"They also said you'd like to visit them more often?"

Color flooded Lottius's naturally pale cheeks. "If it is safe to do so, sire."

"I will talk to Sir Malax about giving you young people more opportunities to visit your parents." Lord Valafar studied Ravan and Skylar, and I wondered if he recognized them, too. "I hear congratulations are in order for you two. I may have not attended your pactus ceremony, but I was told both your parents approved."

"Yes, sire," Ravan and Skylar said at the same time, smiling.

"Good. Life is too precious to spend centuries with someone you don't love."

I decided I would have to remember to remind him of that when the topic of my mate came up. Thoughts of mates disappeared from my head when he said to Katia, "We are still trying to find Angelia, Katia. No matter how long it takes, we will not give up."

Katia nodded, but her chin trembled. Once again, I wondered who Angelia was. Servants appeared with trays of food and drinks. They set bowls of soup in front of us.

"And how was your first lesson, daughter?" Father asked.

"Easy. Two pretests. Math and geography. I aced geography, but math..." I made a face. "I have to work on a few areas."

"And tomorrow?"

"History." I shuddered. "One month and I should be ready for the Academy."

"Don't be in a hurry to finish," he said softly and picked up his soup spoon. "There's so much more Master Rahm can teach you." His gaze shifted to the door and annoyance crossed his face.

I followed his gaze and bit back a smile. My melodramatic older sister had chopped her hair to a bob cut and added fuchsia streaks. As for her leather pants and top, I didn't need to see Lady Nemea's disapproving expression to know that her outfit was inappropriate for dinner.

"Good evening, folks," Solange said, shrugging off her black duster. One of the minions hurried forward to take it. "Don't stand on my account," she told my friends, who'd started to get up. She studied them with a slight smile as she handed her gloves to another minion, then waited for a third to pull out the chair for her. She didn't look at them or thank them. "When you said we had dinner guests, Father, I a.s.sumed you meant lords and their mates."

"We do have lords and their mates," I said, glancing at my new friends. They hid smiles. "They're just young and fun, and my friends."

"Hey, brat," she said, sitting down. I didn't let her bait me this time.

"I'm happy you could join us, Solange." Lord Valafar tasted a spoonful of the soup and added, "Your sister and I were discussing her lessons."

Solange winked at me. "If you need help with anything, don't ping me. I was never a good student. Although I find history very interesting."

"History bores me," I mumbled. "Love your hair."

"I did it at a human salon. Do you want me to take you?" Even though she was asking me, her eyes were on our father.

The frown on his face matched his feelings: he didn't approve. I couldn't help teasing, "Should I, Father? You know, crop it short and color it?"

He chuckled. "I don't think you should, but what do I know of female fashion?"

"Who selected my clothes?"

"Not me. Shopping bores me," he added, imitating the tone I'd used when describing history. Snickers and giggles came from my friends. "However, I don't think you are ready for the outside world yet."

Good. I never wanted to leave the island. Solange's presence eased my new friends' nervousness. She kept conversation going while our father watched with an indulgent smile. He occasionally added a comment. He had a dry sense of humor and it showed. If anyone had told me two weeks ago he'd be this nice and all smiley, I would not have believed them.

There was so much food, and once everyone relaxed, they packed it away. We lingered after Father and Solange left the table.

"I cannot believe how nice and approachable the king was," Skylar said, and everyone had something good to say about him. I watched them and grinned.

Something about Lottius had been bothering me since we met. I didn't get a chance to ask her until just before they left. "So, how come you don't drink blood like your parents?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "That's why you kept staring at me during dinner."

I made a face. "I didn't think you'd notice."

"You're as subtle as a wart on a nose. Coronis bred my kind to extinction, so most of us are mixed-breeds. My mother and my uncle are the only pure Nosferatus left. My father is part Neteru, so I inherited quite a bit of his genes. I can tolerate the sun. I also can go without drinking warm blood. It's still a delicacy, and the effect..." She sighed and smacked her lips. "Better than anything out there, but I don't have to drink it." She glanced at Katia.

"I am more Neteru, but my half-sister is more Lazarus," Katia said, eyes watering. "My stepfather was a Lazarus."

"Your half-sister? Are you talking about Angelia? The one who's missing?" I asked.

Katia nodded. "I know she's out there. I hate that I never really knew her. They were the last group of hybrids and Queen Coronis guarded them like precious jewels. My mother and stepfather were killed during the raid on the island, and I thought Angelia and the children at the inst.i.tute had died too, until we heard she was seen in L.A. Before we could locate her whereabouts, she'd disappeared again with the others."

"That's awful." She was furiously plucking at her dress. I gripped her hand. "Who could have taken them?"

She glanced at the others and then sighed. "We don't know for sure, but some people think the Guardians took them."

"If they did, that's their first mistake," Gus said.

I frowned. "Why?"

"The Specials are scary powerful," Gus explained. "They were taught to work together from when they were little. The Guardians won't stand a chance if they decide to attack."

"I don't think they'll attack unless it's in self-defense," Katia said. "Besides, Lilith has given us hope."

"Me?" I asked.

Katia nodded. "You are a Special, too. You lived with the Guardians for fourteen years and they didn't hurt or brainwash you."

I made a face. "So, how many Specials are missing?"

"We don't know," Gus said. "There were about fifty at the inst.i.tute when the Guardians attacked Coronis Isle. Somehow, they got out and found each other. They tend to gravitate toward each other."

"That's because they communicate at some weird level the rest of us can't hear," Lottius said "The worst part is that Queen Coronis had them living at the inst.i.tute away from their parents, so most weren't close to their families," Gus added. "Safety to most of them is being with each other, not their parents."

"I don't care," Katia said. "With my parents gone, Angelia is the only family I have left. Immediate family," she added, glancing at Lottius.

"Then why aren't our people out there scouring the world for them?" I asked.

"We are. My hunting team goes out daily to search for them," Gus said. "The few times we thought we'd located them, we found them gone."

I went in search of my father after my friends left. He wasn't in his quarters. Downstairs, Sir Malax met me before I entered the throne room.

"Your father is having a hearing in the council chambers, Princess," he said, bowing.

"Oh. Okay. Then I'll see him tomorrow."

What is it, daughter? Lord Valafar asked.

I just wanted to say goodnight and thank you for being so nice to my friends, I said.

He chuckled. Join us. I need your help with something.

"He says I can go in now," I said.

"This way, Princess," Malax said.

I followed him past a room with guards down a short hallway to an inner door, which he pushed open. I'd never entered the room, though my father had pointed it out the day he gave me the tour.

The room was circular with a high ceiling. The walls had etchings of the Princ.i.p.alities standing over people in various states of agony. There were twelve mini-balconies with dukes and d.u.c.h.esses in black ceremonial robes. I recognized a few from my party. Above them were galleries for observers, but they were empty now.

At the front of the room sat my father, his chair larger and more ornate than the elders' chairs. My focus shifted to half a dozen men and women kneeling on a dais in front of him. They appeared to kneel near the eyes of a giant mural of a raven painted on the floor. From their suits and trench coats, they were not from the island. Their psi energies also indicated they were mid-to upper-level Hermonites.

"Come," Lord Valafar said, and patted the arm of his chair. I teleported to his balcony.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He narrowed his eyes at the six men and women below. One of them is guilty of spying for the Guardians. They all claim to be innocent, yet they were known a.s.sociates of the Guardians and the Outcasts.

According to Lady Nemea, Outcasts were Hermonites who refused to join us in our fight to reclaim the world. Some had human parents or grandparents and were sympathetic to humans.

They know the penalty for spying, Lord Valafar continued.

One woman wailed and fell forward until her head pressed on the marbled floor. "I'm innocent, sire."

"Silence!" Lord Valafar bellowed. He wasn't the same man who'd joked with my friends during dinner. The hatred toward the Guardians in the room was palpable and it wasn't coming from my father alone.

I moved to the edge of the rail of the balcony and studied the six men and women. Why would they spy for our enemies? What's their punishment?

A decade in the dungeons with their psi energy drained so they cannot attempt an escape. Without looking at me, he added, You are a powerful Psi, Lilith. More powerful than anyone in this room. Get inside their heads and find out the traitors.

"Congratulations, Princess," Master Kenta said the next morning when I joined him. He handed me a sword. "I heard you fingered some traitors."

Last night, I was thrilled when my father had asked for my help. Now all I felt was guilt. So the couple had close ties to the Outcasts and met with the Guardians a few times. Was their punishment justified? No one had gotten hurt and I was still here on the island.

"Why would our people spy for them?" I asked.

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"The Guardians would do anything to have you on their side. Whoever controls the Kris Dagger... I mean, whichever side you are on will run things when you unite our people."

I frowned. According to my father, I was the only one who could command it. Surely Master Kenta didn't mean whoever controlled me would run things. Lady Nemea's words flashed through my head-my father indulged me because he wanted me to choose him. Even though she'd changed it to love, I wondered if she'd really meant it. Why would I choose anyone else but my father?

I'd read enough about the dagger to know that it was not a force to be messed with. It could create worlds or destroy them, depending on the wielder's will. I would never knowingly hurt anyone with it. On the other hand, until the previous night, I had never thought I'd knowingly send someone to the dungeons, either.

"Lilith?" Master Kenta asked.

I smiled at him so he wouldn't see how terrible I felt. "Too bad the dagger is completely useless now."

Master Kenta's eyes sharpened. "You've seen it?"

"Yes, but I felt nothing. It just sat there like a steak knife. I wasn't impressed."

Master Kenta frowned. "That's strange. You and your father retrieved it from a cave on Coronis Isle because you linked with it and commanded it."

I stared blankly at him. "What? I was on Coronis Isle? When?"

"Your father tracked you down and the two of you went to Coronis Isle to retrieve the dagger."

"This was before the Great Battle?"

"Yes. Even while under the Guardians, you knew you could trust him. He outsmarted the Guardians and helped you retrieve the dagger." A gleam entered his eyes as though he derived pleasure from the idea of defeating the Guardians. My hands tightened around the hilt of the sword.

"He hasn't said anything about it," I said.

"Your father is a modest man, Lilith. Queen Coronis had hoped to have you by her side, but the Guardians attacked Coronis Isle that very night while you and your father were in the cave, retrieving the dagger. Once you got it, the Guardians ganged up on your father and took you with them. Again."

Rehashing the past was pointless. It only p.i.s.sed me off. "Let's train."

He stepped back, bowed, and lifted his sword. "Show me what you can do with a real sword."

I was riding high on p.i.s.sed-off energy, and it made me vicious. Unstoppable. Like the day before, people stopped to watch us. This time, I didn't let them distract me or check on Green Eyes, even though I felt his eyes on us.

"That's enough for today," Master Kenta said an hour later.

He kept rubbing his temple and looked a little frazzled. I glanced around and frowned. The courtyard had cleared, which was unusual. There were always minions and guards around. I dropped the sword, bowed toward Master Kenta, and teleported.

Lil? Green Eyes said as soon as I appeared in my room.

I don't want to talk right now, I snapped, peeling the sweaty clothes off my skin.

What happened? What did he say?

I sighed, turned on the water in the shower, and let it run over my hand. Who?

The b.a.s.t.a.r.d Kenta, Green Eyes practically snarled. Did he say something to p.i.s.s you off?

The concern in his voice was sweet, but he wouldn't understand. As a minion, his problems were completely different from mine.

I blew out air, but before I could respond, something brushed my psi energy and the anger drained out of me. I closed my eyes and savored the calm. I'm okay now. I can handle it.

I know, but you still affected everyone nearby earlier.