Page 396 of Hunters and Prey

Helgi’s hand landed on my shoulder, and she handed me a slip of paper. “We found this pinned to the table with a dagger.”

It was a note on thick, expensive paper. The writing was neat and clear.

If you want him, come back to the arena.

Commander Royce.

Lava bubbled in my veins. They had him. The Bloods had him. But it didn’t mention the kids, which meant ... I pushed past Helgi and stormed outside, out back and into the workshop.

Please let me be right, please let them be safe. I rolled up the mat on the floor and revealed the trap door. Hooking my fingers into the handhold, I hauled it up. A squeak of fright greeted me and then someone began to sob.

June’s grimy face appeared in the hole. “You’re here. You’re back!” Her lip trembled and she hugged Gemma closer to her breast. “They took him, Anya. They took Illyrian.”

I fell to my knees. “I know.”

Helgi appeared at my back with Bran in tow.

“Fucking hell,” Bran said, and then proceeded to haul the kids up out of the pit.

I backed up and headed out of the workshop.

“Wait! Anya,” Helgi yelled. “You can’t go back for him. Dammit, woman.”

Vesper grabbed my arm and yanked me to a halt. “What the fuck is going on?”

“They took my father.” I shoved the note at him. “I’m going to get him back.”

Vesper’s brows snapped down and then his sapphire eyes narrowed. “And what’s your plan? Are you going to walk in and demand they give him back? You think it’ll be that easy?”

“What about the kids?” Helgi asked. “You can’t just leave them.”

Some of the hot air filling my lungs seeped out, and my eyes pricked with impotent rage. They were both right. The kids needed me, and I needed a plan.

“Think, Anya. What would your dad tell you to do?” Helgi prompted.

I jerked free of Vesper and planted my hands on my hips. Bran appeared in the yard, one of the twins clinging to his back like a monkey; the rest trailed behind him, lost and bewildered. Mine, they were my responsibility, my family. Dad would kick my arse if I went running into danger without a plan. He’d taught me better. He’d said ... If we ever get split up, if you come home one day and I’m gone, then you’ll find what you need under the floorboard under my bed.

I turned and ran back into the house, up the stairs, and into his room. With an almighty shove, I pushed the bed across the floor and then began searching for the loose board. It didn’t take long, and then I was prying it up, and there, wrapped in thick black material, was a book.

A fucking book?

How the heck would that help me?

I flipped the tome open and a flat black gem and piece of paper fell out. A note? It was in Dad’s hand, and it was addressed to me.

Anya,

If you’re reading this, then I’m either dead or taken from you. If it’s the latter, then you must treat me as lost to you. Do not come after me under any circumstances. You have a bigger task now, one that was entrusted to me a long time ago and one I now entrust to you, my most beloved.

I know right now you will be scared, angry, and worried, but you must put aside all those emotions and focus on what I’ve taught you. Focus on your survival instincts, because you must live, and you must finish what I started. This book you hold must be taken to the Furtherlands. Find Orion and give it to him personally. He will be at the Keep because he is a Dreki lord. It won’t be easy, but I know you’ll find a way to get an audience with him. Keep the book safe. Do not reveal its existence to anyone but Orion. Your path will be fraught with jeopardy, and if you find yourself in mortal danger, break the gem. You will no longer be alone.

I know your heart, I know that if I have been taken, then your instinct will be to come after me, but trust me, child, the only way to help me is to keep this book safe, and to do that, you must stay alive. You must put yourself first, even above the lives of the children. Thousands of lives depend on it.

I love you, my sweet child. Always remember that. Now, you must let me go.

Love always,

Dad.

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