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As I start to exit, Amber squeezes my hand. ‘Want me to come with you?’

I shake my head and give a grim smile. ‘I won’t be long.’

They’re standing beside a picnic table about twenty metres down from where the cars are parked. When they see me, they move to the table and we all sit around it, with Jordan on my left, Nathaneal opposite.

‘Thank you for coming, Ebony,’ Nathaneal says.

He has my name correct. That’s a move in the right direction.

‘I’m not here to cause you harm or increase your distress. That’s not my intention.’

‘So why are you here? I didn’t go looking for you. You sought me out. Why?’

He seems taken back by my attitude, but I don’t care. In the car park I was confused, spaced out, suddenly waking up in a strange car with a gorgeous guy staring at me. My thoughts are more collected now. ‘What do you want with me?’

‘There are things you need to know. It’s my intention to inform you of these things, and keep you safe.’

‘Like what?’

‘Your birth. Your family. Who you are. Where you’re from.’

‘Recently I learned I was adopted. Since my parents told me this, I’m pretty sure it’s true. Why don’t you tell me what you know, and I’ll tell you whether I believe you or not.’

He shares a glance with Jordan. He doesn’t understand my attitude. After the weird things he told me in the car park, he’s lucky I’m meeting him at all.

He leans forward and his blue eyes peer, unblinking, into mine. I have to remind myself to breathe because this guy’s eyes are truly stunning. ‘You were not given up for adoption willingly, but abducted at birth from parents who love you and sent me to find you.’

‘Go on.’

‘You come from a place called Avena –’

‘
Avena?
I’ve never heard of it. Is it far away?’

‘It’s in another –’

‘Continent,’ Jordan jumps in. ‘Europe.’

‘Where in Europe? Which country?’

‘Jordan,’ Nathaneal says in a tone meant to stop him, which makes me think Jordan must have just made that up, and yet, I’m more likely to believe Jordan than Nathaneal, even though I don’t know why. The connection we shared outside the club felt real. It must have been, because I still feel it now.

What if Dawn is right and these two are in cahoots to steal my inheritance? Or is this some kind of elaborate joke, or a dare?

‘How can you be so sure I’m the girl you’re searching for? What if you’re wrong? My life is chaotic right now, and yes, I have questions about my birth, or I wouldn’t be sitting here with strangers, making my friends worry. Nathaneal, I need the absolute truth, backed by proof. If you can’t give me that, I’m walking away. Do you understand?’

‘I understand. And when you say “proof”, do you mean that my word is not …’

‘Enough? No, it’s not.’ I finish for him.

‘So what kind of proof is enough?’

‘Forensic. An item that can be tested for DNA, like a hair follicle, or something.’

Before he answers I can tell by the way he blinks that he doesn’t have any. I get straight up. ‘That’s it then.’ Without physical proof, Nathaneal has nothing to substantiate his claims. ‘It seems I’m wasting both my time and yours.’

I begin walking to Dawn’s car when I hear Jordan murmur sarcastically, ‘That went well.’

Then Nathaneal’s voice rings out: ‘Have you noticed
some unusual physical changes occurring to your body recently?’

I stop. Goosebumps raise the skin on my arms and I turn around. ‘What kind of changes?’

Both of them are standing now, looking at me, then Jordan whispers, ‘Go easy, Thane.’

Nathaneal says, ‘Protrusions of bone and muscle that feel as if they’re trying to burst through the skin of your shoulder blades.’

How could he know this?
‘What makes you think I would have something weird like that?’

I stare at Jordan for an answer. Instinctively he feels more on my level. His blue eyes – so different to Nathaneal’s, much less intense – gaze into mine, and I feel his sadness again, his suffering and longing for love, to be a part of something important. ‘You told me I could believe every word he says, so you two must be working together at whatever game you’re playing.’

‘It’s not like that,’ Jordan says. ‘He’s telling the truth. But there’s a lot more you need to hear before you understand, so it’s important that you listen.’

‘Why? Are you going to tell me my life is in terrible danger?’

Jordan flashes Nathaneal a frustrated look, then shrugs, and Nathaneal starts to walk towards me. I hold my hand up and he stops.’

‘Ebony, I’m sorry, I fear I’ve gone about this the wrong way. I don’t mean to startle you. This must be very hard.’

He has
no
idea.

‘What’s happening to your body is normal for you and not to be feared,’ he says.

‘The one thing I know for certain, right now, is that I shouldn’t have come here.’

‘Ebony, you need to know more. May I approach?’

My nod is slight, and without my seeing him move, Nathaneal is suddenly in front of me. When I look up, I lose myself in his eyes. I blink quickly a few times to sever the connection. It feels like I’m one half of a magnet where Nathaneal is the other. ‘What do you want from me?’

‘I have a house on Mount Bungarra. Jordan lives there too. I want you to come and stay with us until you are ready to return to Avena.’

He has to be kidding. I only met him today! I get my legs moving backwards fast. ‘I don’t know what you’re selling, or what your game is, or how you could know …’ I draw in a deep breath. ‘I don’t want any part of it.’

‘Ebrielle, the house is protected. You’ll be safe there.’

I turn and look at Jordan. ‘Keep your cousin away from me.’

‘But you need to listen to him.’

‘Oh, and tell him my name is
Ebony
.’

When I get back in the car, both Amber and Dawn are keen to hear everything. ‘It was just more of the same they told me in the car park.’ I do up my seat belt with shaking hands, then catch Dawn’s eye in the mirror. ‘I’m sorry I kept you waiting. Can we go home now?’

She’s already started the car.

The sky is darkening fast. By the time we arrive home, a strange twilight has fallen.

I glance out through the glass wall at the back of the kitchen. There’s an eerie pink tinge to the sky as if smoke from bush fires on the ranges is blocking the last of the day’s sunlight from getting through.

‘How long until dinner’s ready?’ I ask.

Without looking up he murmurs absently, ‘About an hour.’

‘Anything I can do?’

He looks up. ‘Are you all right, Jordan?’ he says with a teasing grin.

I pull a face. ‘Dude, you’re not funny.’

His grin fades, while his stare becomes more intense. ‘You look tired. Why don’t you catch a nap before dinner?’

He’s right, so I head up to my room and take a shower. When I have finished, an overwhelming exhaustion hits me. It’s so overpowering I toss off the towel and climb into bed without dressing. I roll over once and feel sleep dragging me under as if someone is pulling me into a deep dark pool by my legs.

For a moment I fight it, forcing my eyes open as I sense something is off. But the pull to sleep is too strong. Then, from the corner of my eye, I spot something move near the window. I force my eyes to remain open and raise myself up on my elbows. ‘Who’s there?’

There’s no answer, but what starts as a shadow turns into the shape of a tall man wearing tight clothes under a billowing floor-length cloak.

Wide awake now, I scramble off the bed to the furthest part of my room and crouch on the floor behind the leg of my computer desk. I know who it must be, but why is he here in my room? He begins striding over, and with every step his shape becomes more defined, more real. Terrifying. He stops in front of me.

Holy crap, what do I do now?

I wrap my arms around my knees and try to stop shivering. It’s not the cold air making me shake like a leaf.

Hello, Jordan
. His deep, hypnotic voice rumbles inside my head.

I find the strength to speak only because I have to, but my mouth is drier than the desert. ‘Nathaneal will b-be here any se-se-second.’

It’s not your hero I’ve come to see tonight
.

How can this be happening …
here? To me?
‘W-w-what do you want?’

He brings me a blanket from my bed, wraps it around my shoulders as if he cares and hunkers down beside me, his bright green eyes studying my face.
Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to harm you. I’m here to help you, Jordan
.

‘H-help me? H-how?’ I can’t stop the tremor in my
voice. After all, I’m scared. I’ve never been more scared in my life!

I want to make you an offer
.

‘What could you possibly have that I might want?’

He laughs, not with sarcasm but amusement.

Is this the same prince who Thane said was evil? Or is this a trick, one of many Thane told me to watch for?

You will do well in the position I have in mind for you
.

‘What position? And I’m just asking, OK?’

He walks to my window and stares at the weird twilight thing going on outside. I spot my boxers on the floor and quickly slip into them.

My deluded young friend, who says you have a choice?

I remember something Thane said about the code of Free Will.

Poor human boy, do you think I follow the rules? I
make
the rules
.

Only in your world
. Even knowing he can read my thoughts with ease, I can’t stop them.

He walks around me, inspecting me with the look of a master purchasing a slave.

Do you know where your mother is, Jordan?
This unexpected change of tack catches me off guard.

Your mother is my handmaiden. She makes my clothes, cleans my boots, warms my bed
.

‘You’re lying! My mother isn’t in Skade with you. If her soul is anywhere, it would have gone straight to … to …’ For the life of me I can’t remember the name of the place human souls go. ‘Peridis!’ It finally comes.

Her soul became mine the first time she stuck a needle in her arm
.

‘My father made her an addict; how can you blame her for that? Shows how much you know!’

He slaps my face, sending me reeling across the room. As I lift my head off the floor, I wonder how he did that without moving his arm.

Where is Nathaneal? Can’t he hear me?

One thing I know, if I give up now, Prince Luca wins and I lose. The longer I resist, the more chance Thane will hear something or come looking.

So I get to my feet, take a deep breath and look into the over-bright eyes of the darkest angel of the universe, who just happens to be in my room with an agenda that includes signing me up for a job in his kingdom.

She left you
, he says.
A small child alone in the world. Don’t you ever ask why?

‘I suppose you’re going to tell me anyway.’

He smiles as if he’s won a prize.
She knew you were not worth the effort
.

I didn’t have Mum for long and I value every minute we shared. They’re my memories, and I won’t let him ruin them or take them from me.

So as difficult as it is to look into his unnatural eyes, I hold his stare. ‘My mother loved me and there’s nothing you can do to taint the years we had together. Wherever her soul is now won’t change that.’

Surges of energy shudder through me. My hair flies up, my face quivers. I strain every muscle trying not to succumb. It might be just my stubborn pride, but I get how important it is not to give him what he wants. Whatever job he has lined up for me, I’m not going to do it.

Minutes pass, I don’t know how many, but somehow I manage to keep my footing. ‘Is that all you have? I mean, aren’t you the meanest bad guy in the universe? You have a reputation to uphold, and I got to tell you, you’re not living up to it with this drama and dribble.’

It’s a mistake. His green eyes darken and suddenly turn all black.

Crap, he was just toying with me.

Watch, little man
, he says. Images appear inside my head. It takes only a second to realise this is a mind-link and he’s showing me my mother, frail and beaten, her arms wrapped around her knees, her head buried, locked inside a concrete cell.

So he really does have her. The bastard!

She hears a sound and turns her head and stares straight at me. The sadness in her eyes slams into my heart. I feel myself crumbling inside and know it’s only a matter of time before my will crumbles too.

Take her place, and I will set her free
.

I hear myself asking, ‘Would she live again – with a normal beating heart?’

You ask too much. I can’t perform resurrections
.

‘A life for a life, sounds fair to me.’

Nothing is fair; I thought you’d have worked that out by now
.

I have, and he knows it. He selects the vulnerable because they’re easier to control.

If you accept my offer, I will hand Melanie’s soul to her Guardian, Solomon. He will escort her to a more peaceful destination. Do we have a deal, Jordan? Yes, or no?

‘You have to free my mother first, and when Solomon confirms he has her, I’ll … take her place.’

He looks into my eyes.
Swear it
. His eyebrows lift.

‘Wait. This means I have to die, right?’

He nods.

‘How … how will it happen? When?’

You have wasted enough of my time with your defiance. Leave the details to me. Now swear to our arrangement. Swear it!

‘I swear!’

He smiles, and the smile is so gloating I realise my mistake an instant before he confirms it.
Poor human boy, you have so much yet to learn
.

What have I
done
?

His smile turns evil as he fades into a swirl of black smoke and disappears.

Exhausted, I close my eyes and drop into a deep sleep. When I wake, it’s dark. I swing out my arm to switch on my lamp, and then pull myself into a sitting position. I’m sweating but cold.