Priya nodded. Surely he was well acquainted with demonic knacks. Regardless, he wasn’t happy. He crossed his arms over his bare chest and turned to me. “As I was saying, rumors are spreading about your mother. Whenever there is a human in the Æthyr, it is momentous. But it has been said that she wields a great power. I am worried that this power is . . .”

“Yes?”

He blinked black, feathery lashes. “I am worried the power she wields is connected to you.”

“What power is that, exactly?” My voice came out squeakier than I wanted.

He shook his head. “I do not know. But there is talk that she’s given birth to someone who could decimate armies of demons.”

Oh, God.

“And since you are her only child . . .” Priya shrugged and narrowed his gaze at me. “You used your Moonchild ability recently.”

“What? Yes. A day ago.”

He nodded. “I thought I detected your Heka in the Æthyr. Not strong, but if I can sense it, then your mother may likely sense it, as you suspected. And because of this, I would be wary when you are drawing on those powers. Shield yourself. I think you are opening up a channel to the Æthyr when you use moon magick.”

I groaned.

“I do not know the repercussions of doing such a thing,” he said. “There are magicks that can track energy signatures. Creatures who can follow your Heka and use it to slip between the planes, or to spy on you.”

I thought about the spy in the shadows I’d seen at the racetrack after I’d used my moon power. Chills pricked my skin. What if it was something spying on me from the Æthyr? Although that wouldn’t explain the mystery sedan I’d seen at Diablo Market, or the one I thought I saw after Telly tore the bridge down. Æthyric creatures don’t drive cars.

“Perhaps it is not something to worry about,” Priya continued. “But I am concerned it will attract the attention of other beings in the Æthyr who are familiar with the scent of your Heka.”

“Like?” Lon prompted.

Priya glanced at him, chin tilted. “Any Æthyric demon she has summoned might remember her scent. I am connected to her. I carry a trace of her Heka in me.” He said this as if he were proud of it. Like he was goading Lon. And from the way Lon’s jaw tightened, I assumed it worked.

“Priya,” I said. “You need to be concerned about your own safety. Do not go near Duke Chora.”

“Chora is a respected leader.”

“He is also dangerous. Please stay away from him.”

“As you wish. I am following another trail that may bring me more information concerning your mother’s intentions. Once I know more, I will return to you.”

“Okay, but—”

A crackling energy emanated around his halo. He winced. “It is hard for me to remain much longer.”

“Crap.” I hated this. Now I was going to freak out about his safety, as well as my own. “Look, you’ve got to be careful. Promise me you will.”

A faint smile lifted his mouth. “I promise.”

“If you can find out what my mother’s intentions are, that would be great. But if you can find out anything about me, that would be better. You don’t know, do you? What exactly she bred into me? Whatever this is that can ‘decimate’ armies of demons?”

“No more than you do. But maybe she is sharing this secret with demons in the Æthyr. I will trace the rumors and see what I can discover.”

“Thank you.”

“It is my honor to serve you.” The air around him crackled again.

“One more thing. What about my father?”

Priya lightly grazed the backs of his fingers over my cheek. “I’m afraid he isn’t alive.”

I nodded, unsure if this was good or bad, or how I felt about it. “Please be careful.”

“You, as well. Guard yourself and call if you need me.” In a flash, his entire body just disappeared. Gone. As if he was never there.

I looked up at Lon. He was unhappy. Maybe even a little shocked at seeing Priya’s new form—how could he not be? But whatever he was thinking about how my guardian looked, or whatever he’d heard inside his head, he had the good sense to keep it to himself.

“Lon,” I said in a voice that sounded smaller than I intended. “I’m scared.”

He shifted down, pulled me into his arms, and held me. But he didn’t tell me it would be okay this time. He merely said, “I know.”

After Priya’s unwelcome news, Lon and I rejoined the group and carried on like nothing was wrong. At least for awhile. Rose and Lon made a huge Caribbean feast for Christmas dinner: rice and peas, plantains, coconut snapper, curry, and some chicken that was so spicy, I nearly choked—much to everyone’s great amusement.

But when we were clearing the table, a knock on the door made my stomach flip. Jupe ran to answer it. A couple of seconds later, Yvonne entered the house: designer clothes, gold-framed sunglasses perched on top of her perfectly coiffed hair, arms filled with presents.

She paused in front of me. We stared each other down for several beats. Then she said, “Merry Christmas, Arcadia.”

“You, too,” I managed.

I didn’t talk to her directly after that, and I stayed my distance when she was showering Jupe with expensive presents, only hearing his excitement as I helped the Holidays wash up dishes in the kitchen. And when I’d towel-dried every single speck of water off the plates and had no more excuses to stay away, I lurked in the dining room and listened to her chattering with Jupe about new stores in La Sirena. About the pool in her tropical Floridian backyard. About her celebrity neighbors and the season tickets she had for the Miami Heat.