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I leaned back and let him grab it. Sure enough, it was our favorite Malibu Marvel.

“I’ve got something. Something big. Get everyone together at your place,” she said over the speaker.

“That soon?” Damien asked.

“I’m a fast worker,” Claire quipped back before hanging up.

“See?” Damien said with a growing smile, handing me some napkins so I could clean up. “I told you everything would be okay.”

I still wasn’t convinced, but at least I was hopeful. That was way more than I could say I was when the day had started.

Chapter 17

Daddy Issues

Damien

We gathered in the spacious Blackthorne living room, where the energy was electric. Everyone except Maddox and Warrick were here, my little brother barely having the energy to get out of bed lately. Claire wouldn’t say what she found until we were all together, which took a little bit since Maddox had been chasing down a lead of his own, all the way over in Texas. Still, she said it could be a way to save War and the rest of us dragons.

Benjamin was also with us, standing by the window with arms crossed and gaze turned out to the courtyard, looking like he’d just come from playing basketball in a sweat-less tank top and black gym shorts with high top sneakers. The vampire had been hanging out around the castle since he came back into Maddox’s life, promising us that he’d do whatever he could to help stop the dragon fall. I knew he was one of the good ones, but I still didn’t let my guard down fully.

Not when so much was at stake.

I glanced at a smiling Robby, chatting with Claire and Dawn about a viral trend that involved dancing on homemade platforms made to float by a Marvel. Something dumb called “Marveling.” I may not have been very invested in the trend, but I was certainly invested in how relaxed and happy Robby looked sitting between my friend and my sister. He’d been through hell and back without any assurance that the path ahead would be any smoother; he needed these moments.

The trio started to laugh, catching Ben’s attention. He normally kept his distance from Robby, if only because he could likely sense how uncomfortable Robby became when he was in fang distance. But this time, he leaned on the back of the couch and watched the videos over Claire’s shoulder.

Dawn became distracted by a ding on her own phone. “Oh, hold on, this could be important.”

“About the curse?” Claire asked.

“No, no. Something else.” Going off Claire and Robby’s inquisitive looks, Dawn continued to explain. “I sent in an application to be part of the TED. I’m supposed to be hearing back about next steps soon.”

“No way. The Tear Exploratory Division?” Claire asked, leaning over Robby and touching my sister’s leg. “My uncle’s part of that. Can I ask him if he can help you out?”

“That’d be great,” Dawn answered, smiling, eyes lingering on Claire’s for a moment.

My sister had been wanting to join TED since she was old enough to know what the Tears were. Her curiosity had always impressed me, the way she relentlessly searched for answers to whatever questions popped up in her brain. It made sense that the Tears would catch her attention, considering no one had any idea about how they worked or what was on the other side. Yes, our species (and many others) were spit out of the rainbow-colored fractures in the Earth’s crust over centuries, but no one could recall where it was they had come from. Even some of the first vampires to have come from the Tears had no memory of their original homes. And there hadn’t been a major species flood since the fae came during the disco-filled 1970s. Smaller species—gryphons, chimeras, gargoyles, kelpie—would occasionally arrive through the Tears at random intervals, but none that needed to be given voting rights and social security.

The heavy doors to the castle opened and shut, announcing Maddox’s arrival. I turned to the arching entryway, ready to greet my brother, only to be shocked when it wasn’t him who walked into the living room.

It was our father. He wore athletic shorts and a shirt, the sleeve torn up with scrapes across his skin. Onyx-black scales shined around his left wrist like a permanent watch, as dark as the tired eyes that looked out at us. The room fell silent. I hadn’t seen him since the night my mother died. He’d taken to the skies and left without a word.

“Dad?” Dawn said, standing up from the couch, phone left forgotten on the armrest. “Where the fuck have you been?”

My father took a step back, as if the sparks from Dawn’s anger was enough to warn him: don’t come close. He looked down, his dark black hair a mess, matching the dark and scraggly beard. My father always took care of himself, never missing a monthly barber’s appointment. He had immense pride, a trait he’d passed on to all his children.