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change.’
    â€˜I guess this means you told this Sariel character to get lost?’ I tried to sound casual.
    Gorath’s eyes clouded. ‘In a manner of speaking. You might say he was instrumental in bringing me back from the edge I found myself at.’
    â€˜I’m glad.’
    â€˜He taught me to use blood magic, you know.’
    I frown, not sure what he wanted me to say to that. Orella herself had warned me against the use of blood magic. Being able to access the ley-lines without the need of a casting agent sounded handy to me, but Orella had been adamant that blood magic led to insanity.
    I chose my words carefully. ‘Like Seth said before, nephilim are born with the ability. They just know not to use it.’
    â€˜I was with the Order for ten years before I escaped,’ Gorath said. ‘I always thought blood magic was forbidden because the Grigori wanted to keep me weak. But when Sariel taught me, my mind to slipped into darkness. Sometimes I went so deep, I thought I’d drown.’ He swallowed, before his face cleared. ‘But let us not talk about the past. We are here now, brokering peace, and it would please me to give you something. A gesture of goodwill between us.’
    He stood and pulled out a book from one of the glass cabinets. ‘This is one of the copies of the Aldebaran in my possession. I would entrust it to you.’
    Personally, I’d rather he gave me cash, but the book was a mighty fine second prize.
    â€˜Thanks.’ I clutched the book to my chest and a flicker of familiarity passed between us. It was as if Gorath had some measure of understanding of who I was: of growing up thinking I was a freak with my white hair and Sariel haunting my dreams.
    â€˜I believe you are my half-sister, Lora,’ Gorath said. ‘At least, my father used to insinuate as much. That he had seeded the world with those who would see him achieve the power and might he deserved.’
    My hands clutched tighter around the book. I tried to pull off a dismissive smile, but it was stiff and forced. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    Gorath’s face turned thoughtful. ‘Could you at least promise me we will have a conversation some day about it? I’d always dreamt that having a sense of family would ground me.’ He shook his head. ‘I just wanted to feel like I belonged somewhere. Though the father in my dreams was cruel, he was all I had.’
    â€˜He might have been lying,’ I said carefully. ‘This Sariel character…maybe he wasn’t your father at all.’
    Gorath nodded. ‘Perhaps.’
    My eyes dropped to my boots and I didn’t know what to say. The very idea that I had a half-brother was strange to me. I didn’t know what to do with the information, so I just nodded towards the door.
    â€˜Can we join the others now?’
    â€˜Of course.’ Gorath motioned for me to lead the way. He was being awfully pleasant, and I wondered if he’d still be so polite if he knew I was planning on burning the Aldebaran he’d given me. I didn’t give a shit about the prophecy, but the spells in it were dangerous and unpredictable, and the damned thing had to be destroyed.
    Approaching the meeting room, we heard shouts. Gorath hurried ahead of me, pulling a small gun from the small of his back. I stumbled into the room after him, only to see Roman and Seth nose to nose, hands on each other. The moment we entered they broke apart, and Manika rushed forward to pick up cups that had been dropped on the floor. Seth’s bitch troll friend just sat at the table, arms crossed and looking annoyed.
    Gorath tucked the gun back in his belt. ‘Something wrong, gentlemen?’
    Seth straightened his jacket, face blank.’Nothing that won’t be fixed in the full measure of time.’
    Roman glared at him, hands dropping to his side and curling into fists. ‘Is that a