“His father . . . his real father . . .” I had to clear my throat to finish. “Was a good man. A warrior like us.”

“It’s good to know Corrine found at least a bit of happiness in her life,” he said quietly. “Even if only briefly.”

“I guess,” I said, thinking about the cost for Corrine, Monroe, Ren, and Adne. Adne was an orphan now, but she’d saved her brother. Did that balance things out? I didn’t know.

“Love,” my father said softly. “Real love, even in moments, is worth more than any of us can say.”

I stared at him, the clear gaze in his eyes forcing truth into mine.

“Who are you and what have you done with my father?” I cracked a smile.

He chuckled. “There are times for war—many times. But sometimes it’s necessary to risk speaking the truth of our own vulnerabilities.”

Watching him, my chest pinched with sadness. “Did you . . . did you love Mom?”

“Yes.” His smile faded. “Even more after you and Ansel were born.”

I wanted to believe him, but I couldn’t stop my next question. “But you seemed so different?”

“We were very different,” he said. “But we were both always trying to be the alphas we thought we had to be. To protect the pack. To keep you and your brother safe.”

My nails dug into my hands. She’d been trying to protect me and my rebellion had killed her.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“No,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “She never blamed you for any of this.”

I nodded, wishing his words would take away the guilt that twisted like a knife in my gut.

“And your mother had a wild side,” he said. “No one could out-hunt her. When we were free in the forest, running together—those were our happiest times.”

I smiled at him, remembering the boundless joy of hunting with Shay. “I’m glad.”

“These Searchers.” He stood up, rounding the foot of the bed to stand near the window. “Do you think there’s any chance they could win?”

“Logan thinks so,” I said. “That’s why he’s giving them information.”

My father glanced at me. “He’s turned on his father?”

“I don’t think he’d put it that way,” I said, smiling grimly. “I think he’s just trying to keep his own hide intact.”

“That sounds about right.”

“Shay has a weapon,” I said. “Or most of it. The Elemental Cross.”

“A cross is a weapon?”

“It’s two swords,” I said. “Once he has them both, he can defeat the Keepers. He’ll be able to kill wraiths.”

“Nothing can kill wraiths.” He spoke the words to the swirling snow outside rather than to me.

“The Scion can.”

“How will they attack?”

I cringed, wondering if I should say anything more. What if my father was still hoping he could regain his status among the Keepers?

His fingers were twitching. Knowledge and hope bubbled up inside me. He didn’t want anything to do with the Keepers. My father was a warrior. He wanted to fight.

“I don’t know how the attack will happen.” That much was true. We’d been focused on retrieving the pieces of the cross. Who knew what the future held after that? “But we’ll need an army to back up Shay.”

My father turned to face me, tilting his head thoughtfully. “An army?”

I nodded.

“The Searchers aren’t enough?”

“No,” I said. “They’ll fight to the end, but they need help. That’s where we come in.”

“We?”

“Guardians.”

He laughed. “You expect to lead a wolf army against the Keepers?”

“It’s happened before,” I said. “It’s part of our history. The Harrowing was a Guardian revolt.”

“More secrets in the library?”

“Yes,” I said. “But I can only lead my pack . . . and there are only seven of us. Hardly an army.”

He’d gone very still.

“I’m a young alpha,” I said slowly. “We need a veteran. A leader who the other wolves will follow.”

“Calla—” There was a warning note in his voice, edged with pain.

“You’re still the Nightshade alpha.”

His shoulders were tight with fury. “I’ve been stripped of that role.”

“No one can take your pack from you,” I said, rolling onto my knees. “Are the Nightshades happy that the Keepers are calling Emile their alpha?”

He grimaced.

“I didn’t think so,” I said. “You can lead them. You have to lead them.”

“When?” His question was hardly more than a whisper.

“Soon.” I slid off the bed and took his hand. “I wish I knew more.”

“If the Searchers win, what happens to the wolves?”

I opened my mouth to answer before I realized I didn’t have one. What would happen to us if we managed to win this war? Where did Guardians belong?

The door to my bedroom swung open. Emile Laroche swaggered in, glanced at our clasped hands, and grinned.

“A Tor family reunion.” He smirked. “Isn’t this touching?”

I glared at him and he ran his tongue over his sharpening canines.

“Too bad it can’t last.”

SEVENTEEN

MY FATHER DROPPED to the ground, a gray-brown wolf blocking Emile’s path to me. Emile shifted forms, bristling and snarling. He began to stalk toward us. My father gave a warning bark, muscles bunching as he prepared to attack.

“Now, now.” Efron Bane strolled into the room with Lumine at his side. “We don’t have time to let you boys tussle.”

The two alphas were still facing off, fangs bared and hackles raised.

“Enough.” Lumine’s command snapped through the room. “Shift back at once.”

Both wolves reluctantly obeyed, their snarls giving way to angry glares when they returned to human form. My father still stood in front of me, his body shielding mine.

“Have you had any success, Stephen?” Lumine asked.

He shook his head. “A terribly stubborn girl, mistress. I can’t bring her around.”