Monroe cleared his throat. “Part of the Keepers’ attempts to exert more control over the Guardian packs was through the regulation of partnerships and births among their soldiers. Something they started doing after the Harrowing. They use their power to stop and start the reproductive cycles in Guardian females, so they only become pregnant when the designated mate and the right time are established by their masters.”

“Oh my God,” Shay murmured.

I was finding it hard to breathe. What will he think of me now?

“It’s not your fault, honey.” Tess slid her arm around me. Her scent was all comfort—apple blossoms and honey. I let myself lean into her, grateful for her constant kindness. “They’re real bastards.”

Silas spoke. “But the Harrowing was the advent of that practice; the Keepers hadn’t been so careful about such things before the revolt.”

“Your mother was human, Shay,” Monroe said with a brief, sympathetic glance in my direction. “Your human essence was that with which you were born and the one that Calla perceived.”

“So my father’s betrayal of the Keepers signaled that I was the Scion,” Shay said.

I was relieved we seemed to be moving on in the conversation and decided to continue to push it forward.

“And the mark. But he can’t see it.” I gestured to Shay. “When I told him about the cross tattoo, he had no idea it was there.”

“There’s a ward on the symbol to keep it hidden,” Silas explained. “It’s not just a birthmark, not a tattoo. It’s a mystical emblem.”

“So humans are blind to the tattoo?” I asked.

Silas rolled his eyes, his hand flipping briefly before his face as though brushing away an irritating gnat. “It’s a subtler enchantment than that. They’re good at that, the Keepers: manipulation, subtlety. It’s their art, really. The tattoo only suggests to those who might take note of it that it should be ignored. We use a similar tactic to keep people from stumbling across the Academy. Humans will always look away, dismiss it. Just enough so that no one would walk up to Shay and ask who his tat artist was.”

He glanced at Shay, eyes misty with a rather wry sort of reverence. “They’d think you didn’t scrub your neck well enough after a nasty rugby match or the like. You know: muddied up, that sort of thing.”

“But I could see it,” I said.

“You’re not human,” Silas said. “You’re—”

I cut him off. “An abomination. Right. How could I forget.”

He pushed his chair back as I bared my fangs.

Shay grimaced and gingerly fingered the back of his neck. “Great. So I’m the Chosen One, but I have no skill at personal hygiene.”

Silas’s face illuminated with a startlinggrin. “Exactly.”

Adne chortled and laid a devastating gaze on Shay. “Help me, Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope . . . but could you manage a bath first?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I’d wash your back for you anytime.”

Shay’s pale face went crimson and I threw Adne a reproving glance. But she was looking at Connor, who simply added more whiskey to his coffee.

Silas’s grin didn’t fade. He leaned back in his seat, studying Shay. “But now that your wolf girlfriend here turned you and all, you should be able to see it. Guardians wouldn’t be affected by the spell.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” I snapped, and then winced as Shay flushed even more deeply. The Searchers all stared at me, surprise written on their faces.

“Well, I’m not,” I finished lamely, feeling cold and slippery as marble. I couldn’t look at Shay again. It was harsh, but I’d spoken the truth. I loved him, but I didn’t know what I was to Shay. Everything in our lives was constantly changing. I couldn’t find stable ground to stand on.

Shay put his head in his hands. “I thought knowing the truth would make this easier. But it hasn’t. I can’t believe the only family I’ve known is some sort of Nether creature.”

“Not just any Nether creature. He’s more powerful than any other enemy we’ve faced, and you’re the key to securing his reign,” Monroe said. “The Harbinger couldn’t trust your protection to his minions alone. As you can see, they failed in their duty. I’m sure some have suffered terribly because of your escape.”

At the word “suffered,” I began shivering and found I couldn’t stop. What is happening to my pack? Shay put his hand on mine, glancing at Monroe.

“It’s happened before, hasn’t it?” Shay asked. “We read about the last time Guardians tried to rebel.”

“You mean the Harrowing?” Silas asked. “That was a momentous period in our history. The closest we came to victory. Though it ended rather badly.”

“No.” I straightened, looking directly at Monroe because I knew he had the answers to the questions that were burning through me. “That wasn’t the most recent revolt.”

Monroe drew back. “No.”

“Drop it, Lily.” Adne had locked an accusing gaze on me. “That isn’t your business.”

I flashed my fangs at her. “Could you not call me that?”

“Not when it always gets that reaction from you. It’s nice to know you are somewhat human. That austere wolf thing creeps me out, you know.”

I stared at her. I’ve known this girl for less than a day and she can read me like a book. How is that possible?