"It's about Illumina."

"Illumina? Not the topic I was expecting, but go on."

I hesitated, trying to line up the words in my head, and he impatiently twirled his hand in the air.

"Are you planning on taking all day? Oh, let me guess. She betrayed me, too."

I gasped, for though he had been joking, he had come shockingly close to the truth. He paled, and a note of urgency entered his voice.

"Tell me, Anya."

"She didn't betray you. She betrayed me." Now that I had confessed the core of my belief, words tumbled from my mouth. "She was there at the b.l.o.o.d.y Road on the night my wings were taken. She knew I would be coming after you, and she was there with the hunters. She orchestrated it, Zabriel. I know she did."

The misery in his eyes was heartrending, and I longed to offer him comfort. Remorse filled me-I shouldn't have hit him with this now, not right after his mother's death. But once said, the words couldn't be taken back, nor could their impact be softened.

"Are you certain?" he finally asked, words clipped, bespeaking carefully controlled anger.

"Yes-and I'm not just relying on my memory. She drew a picture of the attack in her journal. I have it in my room because we accidentally switched our travel satchels when she left for Chrior. She was there, Zabriel, and she memorialized it in minute detail as though it's some kind of special event."

I finished with a shudder, and his eyes locked on me. I knew in that moment that he not only believed me, but grasped the significance of my disclosure.

"This is not something that can be forgiven."

He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, his words resonating in the still air. Then he turned and continued on toward the mansion, and I hastened to keep pace.

"What about the promise you made to my father to listen to Luka and heed his advice?" I asked, drawing abreast of him.

He shrugged, and I had the feeling he was shrugging off his anger to focus on the more pressing issues at hand.

"I don't trust him, but I have no doubt he knows Tairmor and its risks. For that reason alone, I'm more than willing to listen. He may even be able to provide us with some useful information."

I put a hand on his arm and pulled him to a stop. "I haven't had a chance to tell you this, but we're not alone anymore. Shea came to see me in the hospital."

He gave me an approving nod. "That's good, Anya. I'm glad you've made peace."

"We did, but there's more. She and Spex have been busy gathering information.

"Tiny?" He laughed in disbelief. "He's still around?"

"Yes, and he's helping us now. I guess he took the things you said to him in Sheness to heart."

Zabriel nodded. "Then our numbers have doubled."

"All the way to four."

"We also have Gwyneth as a resource. Never underestimate what a good group of people can do."

His att.i.tude was surprisingly upbeat, and I decided to venture one more piece of information.

"We're actually six strong, Zabriel-I told Tom."

I tensed, half expecting him to explode, but he gave me a wry smile.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a crew. I think it's time to do a little pirating."

Books by Cayla Kluver.

from Harlequin TEEN.

Heirs of Chrior.

(in reading order).

The Queen's Choice.

The Empty Throne.

The Legacy Trilogy.

(in reading order).

Legacy.

Allegiance.

Sacrifice.