“I still don’t understand what you mean about my heritage,” Shay said, pouring his own cup of coffee. “I don’t even remember my father. He died when I was three.”

Silas looked at him, brow furrowed.

“I’ve been toted around the world by Bosque Mar for the past sixteen years,” Shay said. “You called him the Harbinger earlier today. He’s obviously not my uncle. What’s the big deal about my father?”

The room abruptly seemed colder, and even Silas blanched as Shay spoke the Keeper’s name.

“Yes, that’s true. Bosque Mar is not your uncle,” Monroe said. “But your father was one of the Keepers.”

Shay’s face grew pale. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“That’s not what matters, Shay,” Monroe said. “What matters is you’re the Scion.”

“Does that mean I’m not human?” The cup in Shay’s hand began to shake as he looked at me, eyes pleading.

“You are human . . . or at least you were until I turned you.” I rushed to reassure him, and then I glared at Monroe. “I can tell the difference between mortals and our kind. Shay isn’t a Keeper.”

“You’re suddenly an expert on Scion lore?” Silas spat.

“Gently, Silas,” Monroe said quietly. “The Keepers would have needed Shay to remain ignorant of his heritage.” He focused on me. “And they would have kept such knowledge from the Guardians as well. And, Calla, it’s important that you understand that the Keepers themselves are human. Just as we are.”

The breath caught in my lungs and a sickening twist coiled through me.

“So they were lying,” Shay said. “They aren’t some mystical Old Ones.”

“Lying is what they do best,” Tess said.

I managed to choke out a question. “But how can they be human? They don’t smell human, and neither do you, for that matter. And what about all their powers?”

“It’s the use of magic you can sense, Calla, the lingering scent of that power. Searchers and Keepers are tapped into something outside themselves, but we are all still human. There was a time when humans were closer to the earth and its inherent powers,” Monroe said. “Those with the strongest connection to elemental magics and the ability to wield them were set apart from their communities. They were healers, wise men and women.”

“But they can’t be human,” I protested. “They’re immortal.”

“No, they aren’t,” Monroe said. “They wanted you to believe they are because of the way they will use their powers and we won’t, as Tess just said.”

“What do you mean?” Shay asked.

“Reverence for the earth, the natural power inherent increation, and its cycles,” Connor replied with a mocking smile.

“Searchers believe that mortality is a good thing rather than something to avoid.” Silas ignored Connor, diving into a lecture. “We grow old and die. Death is a part of the natural cycle. Keepers use their power to extend their lives to preternatural lengths. Mixing with the Nether changes the essence of who they are, but they still started out as human and remain human at the core. They extend the life span of their Guardians as well. That’s why there are rarely new packs. Only when it’s deemed necessary are they asked to bear offspring. Our records show that there hadn’t been new wolf pups affiliated with Haldis until about two generations ago. Then the Keepers seemed to take a new interest in establishing stronger family ties between their packs again.”

Shay glanced at me; a fresh look of horror had overtaken his face, and I nodded to confirm Silas’s words.

“But the Keepers have children,” he protested. “I mean, there were Keeper children at our school. And Logan inherited your pack.”

Silas smirked. “The Keepers are incredibly vain, and they guard their powers jealously. Too many Keepers would inevitably lead to struggles within their own ranks, which they won’t risk. Only the most powerful among them are allowed to have children to continue their legacy in this world. Some of them reside in Vail, as you’ve seen. The rest are scattered across the globe, concentrated near the sites of power. And we have Searcher outposts to track their activities in those same locations. But their numbers, though greater than ours, still don’t rival the human population. So the Keepers have taken to using humans as pawns in their own game of life. Politics, global markets, all of it.”

“But how did they get the advantage?” My mind was reeling from the deluge of new information. Lies, all lies.

“Yeah,” Shay said. “I get that they use their power to be quasiimmortal now, but didn’t you have even numbers at the beginning?”

“More or less.” Silas scowled, looking put out that his speech hadn’t rendered us silent and awestruck at his erudition.

“This would be the part where they gained their advantage over us.” Connor leaned back in his chair, shoulders slumping.

“I don’t understand,” Shay said.

“Maybe it would be better to start with who Shay is and let the history fall into place,” Monroe said.

“But—” Silas began.

“Keep it simple,” Monroe said. “Start with Shay’s lineage.”

“Fine.” Silas sighed. “The Scion is the descendant of the first Keeper, Eira, and the son of the traitor. That’s how the Searchers identified him. That and the mark.”