Vas nodded. “We’ve got it, Danica. It’s going to be okay.”
No it wasn’t.
Vas held out an envelope. “This came for you.”
I ripped it open, my chest tightening.
Dani
I don’t know if I ever properly said it, but congratulations on your new office. I know you’re going to do incredible things here. I’m SO proud of you for everything you’ve done since you left the Council. They were stupid to let you go, but I’m glad they did, because you were never supposed to spend your life bounty hunting for them.
Instead, you’re going to be a badass who runs her own business.
I know you’re going to hate this, and I’m sorry. But I can’t sit around and wait for you to save me all the time.
I never told you, but Mom tried to call me a few times over the years.
I refused to talk to her. I blamed her. I tried to hate her. And she was doing everything she could to save my life.
I talked to your demon. He told me a few things about Lucifer. About how he’s obsessed with breeding for power. How he loves the new and unexpected. Mom knew his people would’ve been looking for you. And if they found you, they would’ve found me.
And unlike you, I don’t have a kick-ass prophecy attached to me.
I’ve been doing some research since we found the lab. And I’ve located the dark fae guy who hung around when we were kids. I’m pretty sure he’s related to me in some way, and I know where to find him.
I’m the reason Mom is dead. I know it, deep down in my bones. But even from beyond the grave, she’s still saving me.
It’s my turn now. I’m going to help you find out who killed her. And we’ll make them pay. Together.
For now, the next part is up to me.
Thank you for being the best big sister, and I’m sorry for leaving without warning.
I love you,
Evie
I read the letter to Vas. When I was done, we were both silent for a long moment.
“You want me to bring her back?”
“No. She’s a grown woman and if this is what she needs to do, so be it. But she’s not okay, Vas. Someone from the coven tried to kill her, she found out she’s been tied to the house for most of her life, a big chunk of her family is dead, she’s being hunted, and she was born in a lab.”
“I’ll have some of our people track her. They won’t act unless she’s in extreme danger.”
I blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
I studied the letter some more.
She’d left as soon as the coven had dealt with Caroline— probably while I was at Meredith’s. There was no way she would’ve left if she’d known what happened to Samael.
I wished she’d stayed. Wished we could’ve figured it out together. But I got it.
Vas squeezed my shoulders as Ag stepped into the room. Vas gave his uncle a warning look as he passed, and the ghost of a smile darted around Ag’s mouth. It dropped when he looked back at me.
“I don’t have it in me to do this right now,” I said.
“You don’t have the luxury of burying your head in the sand. You’re now in charge of the demons in Samael’s territory.”
