Page 53 of Winterfall Destiny

"Seems odd that the First hasn't threatened any of us," says Ash, and drinks from his third beer of the night.

"The creature threatened to kill the original elders and so anybody with their families' hemia blood dies," says Tobias.

"Andrei," I say flatly.

"I don't have any of my old blood. My body purged that. But he does since he's a hybrid descendent of the Vitlaks.”

He. Tobias. What does this mean? "The what?"

"Original family." He sighs. "No. I didn't realise. Nobody ever told me."

"The three Blackwood hybrids are part originals," says Andrei.

"Mia and Eloise too. That's why Dorian walked away?" I ask.

"Which is pointless. As if the creature couldn't find Dorian if it wanted to." I rub my tired eyes, brain hurting with all this information. "If Blackwoods can perform the spell to trap the First, why hasn't it killed them?"

"Their daughter," says Andrei softly. "The First wants the Blackwood's daughter."

"What?" I choke out. "No."

"We've learned one thing. The First rarely kills the powerful," says Tobias. "The creature manipulates those who're a threat by binding them to it and lets them do the killing."

"Like Andrei, because now he has the First's blood. And you because you won't act against the creature due to that reason, Maeve," says Jamie flatly. "If the First gives Mia the blood too, the kid would face the same fate as Andrei if anybody trapped or injured the First. Dorian wouldn't risk that. His family are bound too."

I swallow. "Everybody's in that creature's web."

"The First has plans for Dorian," says Tobias. "It clearly likes him."

"Oh yeah, big fan, if the thing's threatening to assault his three-year-old daughter," retorts Ash.

"Don't attempt to understand how the First thinks or plans," says Tobias with a sigh. "We worry about that once we've killed Gabriella and decimated her ranks."

Another look exchanged with Andrei.

The pair may try to avoid telling Ash and Jamie something, but I won't rest tonight until they tell me. My mind buzzes with what. Last time the pair approached me alone with news, they told me Andrei would die. So, who's predicted to die this time? Because if that person sits in the room right now, Andrei and Tobias shouldn't stay silent.

Which leads to one conclusion that slices into my heart.

Me. The First lied. I'm the one who'll die.

* * *

Andrei and Tobias don't elaborate, moving the conversation to the search for Gabriella and Dorian's information, but I fix Tobias with a hard look and mouth 'I need to talk to you'.

Following their revelations, Jamie claims he's tired and that he's headed to bed. He's equally suspicious whether we have the full story and I'd lay bets he's sneaking off to research.

Ash decides to watch TV as we move to speak in the kitchen—watch TV and listen out in case the pair upset me.

Andrei barely slept since he returned to us and with no physical effect, but his eyes are reddened with tiredness. Tobias's face and stance are exhausted, too. Whatever occurred in their time with the First took it out of them, understandably.

I rest against the kitchen door, arms crossed over my chest as I watch the impassive pair, who both remain standing.

"What really happened with the First?" I ask. "What's the creature's latest game?"

A familiar wariness fills Andrei's eyes, and he steps forward to smooth a thumb across my cheek. "We've told you most of the First's plans."

I glance between him and Tobias. "But not everything." Andrei's heart speeds from the slow thud to something closer to normal. "I promise not to react like I did last time. Has the First threatened to kill one of us again?"

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