Page 88 of Blood Freed

But then it all comes to a halt. The front door slams open. Rowan bursts in, her face white as chalk. “She’s gone! Poppy’s gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” I sit up straighter, feeling Soren tense beside me.

“The oak tree…” Rowan’s hands shake as she holds out a folded sheet of paper. “This was pinned to it with a blackthorn. It’s addressed to Gran.”

Gran’s teacup crashes to the floor. I’ve never seen her move so fast, snatching the page from Rowan’s hands. As she unfolds it, the temperature in the room plummets. Frost creeps across the windows, and the protective crystals throughout the house begin to vibrate.

“No,” Gran whispers as she reads the note. Her face has gone gray. “No, no, no…”

“Mom?” Dad reaches for her, but she stumbles back.

“He knows.” Her voice cracks. “After all this time, he knows.”

The chandelier above us starts to swing, and books fly off their shelves as Gran’s magic spirals out of control. Pictures rattle on the walls, and a vase explodes on the mantle.

“Gran, please!” Kara tries to approach her. “She’s just a familiar. She’s nothing to him. He’ll bring her back and—”

“Just a familiar?” Gran’s laugh is hollow, hysterical. “You don’t understand. None of you understand!”

Mom grabs Gran’s arms. “Evelyn, you need to calm down. We’ll find Poppy—”

“You don’t know what he’ll do to her!” Gran’s magic lashes out, sending Mom stumbling backward. “I have to… I need to…”

She turns toward the door, but Dad blocks her path. “Mom, stop! You’re not thinking clearly.”

The windows rattle as Gran’s power surges again. I’ve never seen her lose control like this. Never seen her scared like this.

“Get the hell out of my way, Lake Blackwood!” Her eyes are wide, her voice strident. Dad steps aside, and Gran bursts from the room, her scarf trailing behind her, the note still clutched in her fist.

We all sit there in stunned silence for a moment.

“What the hell just happened?” Darick looks dumbstruck.

“I…I… I have no idea.” Dad is still staring after her.

“What did the note say?” I ask Rowan.

She shakes her head. “I never read it. It was meant for Gran.” She rubs her eyes. “Oh God, I should have read it!”

Dad shakes his head. “Not your fault, love.” He reaches for his phone. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” His brow furrows as he holds the device to his ear. Seconds drag by while we wait. Finally, he drops his hand. “She’s not answering.”

My brow furrows. “I don’t understand. This isn’t like Gran at all.”

“I’ve never seen her freak out like that.” Kara looks as shocked as I feel.

Dad is trying the phone again. His face brightens for a moment. “Mom,” he says quickly. “Mom, what’s going on? Where are you?” His brows pull together. “Wait. You’re not making any sense…. Stop! Wait… Mom, no!”

“What’s she saying, love?” Mom’s voice is low and urgent. She’s at Dad’s side, a hand on his arm.

Dad barely acknowledges her. “You!” he barks the word suddenly. “You let her go or so help me—” His jaw tenses and his fist clenches around the phone. “No! Don’t you—!” He drops his hand to his side, the phone silent in his palm.

I’m barely breathing. Everyone in the room is rigid with shock as Dad turns to us, his face as white as a sheet.

“He has her. Lucien Marlowe has my mother,” he all but whispers the words.

“Dear God.” Mom lifts a hand to her mouth.

“Why? Why would he do that?” Rowan husks out. Although we all know the answer to that…me more than others.

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