It was creepy.

“London’s not with them, is she?” We hadn’t seen our cousin since before my birthday. Even her parents couldn’t find her. She’d sent them an e-mail to let them know she was okay, but she’d essentially run away after I turned.

“No, she’s not.” Nicholas angled himself between me and the Furies when they began to hiss.

“Usurper,” one of them spat. “Murderer.”

Technically, Mom was the usurper, but I didn’t say it out loud. I had a feeling semantics weren’t exactly important right now. I was a figurehead to them, a scapegoat. That damn prophecy again.

The Furies approached, like the spores of a poisonous white mushroom drifting dangerously close. My neck prickled. Nicholas tensed, about to reach for a weapon. I grabbed his arm, remembering the Joiik woman weeping over the ashes of her loved one at her feet and the red-tipped arrows of the Chandramaa.

“Don’t,” I told him. “Just back up and keep your hands visible.” I held mine up as if we were at gunpoint.

“I don’t trust them.”

“Then trust the Chandramaa.” He hadn’t seen them in action yet, hadn’t seen Constantine’s cheeks go so pale they looked like bone knives. And I was sure he didn’t frighten easily. My fangs elongated, making my gums feel raw and itchy. My lips lifted of their own accord.

I tramped down the surge of adrenaline and the need to fight back. No wonder Mom was so cranky. This kind of thing was her worst nightmare.

I wasn’t loving it either.

“Let’s get out of here.”

We were being tailed.

It wasn’t surprising; our parents had put guards on us the minute the tribes starting arriving from around the world. I’d been compelling them to leave me alone. I’d also compelled them to wait for me and not tell anyone so that I always returned with them. I felt a little guilty about it but they were driving me nuts.

And tonight, I didn’t even feel guilty.

I just wanted them gone.

I pulled a U-turn, tires skidding and black marks burning into the street. The guards screeched to a halt, confusion plain on their faces even under their helmets. They lifted their visors.

“Is there trouble, my lady?”

I blinked, distracted. “Did you just ‘my lady’ me?”

It’s only proper.

I shook my head. “Never mind.” I slipped off my motorcycle and stood between them, close enough to see their pale eyes, close enough that I could affect them with my pheromones. I didn’t actually need the eye contact, but it helped.

“Go away, please.” I didn’t bother telling them to wait for us. I just wanted to get to Kieran.

They nodded in unison and then turned their bikes around and drove away. Nicholas yelled something at me, but I pretended not to hear him over the engine of the motorcycles. I kept going and he had no choice but to follow.

Lucy and I had driven by Kieran’s house once before, late at night when we were sure we wouldn’t be caught, but I’d never been inside. I stopped a few houses down and walked my bike to the maple tree in front of his house. I leaned it on its kickstand and stared at the tidy garden full of icicle pansies and at the warm light at the windows. It looked so normal.

Nicholas came up beside me. “Damn it, Sol. Ever heard of the speed limit?”

“Oh, right, coming from the guy who got three speeding tickets the first week he had his license.”

“That’s different.” At least he had the grace to look sheepish. “And what the hell was that with the guards?”

“I just asked them to give me a little privacy.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t sound the least bit convinced. After a moment he leaned against a low-hanging branch. “Sol?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are we lurking?”

“I’m not lurking,” I said a little defensively. “I was just waiting for you. Thought you got lost.”

I turned back to the house. I could see a leather couch through the living room window and the corner of a coffee table with a candle and a jar of roses. I should knock on the door. Or at least text Kieran to let him know I was standing in his garden. I knew he was all right; Lucy had left me a voice mail while Nicholas and I were on our way to town. But what if he didn’t want to see me? What if he hated me now? Or worse, what if he was scared of me?

I was scared of me.

“Did you guys have a fight or something?” Nicholas asked quizzically.

I shook my head. “Will you come with me?”

“To the front door?” He frowned. “Seriously, Solange, what’s going on?”

I flashed my fangs at him. “What if his mom opens the door?” Even if I kept my mouth closed she’d take one look at my bloodshot eyes and assume I was on drugs. Neither of which was the first impression I was keen to make. Nicholas, at least, could pass for human.

“Oh.” He ambled ahead of me and rapped on the door. I hovered nervously behind him, pulling up the hood of my hoodie from under my jacket.

Kieran’s mom opened the door, just as I’d feared. She was more fragile looking than I’d thought she would be. I’d assumed she’d be muscular and tough like my mom, or earthy like Lucy’s mom. She’d been married to a vampire hunter after all, before Hope murdered him. But she seemed frail, her hair wispy and soft around her face, which was so thin it was nearly gaunt. Even the pearls around her neck looked too heavy for her.