1. Chapter One

Chapter One

Lexia

Life is made up of moments.

Good. Bad. Absolutely bonkers moments.

You may think you know what's going to happen, but really, you never do. You seriously never freaking know.

My father is dead. I found his body. I don't remember finding it, but my mother told me I did. I remember the cops coming to the house. The flashing red and blue lights outside my bedroom window still haunt me sometimes. Especially after seeing a similar scene in front of my house only a few months ago when my mother was murdered.

After Dad died, I remember my mother crying hysterically. Remember her lying in bed for days at a time. I remember not fully understanding what happened but being sad anyway. Because of that, I'm not sure I ever got over it. My mother never did.

My father died. He died .

Yet, somehow, he is sitting in front of me right this very moment. Inside a small room in the Seattle Library.

A warm hand brushes against my lower back, and I know it's Lumen without seeing him. He's always so warm. So comforting. Like a blanket—a heated blanket.

"What is going on here?" Vesperon steps to the other side of me, placing his arm around my shoulders. Slate must have pulled his magic back to allow Vesperon to be here. Something I am grateful for because I need both Ves and Lumen right now. "Who is this man?" he asks, turning his glare on Slate as if he's done something wrong.

I can't blame Lumen and Ves for being wary of Slate. He's new. The outsider. I can't say I fully trust him either. His personality certainly makes it hard to do. He's flippant about this entire thing. Acts like he doesn't care either way. Why should I trust him if he doesn't care whether or not I do?

"The grey who gave me the prophecy when I was young. I told you this is who we were meeting. Why are you questioning me?" Slate frowns, but I appreciate him answering calmly and not cockily, like usual. A library in a busy city is not the place for otherworldly beings to be fighting.

"Because Lexia states this man is her father, and her father is dead," Ves growls out.

It's so hard to breathe. Lumen moves closer to me, squeezing my side.

"If this is some sort of trick—" Ves begins, but Slate cuts him off with a scoff.

"It is no trick," he spits out. He turns to the grey who looks exactly like my father. "Will you please explain to them what is going on before I get my head chopped off?"

"If I find out you are lying to us, I will do much worse than chop your head off, grey ," Vesperon says in a voice so low, so lethal, it has chills running up my spine. But also, there's pride there too. That's my mate. Sticking up for me . I love it when Ves gets protective like this.

"There is no need for that, Vesperon," my father, or the man who looks like my father, says, waving a dismissive hand. "I will explain everything. Perhaps you should take a seat." He gestures to the chairs across the table from him.

"No, thank you," Ves says. And I agree. I don't want to sit down. I don't think I could move even if there was a fire under my ass.

"Have it as you may." The grey brings his attention to me. "I am your father, Lexia. And I am truly sorry things have to be this way, but in order to keep the prophecy from changing again , it's what had to be done."

I don't know how to react to those words. It's true. My father is alive. Not only that, but he's a grey? Something inhuman? How is this possible? Why did he lie to me? Hurt my mother? The mix of anger and sadness war with each other, only making me feel worse. My head is spinning. My chest is tight. I want to throw up. Cry. Run away. Scream.

"You cannot stop a prophecy from changing," Vesperon says.

"Not entirely, no," my father adds. "But you can, to some extent. Veer it in the right direction, in a sense. My story is not much different from yours and my daughter's." He turns his attention to me. "You see, your mother and I were mates too. We are mates. It is something that is eternal and never goes away. We've lived many lifetimes the same way you and Vesperon have."

"Explain better," Lumen says through gritted teeth.

I still can't speak. Nothing I've heard is processing.

Mates are eternal? After death? What does that mean?

"When Lexia dies, she is reborn. She and Vesperon always find one another, no matter what. Either from his spell wearing off or from finding a witch who helps him. There are plenty of people on this side of the fight who want them to win. But they aren't the only people in on this. Lexia is my daughter, and there has been a routine of things for our family over centuries. And in order to keep the prophecy from changing too much, we must follow that same routine. Meaning, I must die. Her mother must die—unfortunately, always murdered. When Lexia dies, her mother comes back. I find her. We have Lexia again… it's a continuous cycle that will only end when the prophecy is fulfilled."

"But you did not die. You are here," Vesperon argues before I can say something. Though, I'm not sure what I would even say. There are so many things I need to know. "We do not die in the way humans die."

"You're right," my father says with a nod. "Our death is more like us lying dormant in space for a time until the pieces of us find one another and we are reborn. It's a science much further along than humans can understand, and may never figure out at all, but it's like quantum mechanics and particle physics mixed together. But that part isn't the important part." He's being so patient even though the tension in this room is so thick I can taste it. I remember my father being patient and kind. Can this really be him?

"Then what is the important part?" Lumen asks not so patiently.

"The fact that you three have each other. This is the first lifetime Lexia has been given more than one mate. Meaning we must try harder than ever to win this war. The universe has really sided with us this time. We have a significant chance of winning now."

"You know of her other lifetimes?" Vesperon asks carefully.

My father nods. "Every single one of them. I have been there for all."

My body sags and Lumen tightens his grip to hold me up.

"I need to sit," I say, running my hand along my forehead. Lumen and Ves help me to the table, and I sit across from my father. I stare at him for a long moment, then pull my gaze away because looking at him is freaking me out. I thought nothing could shock me anymore. Yet, here we are.

"What other information do you have that can help us?" Lumen asks. His hand is on my shoulder, still by my side. I feel Vesperon on the other side of me. They're like two Rottweilers.

My father shakes his head. "Not much. We've worked endlessly to ensure the prophecy stays the same, but of course it has had some changes. I only have two bits of information that may help you. One: be prepared to make sacrifices. This will not be easy, but everything that happens will be necessary. Two: the information you need is in a book."

"Like a journal?" I ask, the words tumbling from my mouth without thinking.

My father holds my gaze, a bit of sadness tinging them. My heart squeezes. I haven't known what to think about this up until this very second, because now I see emotion in his eyes. This has been confusing, but looking at him now, a million memories flood me. Memories I don't think are from this lifetime. I zone out again. How many lifetimes have I lost him? Has he lost me? My mother? How many times have I lost Vesperon? All for a prophecy? To save this ungrateful world…

"Yes. Like a journal," he answers carefully, bringing me back to the present.

"If that is all, I think we shall go," Lumen says.

Go? So soon? But I have so many questions. So many things I want to say. Yet I can't make my mouth work. I can't say any words.

I chew on my lip as I bring my gaze to my father, trying to figure out what to say. Trying to make myself say something—anything.

"We will see each other again," he says with a soft smile. "This is a lot to process, but I'm around if you ever need me. Now that you know, I no longer have to hide."

That's relieving yet… unbelievable.

It leaves me with so many questions. But maybe it's better this way. I've just been hit with a crazy piece of information. Going home and taking time to process this, get my thoughts in order, won't be a bad thing. He said it himself that we will see each other again. We can talk. I can ask him whatever I need to ask him… another time.

I force a smile I don't feel as I get to my feet. Lumen takes my hand. "Thank you," I whisper.

Slate snaps his fingers and Vesperon goes invisible.

Lumen mutters something under his breath as he leads me out of the room. I glance over my shoulder at my father. He and Slate share a few words. His gaze darts to me, then back to Slate. I'm ushered down the hall before I can tell what the hell is going on with them, and if I should be worried.