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‘hello’ or something.”
    “Actually, I never got the chance to thank you,” I said in a rush, interrupting her. “For the night
    Ais died.”
    Karayan’s beautiful lips narrowed in a small frown. “Whatever.”
    “No, seriously,” I breathed. “What you did—If you hadn’t been there—” I took a step toward her.
    “We owe you our lives.”
    Karayan turned away abruptly. “I didn’t want to see you get killed. It doesn’t mean we’re BFFs or
    anything.”
    I stopped in my tracks. “Sure, my mistake.” I crossed my arms awkwardly. “So, what are you
    doing here?”
    Karayan flipped her hair over one shoulder and fixed her piercing green eyes on me. “Something’s
    brewing on the Lilitu side. I don’t know the plan, exactly, but it involves some kind of weapon.”
    “Okay.” I waited, unsure how to respond to this.
    “You don’t get it,” Karayan said, eyes narrowing in irritation. “This is important. Like, ‘it could
    decide the War for the Lilitu’ important.”
    “Okay.” A thought struck me. “Karayan, do you know where the seal is?”
    Karayan gave me a disgusted look. “Are you seriously telling me you’re still playing the Guard’s
    devoted lap dog? They don’t own you, Braedyn.”
    “Um, I’m confused,” I said. “Why are you telling me about this weapon thing if you’re not trying
    to help us win?”
    “Us,” Karayan snorted.
    “The Guard,” I snapped back.
    “I’m not trying to help the Guard, you idiot. I’m trying to help you.”
    “And I’m trying to protect my friends and family.” I got the distinct impression Karayan wanted to
    roll her eyes, but I pressed on. “We could really use your help.”
    “My help?” Karayan’s voice sounded incredulous. “Those people aren’t my family, remember?”
    “They could be,” I said.
    Karayan turned to look out over the field of roses, but not before I saw the stricken look in her eye.
    After a long moment she spoke again. “Watch your back, Braedyn.” Karayan glanced over her
    shoulder to meet my eyes. “I don’t know how, but you’re a part of their plan.”
    And then she was gone.

    Chapter 3
    Karayan’s words still shrouded my thoughts the following Monday when Lucas and I arrived at
    school. I’d told Dad what she’d said as soon as I’d woken up. He hadn’t liked it any more than I had,
    and had looped Hale and the others into the conversation at breakfast. After an entire Sunday spent
    deliberating, we’d reached no conclusions about what to do. Karayan’s warning that I was somehow a
    part of the Lilitu’s plan was too vague to act on, and too frightening to ignore. Hale had even
    questioned Karayan’s motives, suggesting she might have wanted to upset me to keep me distracted
    and unfocused. That had given me pause. What did I really know about Karayan? On the one hand, she
    had basically delivered Derek to the Guard for execution as a Thrall. On the other hand, she had saved
    all our lives the night of Ais’s death. Would Karayan have gone to the trouble of sparing us once in
    order to have the pleasure of watching us destroyed later? In the end, whether or not upsetting me had
    been Karayan’s aim, it was the end result of our conversation.
    Lucas curved his arm around my shoulders protectively while we walked from the parking lot to
    school. We had to part ways for first period, but he lingered with me outside my class until the last
    moment.
    “We’re going to figure this out,” he said. He brushed the hair back from my forehead, smoothing it
    behind my ear. I felt a twinge in my middle when he withdrew his hand.
    “You sound so sure.”
    Lucas gave me a crooked grin. “Come on. You’re Braedyn Murphy. You went head to head with an
    ancient Lilitu and emerged victorious.”
    “One,” I said softly. “And I had a lot of help.” He heard the unspoken fear in my voice. His smile
    dimmed. If the final battle was drawing closer, it was unlikely we’d be facing just one