Page 89 of Blood Freed

“The source,” I say softly. My gut is churning. “He said he’d go to the source.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Dad snaps, then squeezes his eyes shut for a second. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Go on.”

“When I faced Lucien in the church, he said he was going to go to the source. I didn’t think about it at the time. Assumed it was just more of his bullshit. But now I’m thinking…”

“He meant Gran,” Kara breathes. “She’s always been the strongest of us. The matriarch.”

“Oh, my Lord,” Mom murmurs. Dad is scrubbing a hand over his face.

The shock in the room hangs heavy in the air. My heart races as I try to process what’s happening. Gran – captured by Lucien. It seems impossible. She’s always been our rock, our protector. Now…

“We need to…” I start, but I’m not even sure how to finish that sentence. What can we do? Where would he take her?

Beside me, Soren’s body is tense. I can feel his anger matching my own rising fury. But before either of us can speak, Kara suddenly leaps to her feet.

“He can’t do this! Not again!” She’s already running for the door, her rose-gold hair flying behind her.

“Kara, wait!” Dad lunges after her, but she’s too quick. “We need to think this through and—”

The front door slams shut, cutting off his words. We all stare at each other, frozen in disbelief at how quickly everything’s spiraling out of control.

Then Marcus straightens, his expression determined. “I’ll go after her.” His voice is calm, controlled. “Don’t worry.”

Before anyone can respond, he’s gone too, moving with vampire speed through the door Kara just exited.

The silence that follows is deafening.

What the hell is going on?

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