“Thank you,” I reply before turning back to Abel. “What did you want to show me?”
He unfolds the paper and smooths it out on the table. Before, he used his right hand to retrieve his glasses and the parchment, but now, when he uses both hands, it becomes apparent that he’s missing parts of the fingers of his left hand. The more obvious ones are the upper halves of his forefinger and middle finger.
Given his occupation, it’s likely they were lost in a fight, but it could have just as likely been an accident.
For now, I have more important things to focus on.
I quickly switch my attention to the photograph while Zara takes up position close to my left, with Seb on the other side of her.
The photo contains a somewhat blurry image of a man standing outside this very building. The Draven Industries sign is clearly visible at the side of the image, making his location obvious.
The photo looks to have been taken in the very early hours of the morning, judging by the way the shadows are deeper around the street while the sunlight falls across the top portion of the image. Possibly right after dawn.
I recognize the fall of light because I scoped out this building myself at various times of the day and night while I was planning my return.
The man’s entire body is in the shot, revealing a tall and lean frame, although his face is half-turned away from the camera.
His hair is dark brown and long enough to fall across his face and eyes, which, from what I can see, appear to be a dark brown but also seem to shimmer within the image. A hint of crimson in the man’s irises puts me on my guard.
Ancient beings, like Furies, carry that crimson sheen. When my beast is in full, raging form, I exhibit hints of crimson in my eyes, too.
The man wears a short, neatly sculpted beard across his strong jaw. There’s also a clearly visible scar running down the left side of his face—the side facing the camera. The scar stretches all the way from his forehead to the upper side of his cheekbone. Whatever strike caused it, he’s lucky to still have that eye.
Because of his position, what’s visible more than any other feature is the distinctive weapon resting in a sheath across his back.
Judging by the curve of the case and the intricate braiding on the handle visible above it, the weapon is a katana.
The handle is very similar to the sword that Hunter Cassidy carries, which apparently belonged to her mother. From what I’ve been told, Hunter’s sword was handed down through generations of Valkyrie, all the way from her ancestor, General Glass, who once stood at the side of the Valkyrie Queen.
“Who is this man?” I ask, pointing at the photo.
Even though it’s Abel who replies, it’s my sister who takes my focus. She’s staring at the photo with a furrow in her brow, her lips slightly pursed. I sense an uncertainty in her, but I’m not sure what to make of it.
“He’s a powerful serpent shifter,” Abel says, his voice a deep rumble. “He stands at the right hand of a dark entity whose power and influence rivals Lady Tirelli’s. If this dark entity is targeting you…”
He blows out an exhale. “You need to prepare for war.”
11. PEYTON PRICE
Another scream wakes me, but this one is full of rage.
I jolt upright and check on my sisters, startled to see that all three are still asleep.
Normally, they wake before me, but right now, their faces are serene, and it throws me.
For a moment, I consider rousing them, but it’s not often that they appear so peaceful.
I refocus on the sound that woke me, questioning my senses and the echo of the scream I heard.
I’m certain it carried rage, but also grief. A horrible sadness.
My instincts tell me I can’t ignore it. After all, at worst, answering the cry will be a waste of my time and nothing more.
Still, I again consider waking my sisters, but I remind myself that I’ve gone out into the world on my own enough times to feel confident doing so now.
Levitating to the side of the room, I retrieve my protective suit from its hook. I consider my whip but decide this time to leave it behind. After the way it was used against me in the fight at the Academy, I only take it with me when I’m certain I’ll need it.
Within minutes, I leave the cabin behind and soar up above the trees covering Mount Greylock and into the cloud cover.
