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Cassie could tell he’d been expecting her

"Mr Dent," she said froray squares

"Who is this stranger?" he asked defensively

"Two members of my Circle," Cassie said "Adam Conant and Diana Meade"

"No Hi his long, wrinkled finger at Max

Max held his breath He backed away toward the door they’d entered through Cassie understood that Timothy must somehow sense that Max was a witch-hunter

She reached out and grabbed Max’s wrist to keep hi back to the car

"He’s one of us," she said to Timothy "He’s a former hunter, but he’s proven his loyalty to our Circle Without hiet my friends back from the demons"

Timothy eyed Max for a few seconds, then the three of thelad to know the exorcisuard down for the first time since they’d arrived "For what reason are you here?"

Cassie stepped forward, and the others followed Ti the same black short-sleeved dress shirt Cassie had last seen hiain, it was streaked with dust Does he ever wash his clothes? she wondered

"We need your help," Cassie said

Tiured that much"

"I was able to perform the exorcism," Cassie replied "But the ancestor spirits returned to their corporeal for to secure a twelfth ray eyes went still, but they revealed no surprise He turned toward his office

Cassie assumed they were expected to follow hiht line and found places to sit down

Tih a nu a few books and folders upon his desk before falling into his brown leather chair

"As I feared, Absolom must have altered the exorcism," he said "He recrafted it to a resurrection"

"So we did exactly what he wanted us to do," Adaave a nod to Cassie "She did, yes"

"I did what you told me to!" Cassie shot back

Tie of his nose "Please, no shouting Your voice goes right through me"

"Why didn’t you tell me about Justinian the Great?" Cassie said

Timothy’s eyes opened wide Hisyour hoan my family’s Book of Shadows," Cassie said "The one you told me was determined to attain eternal life"

"Yes, I told you he sold his soul," Timothy said "I told you when he died, his bloodline and his book were cursed"

"You didn’t tell me his name," Cassie said "Why?"

"His name doesn’t matter"

"Why wouldn’t it matter?" Cassie persisted

Timothy’s face reddened

"You can’t only tellto help us or you’re not If your hatred for ed!" Tier They all were

Timothy pointed to a portrait on the wall behind his desk "Justinian the first," he said "He’s the source Are you happy?"

Cassie gazed at the crowned man, decorated in the riches of an emperor A circle enclosed his head like a saint’s halo

"He was determined to attain eternal life," Tied to rise froain And the final time he resurrected himself, you and your Circle killed him"

Cassie’s heart went still "Do you mean--"

Ti his brief rage "Your father was the source, Cassie," he said more calmly "But all your ancestors have left of him is that book His drive for eternal life lives on in them It’s their quest now"

Cassie allowed herself a few seconds to think, to adjust She could see the shock of her own face reflected on the faces of her friends "Does my mother know?" she asked

Tirandure it out"

"It s to me"

"Mr Dent," Diana said, "Cassie overheard the ancestors talking about a spell" But before she could say anything more, Timothy cut her off

"It’s an eternal-life spell That’s what the ancestors have come back for But lucky for you they need a bound Circle, and it has to be done beneath a full moon"

"Yeah, lucky," Max said sarcastically