would be the perfect partner for Kenneth’s research. Not only was she intelligent, but she also had ready access to the largest library in Guild City. “I will.”

“I’m going to swing by your kitchens to pick up some food, then I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”

I nodded, watching her turn the corner and stride away. I couldn’t help but marvel at her as she walked off. No matter what life threw at her, Eve kept her chin up and kept moving forward.

Whatever she was—whatever we would find at her mother’s old house—it was going to be something the likes of which the world had never seen.

I was sure of it.

Eve

 

* * *

 

I tried to keep my breathing steady as I walked toward the kitchens.

What the hell was I going to do about Lachlan? That embrace had nearly broken me.

It was one thing to want to jump his bones all the time—who wouldn’t want that? But it was an entirely different thing to have such tender moments. Those were the kinds of thing that made one fall in love. How could he be so…understanding? Kind? Insightful?

It wasn’t fair.

It certainly wasn't something my defenses could resist.

I rubbed my chest absently, vowing to maintain my distance, no matter what. He had the Dark Moon curse to contend with, and I had the damned seer’s prophecy about my death to consider. She hadn’t been clear about how I would die if I pursued the bond with him, but she’d been clear it would happen.

It was one of the few things that could actually frighten me, and I wasn’t going to ignore it.

As I approached the kitchens, my stomach grumbled. Fortunately, they were empty when I entered.

Excellent. I’d be able to raid the larder and be on my way without any conversation.

A rustling noise from the pantry caught my attention, and I stiffened. Someone was here? No. I would sense another person, feel their magic. Quietly, I crept toward the pantry. I had a feeling I knew who was in there, and I knew I wasn't going to like it.

When I peered around the edge, I spotted chaos. Packages of food were scattered everywhere, and a fluffy raccoon tail was sticking out of a massive crate full of snack bars wrapped in colorful packaging.

“Ralph.” My tone was that of an annoyed parent, and when Ralph’s little head popped up out of the crate, the guilt in his eyes told me he recognized it. “What are you doing?”

Did you know there’s not a single chocolate bar in this whole place?

“I think your previous thefts have led the cook to hide them.”

A cunning look glinted in his eyes. I see.

“You will not go on a hunt for them, I swear to fate, or I will string you up by your ankles and let the birds laugh at you.”

He looked at me, a scandalized expression on his face. You wouldn’t.

“Try me.” I crossed my arms. “It’s one thing to raid the larders at our tower. It’s entirely another to do it at the Shifters Guild.”

It’s kind of your guild, too.

“Not in a way that means you can do this.”

He harrumphed.

“Put it all back. It’s not like you want any of this, anyway.”

I don’t. It’s all healthy and gross.

“Exactly.” Thank fates he was magical and I didn’t have to worry about a proper diet for him. If he were a normal raccoon, we’d be in the veterinary ER with cardiac arrest every other day.

As he began to put the snacks back, I grabbed a few energy bars, then snagged a couple of apples from the kitchen counter. It wasn’t exciting, but it would have to do. I didn't want to spare even a minute if we were almost there.

The sound of tiny, padded footsteps made me turn. Ralph stopped in front of me and held up a single chocolate bar in offering. You look like you’ve had a hard day.

“I have.” I stared at the chocolate. “But where did you find it?”

Cook isn’t as clever as she thinks.

“Nothing stops you.” I sighed, then took the chocolate bar. I could use it. “Thank you.”

He nodded. Shout if you need me.

“Always.” I ruffled his little head, then left the kitchen. He was a menace, but I was lucky to have him.

A few minutes later, I found Lachlan in the courtyard. Full dark had fallen, but the streetlamps had turned on and picked up the slack. I tossed Lachlan an apple and an energy bar, but no way was I sharing my chocolate.

I wasn’t in love with him yet.

He caught the items deftly. “Thank you.”

I nodded. “Have you got a transport charm we can use?”

This was one of the other reasons I hadn’t fought him about coming with me. I knew it was pointless, but I also needed a ride.

“I do.”

“Great.” I shoved my energy bar in my pocket and held out my hand for the stone. He gave it to me, and I raised it, about to throw. “Ready?”

He nodded.

I chucked the stone to the ground. When the silver cloud poofed up, I reached for his hand. He gripped my palm, and warm shivers raced through my body.

Ignore them, idiot.

With a deep breath, I imagined my destination and stepped into the cloud, bringing him with me. The ether sucked us in and spun us through space, then spat us out at the edge of my mother’s village.

The moon gleamed high in the sky, stars twinkling despite its light. The night was bright enough that it was easy to see, and I felt something surge deep inside me at the feeling of moonlight on my skin. I swayed, lightheaded.

Lachlan gently gripped my arm to steady me. “Are you all right?”

I nodded, trying to clear my head. Whatever was inside me wanted out. It wanted to shift, to run, to hunt. There was a beast inside me, after all. I just had no idea how to let it out. Even now, I knew it was impossible. I could try and try, just like I had, and nothing would happen.

Damn it, these weren’t the thoughts I needed to be having right now. I drew in a deep breath, trying to focus on my surroundings and drag myself back to the present. I could smell the salty scent of the sea in the distance, and I breathed deeply. It felt like home, somehow, as if my soul recognized that my ancestors had once lived here.