He gave me another look that said he still didn't believe I'd lost my memories. "The most powerful energy b.a.l.l.s. They are usually unstoppable, but you, a sixteen-year-old, stopped them like they were Ping-Pong b.a.l.l.s. That was when I knew you were different."

Floating red fireb.a.l.l.s and water rising from a swimming pool flashed through my head. I tried to hold on to the memory, but it disappeared. "What would anyone want with someone else's energy?"

He shrugged indifferently. "To enhance theirs. Yours is pure and regenerates fast. You can enhance and replenish the energies of hundreds and still survive, and that's without the Kris Dagger. At the same time, you can bend anyone to your will, render them powerless, freeze and destroy thousands like that." He snapped his fingers.

I frowned, remembering my premonition on the training field. "There's no way I'd knowingly hurt anyone."

Lord Gavyn drained his drink and pushed his gla.s.s aside. "That's where you are wrong, Princess." He smirked. "You have hurt people. Surely even you can't have forgotten that victorious raid on Coronis Isle."

I stood. "If you're done telling me about Bran-"

"Scared of the truth? You? Now that's a side of you I've never seen before."

I wanted to slap his smug face. "I'm not scared. But I will not sit here and listen to your lies." The problem was that I had a feeling he wasn't lying.

"Lies? How do you think the Guardians destroyed Coronis Isle and killed so many of our people? You used the Kris Dagger to freeze every Hermonite on the ground and in the air, and the rest of your Guardian pals finished them off. Why do you think Zhane's friends weren't too happy to see you tonight? They didn't fight the Archangels, so they remember that raid. You killed their parents, Princess. Their uncles and aunts, their older brothers and sisters. You even killed my mother, mine and Bran's."

My stomach roiled as the conversations I'd had with my friends zipped through my head-the Guardians attacking Coronis Isle and killing so many of their parents, taking Katia's sister and the Specials, raiding their businesses.

I shook my head. "No. I went to the island with my father to retrieve the dagger. I could not have hurt my people." I fought queasiness. "If I did anything, it was by accident or the Guardians made me do it. I'd never knowingly hurt anyone. I would never do something that..."

"Whoa. Okay." He raised his hands. He studied me, eyes narrowing as though he was strategizing. "Forget the part about the raid. I was only playing with you."

His words slowly sank in. "You mean what you just said-"

"Was a lie," he finished, and grinned.

I slapped him hard. "You are the most despicable, arrogant, self-centered... Why would you say something like that to me?"

He rubbed the cheek I'd slapped. "Because I'm a jacka.s.s. You were on the island to retrieve the dagger and you helped Bran rescue our sister Celeste. It just so happened that the Guardians were attacking at the same time. You were not involved."

I wanted to hurt him, really hurt him, until he begged for mercy, but it wouldn't make a difference. I was an empath. I could tell when someone was feeling sorry for me and he was. Why would he pity me unless everything he'd said was the truth? Could I have really killed my own people with the Guardians? I was only sixteen when Coronis Isle was destroyed.

"You're not going to start crying, are you?" he asked.

My tears were threatening to fall, but to cry in front of him would be beyond humiliating. "Of course not."

"Good. One, you are not the crying type. And two, I'm not the consoling-females type." He reached for the decanter with whatever alcoholic mixture he'd made, poured it into his gla.s.s, and took a sip. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. "Want some?"

"I don't drink alcohol, you jerk."

He grinned. "Who said I was offering alcohol?" He reached for a bottle under the counter, splashed some of the contents into a gla.s.s, and shoved it at me. "Don't sip it. Throw it in the back of your throat. It's the best remedy for weeping females."

"I'm not crying," I snapped." I studied the clear liquid. "Are you sure this isn't alcohol?"

"Coward."

I tilted my head and threw the drink into my mouth. I sputtered and coughed as the liquid burned its way down my throat. My eyes watered. "What in Tartarus was that?"

"It doesn't matter. Still feel like crying?"

No. In fact, I felt warm. I glared.

He laughed.

Hating him was a waste of energy. "What kind of a person was I before the Great Battle?" Other than the kind who could kill her own people.

"Annoying. Arrogant." He gave me a look that said he was remembering our past encounters. "You had and have a right to be, I guess. You are powerful and can manipulate most elements. You are the Chosen One, after all, the one destined to wield the most powerful Nephilimic weapon."

The weapon was useless now, but I decided not to tell him that bit of information. I didn't trust him. He liked to play games, and I refused to give him more ammunition.

"You care about the people here?" he asked.

"Of course I do. Why do you think I've taken up the Subsixers' cause? They are just as important as everyone else."

His expression grew thoughtful. "And you'd never hurt them?"

I shot him a glare. "What do you think?"

"I think your heart is in the right place, so I'm going to be honest with you."

"Why? You've been lying all this time."

Annoyance crossed his face. "Just shut up and listen. You cannot afford to be ignorant like most knuckleheads around here. Information is power, and as your future brother-in-law, it's only right I watch out for you while you're here."

Somehow, I doubted he cared one way or another if anything happened to me. "What information?"

"Do you know why your hand glows green before you heal someone?"

"That's my body protecting itself."

"No, that's the power of the Kris Dagger protecting you. For whatever reason, the powers shifted from the dagger to you. Celeste let that detail slip by accident. You are now the most powerful weapon, not the dagger. No need to look horrified. Your secret is safe with me. But if you continue to heal people around the island, everyone will know and that will tilt the power struggle in their favor, so no more healing minions."

"In whose favor?"

"Your enemies'. Those who hate what you plan to do, and I'm not talking about taking up the minions' cause. You are the Chosen One and they have no interest in uniting with the Guardians. Oh, and don't forget those whose brains you fried while you were in a coma. Some are still not fully recovered and they're p.i.s.sed." He drained the rest of his second drink. "Back to why we're having this meeting. I want Bran off the island."

Those I'd hurt... How could I have forgotten about them? As for Bran, I wasn't his keeper. Besides, I liked having him around. But I decided to play along. "Okay. Can you describe him?"

Gavyn frowned. "I gave you his description in my first message when I thought you'd lost your memories."

I made a face. "I didn't watch it."

"Why not?"

"I hid it and went to watch the fireworks, but when I went back for it, it was gone. When we finally found it, someone had erased it."

"d.a.m.n it. Someone knows Bran is on the island." He teleported from the other side of the counter to my side. "Find out who took it. I don't care how you do it. Read their thoughts. Mind blend with them. Get the names of everyone they've told and erase all their memories. If your father learns that Bran is on the island..."

My jaw dropped. "My father would never hurt anyone unless they deserved it. And I'm not erasing anyone's memories."

He leaned closer and snarled, "Bran joined the Guardians to be with you, Lilith. According to your father, Bran is a Guardian and therefore, an enemy. If they catch him within a foot of you, they'll give him the same treatment they gave the two traitors you fingered a few weeks ago."

I started to worry. Gavyn was right. If Father believed Bran was a Guardian, he would throw him in the dungeon and drain his psi energy. "What do you want me to do? And please don't say erase memories."

He glanced over his shoulder before whispering. "Do everything in your power to find him and tell him to leave. Don't trust anyone with this except Katia. I wasn't lying when I said you defeated Raphael during the Great Battle, and he didn't erase your memories. Something or someone erased them here on the island. You should be asking yourself who and why."

He was a raving lunatic, making up stories and filling my head with ugly suggestions. My memories were erased during the Great Battle. "Are you implying-"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you the truth. Don't trust anyone except Katia. Find Bran. He'll confirm everything I just told you. Black wavy hair, green eyes, and dimples, he's hard to miss. After you find him, have Katia contact me."

Green Eyes was definitely Bran. The guy who loved me. The guy who came to the island to be with me. The guy who might be in trouble if anyone knew he was around. "I've seen him."

"When and where?" he barked.

"Everywhere. He appears when I least expect him and disappears again. It started after I regained consciousness. He refused to tell me his name, but insisted I would know it when my memories returned."

"So, he's okay," Gavyn mumbled.

"Yeah. He even telepathed me when I came here and told me to leave. He doesn't like the company you keep."

Gavyn shrugged as if he didn't care what his brother thought. "Somehow, I knew he'd find a way to get your attention. And he knows better than to come to Zhane's house. The dark lords meet here all the time and they would have recognized him." His expression became serious. "What I said is true, Lilith. It's too dangerous for Bran to be on the island. Convince him to go home. If that fails, contact me through Katia. I'll come and get him out. Maybe keep him chained up for the next three months."

I frowned. "You never explained the three months."

"That's when you'll decide whether you want to live with the Guardians or here with your father. The Tribunal said the choice would be yours."

Lady Nemea's words came back to haunt me. She'd meant choose. My father wanted me to choose him. "Why would I want to live with the Guardians? This is my home."

Gavyn smiled. "I hope that's true, Lilith, because the people here need you. Whether you realize it or not, they really need you. Remember everything I told you," he said, then started for the arched doorway.

I stared after him, more confused than before, unanswered questions burning my tongue. Who the heck was the Tribunal?

-15-.

An hour before, I had been euphoric. I had an objective. Now, I couldn't think past the things Gavyn had told me. Should I ask my father about my memory loss? Or ask Lady Nemea? Solange? No, my sister was faking amnesia. Or maybe Gavyn was lying about that, too. But would he lie when he wanted me to help Bran?

Ruby and Callum entered the room and I studied them, wondering how much they'd heard. I hated doubting them. Their loyalty was the one thing I'd taken for granted the last couple of months.

"Let's go home," I said.

We teleported back to the family room. Katia and the others were still there. From the looks of things, they'd ordered more food. How would they treat me once they learned I'd partic.i.p.ated in raids that had destroyed their homes and killed their families?

"How did it go?" Katia asked, coming to my side.

Had Gavyn told her why he wanted to talk to me? He'd said I could trust her. "Fine. You guys came up with any ideas while I was gone?"

"Plenty," Gus said. Ravan, busy shoving a large chunk of pie in his mouth, nodded.

Lottius lifted a CC. "We have the recordings of the entire meeting, including the time you were gone."

Seeing the CC reminded me of the one I'd incinerated. Could Solange have erased it? Lottius had been with me when Gavyn's personal guard had given me the first crystal. She was also curious about where I was going before I left. Could she have sneaked into my quarters?

Dang it, I was beginning to suspect everyone. Lottius had never visited my rooms before the night the CC disappeared. Besides, her presence would have alerted the guards. Sir Malax always insisted on having two guards stationed there whenever I was gone.

"Lilith?"

I blinked. Katia looked at me questioningly. The others were standing. "Sorry. Uh, are you guys leaving already?"

"She's got a date," Lottius said, indicating Katia with a nod, "and we are going clubbing, ending at Club LZ. You can join us if you like."

"She's not yet eighteen, Lottie," Katia said. "LZ's bouncers won't let her in."

"Lord Zhane is about profit," Lottie retorted. "He'll let in babies in strollers if they're paying customers."

Listening to them added a little normalcy to my life, which had taken a nosedive during my talk with Gavyn. I might not know who to trust, but the people in this room and I had one thing in common-concern for the Subsixers. I should focus on that.

"That's okay," I said. "I'm not in the mood for clubbing, anyway. It's been a long day." I glanced at Ravan, Jazreel, and Gus. "Let's take a break for a couple of days. I need to talk to my father and Solange, who's supposed to be working with me on this." Solange, the faker. Now I questioned everything she'd ever said.

"Lilith," Katia said again, concern in her voice. "Are you okay?"

The others were gone, except Lottius and Katia. "I'm fine. I've a lot of thinking to do and I want to watch that"-I pointed at the CC in Lottius's hand. "Go and get ready for the club, Lottie. And you"-I smiled at Katia-"have a fun date. I'll see you guys on Monday at the Academy."

They both frowned.

"What?" I asked.

"We were planning on going to the beach tomorrow," Katia said.

"You're coming, right?" Lottius added.

"I don't know. I'll ping you if I can get away. If not, I'll see you on Monday." I'd been looking forward to attending the Academy, but now all I thought about was what Lord Gavyn had said. I rea.s.sured the girls again that I was okay before they left. My eyes met Callum and Ruby's. "Goodnight, guys," I said. "Let other guards take over. It's been a long day."

"May I say something, Princess?" Ruby asked just as I turned to enter my bedroom.

I stopped, turned, and studied their expressionless faces. "Sure."

"Anytime you need to be alone or go somewhere, just ask for us and we'll help," she said.

Callum nodded. "You can trust us to keep your whereabouts a secret."