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“You knew, and you didn’t warn us?” I asked, unable to keep the venom from my voice. Cedar looked at me with an annoyed expression.

“I warned Vesper!” she whined. “She was the one who decided to not listen.”

The air felt cold against my skin.Vesper knew they were coming?She didn’t tell me. Again.

My eyes shifted to the contract killer, but she seemed just as off guard as I was.

Who is telling the truth here?

“You said to watch out,” Vesper growled. “You never said another one was coming. Or that she was the thirteenth.”

Cedar’s eyes shifted to the side. I moved so I was in direct sight.

“You’ve been killing them,” I accused. “You knew they were coming, and you started killing them. Is that what you were sent here to do?”

Obviously, Vesper wasn’t doing this. I didn’t expect her to bethatmuch of a liar. The urge to distrust her was strong, like with everyone else in my life…but shesavedme. More than once. That had to mean something.

Cedar let out a huff.

“I don’t kill hunters in my free time,” she muttered under her breath.

Vesper didn’t correct her this time.

“You’re the only one who could.”

Cedar gave her a look, a deep frown appearing on her face.

“I said I was on your side,” she said, pushing Vesper off her. I smelled the magic before I saw Vesper being forced away from the witch by a gust of air. “Why do you think I was covering your tattoo for you? None of those other idiots even thought to do the same. They were dead on arrival.”

Vesper froze.Why? What is she getting at? I don’t understand.

Cedar seemed to get that I was confused.

“Your father knows,” she told us. “At least about these guys. I mean, tattooing yourself with animals of the zodiac isn’t really a subtle way to announce your affiliation.”

That’s what it was.It became clear then. I had heard about them in passing, but it had never been spelled out so clearly nor did I ever think I needed to worry about a silly human organization.

“But there were thirteen,” I offered. “Shouldn’t that mean they’re running out of people to send? There are only supposed to be twelve animals.”

Cedar snapped her fingers.

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “There were thirteen. Tell us, Vesper. Why were there so many?”

The grinding of Vesper’s teeth hit my senses.

“Each family gets assigned one,” she explained, her head tilting just enough so I could see her face. “These families, as long as they don’t piss off the organization, can stay in as long as they like. Others will get replaced when their usefulness wears off. There are some families out there who have been active for over seven generations. We aren’t a small organization.”

We aren’t a small organization.That means they will come for me, and they won’t stop. Hundreds of them. But why me?What had I done?

I had spent my entire life trying to save myself by melding into the role my father required of me. I hadn’t gone out to start any wars, or killed any humans, and the blackmail parties held almost no importance.

“Why do they want me dead?” I asked, my voice dropping low.

Cedar looked at Vesper who let out a sigh. A discomfort spread across Vesper’s features and had her body twitching. “I don’t knowwhy,just that it was prophesied.”

I raised a brow at her.

“They get their jobs through seers,” Cedar explained. Vesper shot her a look.