I huddled with Mom and Dad while the rest of the vampires and witches took care of Nicholas's followers. It was horrible and disgusting and I just wanted to hide from it. Dad hugged me close, feeling so normal it made me cry harder.
It was like seeing Sebastian's grief finally opened my own floodgates. I sobbed so hard my head hurt.
And yet, we were safe. Mom was fine, Dad was... well. Dad was mortal. But at least he was okay. And I was alive. Barely.
I was at the hiccupping stage when Anastasia's quiet voice finally caught my attention and held it.
"I'm sorry we were late," she said. "We encountered a barrier to the site and tried everything to break through it. It fell at last but I fear there is more to be told here than just Nicholas's meddling."
Mom quickly filled her in on every
