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Maxianization had captured hi to use Dad’s blood to increase the potency of his so he could turn humans into vampires Elyssa and I had rescued Dad, but the next day we’d been chased frorown up in by hellhounds, and pursued across Atlanta Dad had, at some point, been marked for death by Underborn, the h I found out later the assassin had done it to draw me to him and test my mettle to see if I was the one mentioned in Foreseeance Forty-Three Eleven

After that, I’d discovered Kassallandra was the one hunting my father because he’d run aith Mo her to unite theI knew, Dad had decided to one to the Conroys

My mother and father were definitely down for the worst parents of the , I just wanted to punch Dad in the face the next time I saw his that didn’t add up They’d lied tome in the dark for most of my life True, I hadn’t hteen, but they had to have known so insidehat it seeh an overused cliché, it was spot-on when it caely re my talk with Dad, only to find out ht lied toeveryone for fools?

I drew in a deep breath and let it out My gut feeling toldas honest as she could One of these days I was going to lock me, Ivy, and our parents in a rooraphies

"I believe you," I said finally

"Thank you, son," Mom said, her voice broken and tired

"You need to pro as it doesn’t conflict with previous oaths, I pro herself wiggle room "Teach me how to unlock my Seraphim abilities"

"That will be very difficult from in here," she said

"Difficult but necessary," I said "If I’ic to work" I told her about ht I’d shot fro more from your father’s side," Mom said "Ivy, however, quickly exhibited Seraphim abilities"

"Fine, so she’s the star student," I said

"The warmth you felt in your heart is norical attack allowed you to access your abilities is so I don’t understand"

"That’s not what I want to hear," I said

"Perhaps I can help hihtliss, suddenly beside me

"Is that you, my dear friend?" Mom said, her voice suddenly happier

"I was your dear friend?" Nightliss said "I fought with you?"

"You still don’t re to sadness in her voice "Do you think you can teach him?"

"Perhaps the two of us can"

"I hate to break up the conversation," Tho it at all "But we need to think of practical matters first The diamond fiber on this trailer is breathable, so it allows air in and out However, there is no way to get food, water, or other sustenance to your mother, Justin"

He didn’t need to say another word forcan you last without food or water, Moer than a hu myself into a deep sleep But I cannot cast a preservation spell on myself or prevent ic, I can’t even feed on aether"

"Does that make it worse?" I asked

"Daelissa kept my reservoir very close to depleted," she said "I was on the verge of starvation even as she put me under a preservation spell while in her astral prison In other words, I’ days or weeks?" I asked

"If I do not feed within a few days," Mom said, the hopelessness plain in her voice, "I will likely die"

Chapter 28

I would have gone after Kassus right then and there, but I was dead on h all I could do was think about how miserable my mom ithout any comforts inside the trailer She was shackled and blindfolded I kne miserable it was to be restrained like that, thanks to Maxiiven me food and water

We’d left the portal open inside the Te to our ah it to the mansion with the others Despite my worries and concerns, I fell asleep instantly

My phone wokehalf-asleep voice The fact that we’d kind of forgotten the poor guy at El Dorado all this ti-addled brain

"Justin, I believe we have a problem"

I blinked the sleep out of my eyes "What is it now? Do we need titanium diapers for the little tykes?"