Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood)

Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson Page A

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Authors: Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson
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going on?” Elias asked.
    “Cole’s dad is king of Taliesin.”
    For a heartbeat, the wizards froze. A curse escaped Elias.
    “Does anyone know about this place?” she asked Cornelius.
    “No.”
    “Can they track the portal at all?”
    Cornelius shook his head.
    Exhaling, she ran a hand over her hair as she looked to the other side of the room. Eyeing them all, Lily had backed herself as far into the corner as she could without running into the cobwebs.
    Elias cleared his throat. “How much does Cole know?”
    Ashe didn’t turn around. “Not sure.”
    Ignoring the wizards, she headed toward Lily.
    “I don’t believe you,” the girl mumbled.
    “Come on,” Ashe said, jerking her chin toward the bedroom.
    Grudgingly, Lily went. Ashe glanced over her shoulder as she followed.
    “You’re sure no one can find this place?” she asked Cornelius.
    “We’ll keep watch,” he answered.
    She nodded and then pushed the door closed behind her.
    “Has Cole been in communication with his dad?” she asked.
    The girl looked away.
    “Lily!”
    Turning back, Lily treated her to a baleful glare. “He’s not bad.”
    For a heartbeat, Ashe couldn’t determine if she meant Cole or Jamison, and then she decided it didn’t matter. She knew the look Lily was giving her. Drawing a breath, she paused, forcing herself to slow down and try another tack.
    “I’m not saying he is.”
    “Yes, you are!”
    “No,” Ashe responded carefully. “I’m not. I… I’m just worried, Lil. And I need you to help me not be. Okay?”
    Lily wouldn’t meet her gaze.
    “Has he been talking to his dad?”
    The girl shook her head. Ashe drew a breath for what felt like the first time in minutes.
    “Are you sure?”
    The brief glower was answer enough.
    “What can you tell me?”
    Lily clasped her arms behind her back and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
    “I need your help, Lily. Please. What’s going on?”
    Shrugging a shoulder, the girl didn’t meet her eyes. “He can’t talk to his dad. He died a long time ago.”
    Ashe paused. “Okay,” she allowed, setting aside for the moment the fact the statement wasn’t true. “And Cole told you that?”
    Lily nodded.
    “So when you say he’s gone to help us,” Ashe continued, “what’s he doing?”
    “What I told you,” Lily replied, her voice trembling. “He’s going to try to stop the bad people. He always… he always protects me. He doesn’t let bad things happen. And those Blood…” She trailed off, fear derailing her thoughts. “We have to help him. They might… they could…”
    Biting her lip, Lily struggled not to cry.
    “They’re not going to hurt him, Lil,” Ashe said quietly.
    The girl looked up.
    “Cole’s dad… he’s more than the king of Taliesin. He’s the leader of the Blood. And…” She paused, nausea spinning through her stomach as the look on Cole’s face at the factory finally fell into place. “I’m pretty sure Cole knows this.”
    Her brow furrowing in horror, Lily stared.
    “His dad’s name is Victor Jamison, and he’s not dead. He pretended that people killed him so no one would come looking for him, because some wizards took Cole away and Jamison wanted him back.”
    She wetted her lips. “And he killed Mom. Grandma. Grandpa.” She drew a breath. “Victor Jamison tried to kill our whole family.”
    Silence fell between them.
    “I don’t believe you,” Lily whispered.
    “It’s true. I wish it wasn’t, but–”
    “Cole said his dad was a good person!” Lily protested. “And he wouldn’t lie to me. He wouldn’t!”
    Ashe paused. She couldn’t push the girl much farther. “Maybe Cole just thought he was.”
    Lily floundered and then looked away.
    “Did he tell you anything about where he was going?”
    The girl shook her head.
    “What about getting in touch with him? Did he say anything about that?”
    Sorrowfully, Lily shook her head again.
    Ashe looked away, trying to marshal her thoughts. “Okay,”

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