”Where is she now?” My mother asked after I had encountered everything that had happened in their absence. My father stood there, massaging his temple with his eyes closed and his head bowed. ”That’s not all,” I said. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked up at my mom. ”Layla’s an Emberclaw, and we believe that she’s with them right now.” My father’s head flew up and he and my mother shared a worried look.
”What?” I asked. She didn't turn her head but instead she looked down on the floor.
”Honey, this is much worse than you realize,” she said, avoiding eye contact. Her eyes finally rose and my father went over to the bookcase and opened a hidden compartment. He took out a thick book that was unfamiliar to me, and I stepped away from the desk as he came to place it down.
”Wh
