Page 30 (1/2)

"There are types who can do it," the blonde woman said, "but mostly those who cannot" She smiled at Elyssa "Do you believe me now?"

Elyssa shook her head "So what? We had a si"

"About what?" I asked

The blonde woh," Elyssa said in a low, threatening voice

The other woman stopped and smiled "Justin, I am Vallaena, your father’s sister Your aunt"

"What, none of that hierarchical first of house stuff you lecturedyourself dirty by talking to hi to my brother It is of no further consequence if I speak to Justin"

I was confused Obviously these two had spoken before and not beco I knew about erous and unscrupulous person But she seemed kind of nice to ht, you’re my aunt What do you want from me?"

"I want to protect you, Justin"

"In case you hadn’t noticed, I already have a badass ninja girlfriend What else could a guy need?"

Elyssa s a see-I-told-you-so smile back at Vallaena

Vallaena didn’t seem to notice "It’s very important we protect you, Justin There are indicators you are a person of i a disaster fro ht Nostrada about a foreseeance?"

"I aether "Let ood"

Blue fire flashed in Vallaena’s eyes "Do not icht to cast judgment on me"

Shelton’s mouth dropped "Who--"

"I know all about you Harry Shelton I know about Aerianas Unless you wish me to elucidate further, you will keep your , but considering his abrasive and uncaring nature, it a could turn his face white and render him speechless--well, except for his beloved antique laone very still as she watched Vallaena, but I couldn’t see her face to know if it was a wary kind of stillness or if she saw soave her serious doubts Vallaena’s tone sent a shiver down , a sweet s with the odor of burnt tires But it didn’t stink, not in the way it should have Instead, a part of me liked it

Vallaena turned back to me in the shocked silence of the rooht uessed he was telling ht she had bad rin and possibly lighten the funereal tone of the room, "even if I’m supposed to prevent a disaster, what do you want from me?"

"I am the first of House Slade I wish to officially take you under my protection"

"She wants to do it before Kassallandra has the chance," Dad said

"Uh, who?" I asked trying to figure out how to spell such a fancy name

"Your father’s betrothed," Vallaena said with a wicked little smile

"She’s the one who attacked us at the restaurant," Elyssa said "She’s the one sending the hellhounds"

"Fla red hair?" I asked

Her eyebrows shot up "How did you know?"

"I caught a glimpse of her hair back at the house when all thisbefore this," Vallaena said

"Kassallandra wants to put me under her protection?" I said "She has a funny way of doing it"

"Anae Kassallandra also wishes to exact aher and…" She shuddered and looked like she was about to beco a human"

"Is she his sister too?" Dad had toldMen were rare and had to , even if itit with their own family members I didn’t want to think about how many uncle-daddies or aunt-mommies were in this family

Vallaena shook her head "She is fro like your father, Daevadius, and also a direct descendant of the patriarch and e was to unite the firsts of our houses by blood"

So Daevadius was Dad’s real nah a lot ood part," Dad said "Not only would I mate with Kassa, but also her mother and sisters while she would mate with my father and brothers"

"Gross!" Felicia said about the same tihan heaved and I was sure she’d just thrown up in herit