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Jace.” Her mother stroked her hair the way she had when Magnolia had been just a child who’d awoken from a bad dream. “None of this was your fault. Understand that. Believe it, for you, my dear one, are meant for great things. Great things that you will never accomplish if you are always looking back on that night. Do not allow it to hold you back. Remember that you are loved. Look to your future.”
    “I don’t know how,” Magnolia whispered into her father’s shoulder as she clung to the both of them.
    “Your story will be passed down from generation to generation as it always has been, but now it is almost time for you to finish it.”
    Her eyes grew big as the tears subsided. “I don’t understand. How can my story be one that has been told already? I’m not even eighteen. How can it have been passed down?”
    “Wolf Pup, do you still not understand?” her father questioned softly. His finger guided her chin up so that she was looking at the both of them. “You are nearly grown. You are now able to do what you need to do because of the life that you have lived.”
    “In the closet, under the floorboards you will discover what you are seeking.” The melodic voice tugged at her heart. “I love you.”
    “We are proud of you Wolf Pup and will always love you.” They began to fade from her arms.
    “No! Please don’t leave me. Please. I need you. Jace needs you.” She reached out for them, but only emptiness remained where they’d been a few seconds before. “Please…”
    “M&M?” Concern filled the voice that called to her.
    A light flicked on, illuminating the room. She rubbed the tears and sleep out of her eyes.
    “You were calling out in your sleep again. Was it another dream of Daciana?” Jace looked around the room, eyes misting over when his gaze fell on the nightstand that still held the last tie their father had worn. “Why are you in here?”
    He did not step farther into the room until Magnolia jumped from the bed, throwing the covers back. She leapt to the floor, yanked open the door to the closet, and dropped to her knees.
    “I need a flashlight…” She moved the few boxes that had been on the closet floor out into the room. “…and a flat-headed screwdriver.” She felt around the floorboards, trying to feel for a loose board.
    Jace handed her the items she asked for without question.
    With the flashlight on, she could see that two boards were slightly lighter than the others and appeared to be joined. The screwdriver soon popped the boards up. There, under the floor, was a tin box shaped like a treasure chest. The little treasure chest was about the size of a child’s shoe box and had been painted similar to the mural in Magnolia’s bedroom. Clutching it to her body, she stood and walked out of the room.
    Jace followed her down to the living room. “M&M, what happened? Was it another dream?
    “It was Momma and Daddy.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    A S SOON AS THE two of them settled down in the living room, there was a knock on the front door. Jace looked at his sister, who was staring at the box as if it held the world inside of it. He shook his head and went to the door to find Bash with a brown bag and three cups in a carrier.
    “I wanted to check on Mag. I brought food.” He lifted the bag as he spoke, and Jace moved aside to let him in.
    “She’s in the living room. What happened today?” He stopped Bash from going any farther.
    “I don’t know the details. I was outside in my truck. From what I understand, Sarah opened her big mouth. We all know that nothing good comes out when that happens. When she said something about your parents, Mag lost her cool and shoved her against a wall. Sarah and her friends claimed that Mag attacked her for no reason. Sarah’s parents have the school in their pocket, so they suspended your sister.”
    “What’d she say?”
    “I don’t know. Mag was trying to hide tears on the way home. Is she okay?” Bash’s eyes filled with