“No girls,” I say.

She turns to look at me, and the small space is suddenly stifling. I sit up.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asks.

I rub my eyes to clear their faces from my vision.

“I can’t even . . . Just the thought of having to care for a girl, watching all the bloody gits sniff around her with their red auras . . . it would kill me and I would deserve it, because I was the worst offender of all.”

“Kai . . .” She touches my arm, and I feel like shit.

“No.” I can’t play along anymore. “I’m sorry, luv, but kids are not my dream. Especially girls.”

“Okay.” Her voice is soft and gentle. “Let’s try to get a little sleep.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, hating that I’ve ruined the moment.

But Anna only lies back down and leads me to do the same. She pulls my arm around her waist, nudging me to spoon her from behind again, and I press my nose into her hair.

Why must I always be such a prick? It was harmless make-believe. I should’ve just let her have her fun and kept my mouth shut.

“Are you angry with me?” I whisper.

She rolls over to face me, touching my cheek. “No, Kai.” She tries to reassure me and kisses me before rolling back over. I pull her closer to my chest and listen to her breathing change as the minutes tick by, until it becomes slow and even.

I can’t afford to dream like Anna does. This moment, and every moment I get to have with her, is my dream come true.

“You’re my dream,” I whisper to my sleeping angel. “My only dream.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Heartwarming

“Exit light.

Enter night.”

—“Enter Sandman” by Metallica

The following morning we return to Patti’s new home and say good-bye to all our Neph mates. It feels strange when they leave, and I realize that yesterday was the first time we’ve all been together and just let ourselves be semi-normal. We sat around a table and had a proper meal, like a real family. Marna and Ginger even had a row, of course, because what would a family holiday be without drama?

It was actually quite nice. Aside from the fighting bit.

I’m not ready to leave, but it’s nearly time. The Dukes will all be returning to their stations now that their Switzerland gathering is over. I’ve got to take care of this estate business in Georgia and head back to L.A. I’m a bit peeved Father still hasn’t bothered to contact me, but I suppose he’s never been the most considerate soul.

Anna shows me to the upstairs shower and I resist the strong urge to pull her in with me. Not sure Patti would appreciate that. So I reluctantly let her go, and climb under the warm stream alone.

I’m halfway through washing my hair when I get a prickly sensation on my neck. I stand very still as bubbles rinse down my face and neck, and I push my hearing down the hall, down the stairs, down to the family room where I believe Patti, Jay, and Anna are likely sitting.

What I find is commotion—bangs and grunts, a moan. What the hell?

I spin and shut off the water, then rip the curtain so hard the damn rod comes off the wall and I’m tangled in loads of plastic and ruffles. I finally get the curtain off and jump from the tub. Nobody is saying anything, but it sounds like a definite fight down there. I bypass my boxers and grab my shorts, yanking them onto my soaking wet legs and diving for the door, slipping a bit on the tiles.

“Don’t come down!” Anna yells, but to hell with that.

I run down the hall and fly down the steps, bursting into the family room just as Anna is racing out the back door. A quick survey of the room shows Jay standing there shell-shocked, and Patti on the floor, ashen, but alive. I run to the door and see Anna staring around the garden and trees, hilt in her hand. Nothing else is in sight.

Patti moans and I rush to her side where she’s leaning against the couch.

“Oh, my God, dude,” Jay is saying to himself. “Oh, my God . . .”

“Are you all right?” I ask Patti.

She nods weakly. “I—I think so.” I look her over but see no signs of injury.

Anna comes back in and slides to Patti’s side, gathering her into her arms. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know what happened,” Patti says. Her eyes are clearer now. “I felt so sick and scared . . . and . . .” She trembles.

“Who was here?” I ask, trying not to sound as freaked as I am.

“It was so weird,” Jay says. “You should have seen Anna! What is that thing?” He points to the hilt. “It was all lit up. She moved so fast. I’ve never seen anyone move like that!”

She actually used the hilt? I stare at Anna, who’s pale, her lips in a stern line. Stray hairs are plastered to her sweating forehead. I take her face in my hands.

“What happened?”

“Three whisperers were on Jay. Two on Patti. One was trying to possess her.” Patti covers her mouth and gags. I can’t bloody blame her. “I killed four of them, but . . . one got away.”

“One got away,” I whisper. Anna and I stare at each other as it sinks in.

One got away. One who saw her with the sword. One is all it takes. It feels as if my innards are on a carnival ride, because this is it. This is the catalyst—the beginning of the end. Anna has started it, and she’ll lead us into it, and oh, God.

I stand, grasping my hair roughly. I feel the same nervous energy course through me as when I had to watch Anna work on New Year’s Eve, and when she entered the summit in New York the next day. That same bloody powerless feeling. I lean against the wall, my head spinning.

“Shite. Shite, Anna . . .” I’m not ready for this. It’s too soon. I’m not ready! A yell forces its way upward and out of my mouth, and I punch the wall with all my strength. My fist goes through drywall.

I have to protect her. I can’t let anyone hurt her. I know she’s strong, and though we don’t look at things the same way, or think things through the same, she is smarter than me in many ways. I know all of that, but I am still crazed with the need to hide her from the world.

I turn and lean against the wall, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes.

I’m not ready. . . .

“Kai.” Anna’s voice is clear and calm.

I drop my hands. She has brushed the stray hairs from her face. I don’t know how she can look so certain at this moment.

“I don’t think they know you’re here,” she says to me. “That’s to our advantage.”

I nod, though it’s hard to believe anyone’s got the advantage here but the Dukes.

“You’re not on the suspicion list,” she goes on. “So you can stay ‘in the know.’ We’ll go our separate ways and—”

“No,” I interject to stop her. She’s mad if she thinks I’m letting her out of my sight. “I stay with you.”

If she refuses, I will follow her. I stare at her, daring her to argue. She sighs and looks aside, thinking.

“Okay. Let’s get our stuff and get out of here.”

Bloody right. Together.

We say our good-byes to Jay and Patti. Anna hugs her mum tight, and then we run. I drive Anna’s car and she lies low in the backseat.

When an unknown number shows up on my mobile, I know it’s Father straightaway. I’d been curious to hear from him before, but now? Not so much.

“Hallo,” I answer.

“It’s Pharzuph.” I knew he was young and American now, but hearing his new voice is still fucking weird.

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you in Atlanta?”

“Not yet.” I glance at Anna, who’s bloody adorable in a baseball cap, and for half a second I’m distracted. And then young, twatty Pharzuph speaks again.

“Meet me at our former home tonight at nine p.m. I’m flying in, and we have some things to discuss.”