ph trembled

existence. The woman who'd sent wolves to k

"If she's my grandmother, if she'

also the daughter of the woman who betrayed her. Your mother-Elena-she was Seraphin

rewolf? But I thought

s. My mother, Selene, was the Moon Priestess of the Northern Pack. They were best

photograph again. At the two men flan

inary. And both Elena and Selene loved him. Elena married him. Selene loved him from afar. And when you were b

eps. My legs would

o humans, erased your trail, died protecting your secret." Kael knelt beside me. "My mother helped her. That's why Seraphine

other-she hadn't just been a priestess. She'd been my mother's best f

dreams. She told me not to let anyone o

ght. "You saw her

And sad. And she warned me about y

's expression. Hope, ma

he whispered. "Even now.

e city hummed around us, oblivious to t

d finally. "Wher

over Elena, to report her movements, to ensure she never strayed from vampire law. Instead, he fel

found ou

Seraphine's favorite punishment for traitors. He only escaped ten yea

t loneliness. He hadn't just lost my mother-he'd been tor

told me,

ve believed h

ek ago, I didn't belie

into devotion. But you-" He looked at me, and there was no jealousy in his eyes. Just truth. "You've woken something in h

asked. "What

saddest thing I'd ever see

sleep t

er. Elena. She had my eyes, my smile, my awkward way of holding her hands. She looked happy in the photo-genuine

e'd loved me anyway. Sh

I thought. I never

ent-just a moment-I felt her. A presence. A warmth

lcome, li

n my face. I didn'

my phon

: Kael

ques

:

to tell you. Soon. Wh

ould that

pause

ou, love you, keep you safe-and let you believe I was just a vampire wh

rful creature-apologizing. Admitting fear.

m not

: You s

t my grandmother is the most dangerous vampire in existence and wants m

r paus

have your m

s she

no one did. She loved a human, which no one had done. She looked at a werewolf priestess and saw a

. I wiped t

sounds

exactly like her. Which ter

:

't stop it. I couldn't protect her. I couldn't do anything except watch an

I felt it through the bond-a raw,

not that pe

person. I just have more r

not going

ou can't p

Watc

I could consider the implications. Before I could wonder wh

se came im

ian:

Wh

Just... your name.

d mother and the murderous grandmother and t

ou're

undred years alo

e not alo

responded, his words were careful. Measured. Li

ow. That's wh

came t

and the lingering warmth of Caspian's texts. Margaret gave me a knowing look but di

and I found Kael waiting

terrible

know how to make a

"Can we talk? So

f-dead plant and a fridge that smelled suspicious. He leaned agains

"About Seraphine. About what sh

nd

nk we need

be obvious. But from Kael-an alpha wolf suggesting

te him,

at you, so maybe I don't have room to judge." He ran a hand through his hair. "But he's also the only one who knows Seraphine. Really knows

ork together. You and C

work together to keep you alive. After th

rather swallow glass than ask a vampire for h

ae

oble. I'm doing it because the thought of you dying-" He stopped. Swallowed. "I can't. I literally

he room and

al affection felt like. Then his arms came around me-carefully,

I murmured ag

n hot. It'

ike

ing this... this you... I'm going to fall even harder.

. His eyes were gold again-burning gold,

choose, or if I'll choose anyone at all. But I know you're good,

His voice was rough.

kiss me. His head dipped, his eyes dropped to

door ba

e, holding a stack of books th

s is the second time I've walked in on you wi

h like a physical thing. He looked almost embarrassed-this

talk more later. About... the

," I mu

-agony, and then he was gone, leaving me alone

s voice was stern

nothing t

r you. And you're standing here looking like you don't know which one you wan

r. "You read r

vels. They're the only place where men actually say what they feel." She knelt to pick up books, an

ot

d. "Honey, you

tch

ealized-I meant them. I wasn't going to choose. I wasn't going to let any

ough the hearts of two supernatura

at me sideways.

letting other people decide for me. If I want both, I'll fight for both

r heels. "That's the most badas

mother I never knew. And the homicidal grandmothe

that sounds like a lot mo

ave no

on my fire escape an

. But up here, it was quiet. Just me and th

warm glow at the edge of my awareness. Caspian, closer, lurki

iting. Both hopin

done being

phone and crea

talk. All three of us. No fighting, no posturing, no alph

...s

ns we either attend or we

means. I just didn't

ght. Don'

I'm nev

I'll b

r was watching. The Moon Priestess was watching. And my grandmother-the mo

dinary librarian. I was Lena. Daughter of Elena. Heir

o loved me were going to sit down

ie t

was going to