trembled in

one who ne

round him. His great-great-grandfather's voice echoed through the

. So would the o

ra stirred something old in him. And now the shadow creeping aroun

p his phone

on the Valencia bloodline. Starting w

s,

cretly shown her. Amara didn't know he'd seen it too. A copy had

ce. Th

eturned... then

oke to

s breath. She padded across her apartment barefoot and open

one from

heart slammed

ed a photo, then backed awa

ey? What di

ut just as she zoomed in, a strange haze distorted the image-just like the d

shiv

d to her last messa

he one person who might kn

's flower shop rang so

nder bundles, her warm expression

oice trembling. "The man who kill

not. She set the ribbon dow

Like he's close. Like he'

ked the door behind them. Inside, the air was h

n't come to this,

book from the cabinet-a leather

s of the R

ked. "What

ketched and labeled in ornate script, were twin blood

lle said. "They're bound by a sacred pact

skin p

idden one. The Order of the Veiled Flame. Jealous of the union between y

nds?" Ama

threat. They sent one of

cracked. "Do you

e hesi

said slowly, "

ara like an old

t remem

id. "Because he rememb

afé tucked between two buildings th

s late. She w

sed in all black, red hair tumbling down her back like fi

e purred. "Still

them, Rhea?" he

mily records. I brought them." She tos

nned the pages. Birth recor

opped

ra

Estelle

: Cyra

d turned

escendant,"

She's not. She's the same

ared

" Rhea said. "And

folder. "Then w

's the real question.

ara stood at her win

symbol she couldn't recall ever seeing before, but her hand drew it pe

ga

hat had been etched in

she remembered

rkness. Cold hand

etimes, Mariselle. But I will find

beside her. A shadow

ed, the black

ewalk below were fresh

oo