Erador gripped the straps of his backpack as he walked through the forest.

  His surroundings blurred. Waves sounded in the distance and Erador wanted to reach them. The trees were in the way of where he felt he should be.

  “Judgment is angry,” a boy whispered. Erador slowed and looked around but no one was there.

  A child giggled and Erador turned. He scratched at the stinging scars on his wrist. Trees shadowed the area, preventing him from casting Shade. The light breeze sent an uncomfortable shiver down his back. He couldn’t use his shadow to feel another presence. He picked up his pace and hoped Haven would be by the swing to help ground him in reality.

  “No, he’s unwell,” a girl said. “He can’t judge us now, can he?”

  “But he will again. He’ll have his rebirth,” Erador said, but his voice sounded not like his own.

  He blinked, thrown off by his location that looked nothing like where he felt he should be. Then he realized it was another vision as the pain from his scars faded.

  Erador let out a breath and gripped his injured shoulder. The new venom caused his memories to mix; some were his own and other’s not. It was similar to dreaming when awake. This happened after his near death as a child. The visions would become less with time.

  Ahead, he saw something red and it made him think of his father’s angry scarlet eyes. His breathing escalated and he wanted to run. As he came closer, the red materialized into a jacket on Hawth. He sat on a swing with his back to him as smoke drifted over his shoulder.

  Anger spread inside of his chest. Erador dropped his sack slowly behind a tree and moved out. He wanted to squeeze his neck, but the pine needles crunching under his boots gave him away. Hawth’s eyes were heavy as he looked around and blew smoke from his mouth.

  He didn’t seem the least concerned over Erador’s hard face or the fact they were alone.

  Hawth pulled the leef from his mouth. “You’re too loud.”

  “I’ll be more careful the next time I want to kill you.”

  “That reminds me.” Hawth grinned and took a drag of keid. “Seeing Emera like that reminded me of my ma.”

  Erador crossed his arms and leaned against the tree. “Why? Did you kill her the same way?”

  Hawth clenched his leef, crushing the end. “She was murdered when I was young.”

  Empathy edged into Erador but he shut it down. It was what Hawth wanted. He wasn’t getting away with murder because his mother died.

  Hawth scratched his nose bridge. “If Breck finds out, I wouldn't blame him for wanting to kill us.”

  “People don’t find out something like that easily, Hawth! You’re not telling him.”

  Hawth held up his hand. “Did I say I was?” He cursed and tried to fix the end of his leef. “I’m saying I’d do the same. If I found those people who killed my ma, I’d want to kill them too.”

  “I didn’t kill Emera,” Erador said through his teeth.

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  “Do you think that changes anything? We kidnapped her, tortured her… Judgment would have ordered the same for anyone who left to New Akthelia.”

  Erador flinched, hating himself for partaking in Emera’s suffering. It was like Hawth was letting Erador know he wouldn’t get away with it.

  “I’m not like my father,” Erador whispered.

  “Just like I’m not like mine.”

  Feet crunched in the trees and Erador looked, anticipating Haven, but it was a tall slender man in a black vest, shirt, and pants with blond hair brushed back. Those sharp cheekbones and thin face couldn’t be forgotten.

  Baubie’s judging eyes sent a chill through Erador. “You invited your friend to join us?”

  Hawth went to open his mouth but Erador interrupted.

  “Why is he here?”

  “I came to visit my good boy, Raun,” Baubie said, smiling as he touched Hawth’s shoulder. “I wanted to make sure he’s well.”

  Erador stiffened.

  “Hawth tells me you didn’t find any information about the crystal,” Baubie tsked. “What a shame.”

  “It’s not easy to identify,” Erador said through his teeth.

  Baubie walked around the swing, examining Hawth’s face. “It’s good he’s not harmed.” He looked stiffly at Erador. “I should’ve known you were lying about killing my son.”

  “That’s not off the table,” Erador said. “A follower was murdered and Hawth happened to be the last one to see her.”

  Baubie raised his chin. “Do you think I’ll let you harm my children?”

  “Children?” Erador looked to Hawth. “So… Yuni is your sister.”

  “I like to pretend we’re not,” Hawth said, rubbing his eye.

  “That doesn’t change the fact that you’re a fucking liar,” Erador raised his tone.

  “I know you were at the house in the woods,” Baubie said. “ I’m surprised you both made it out of there alive.”

  Erador stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Baubie’s lips flattened. “You’re poor liar.”

  “Look at your son.”

  “Don’t change the subject. Why were you following my daughter?”

  Did Yuni know and if she did, why did she speak of her brooch so freely?

  “Who told you?”

  “No one. I did find out that one of your own has a fire element,” Baubie said, looking at Hawth. “I’ve heard you’ve been awfully suspicious of her.”

  Erador moved closer. “Your daughter doesn’t belong here.”

  “Unless your father asks her to leave, she has every right to be here and not be treated like a criminal.”

  “When she lets a prisoner free...”

  “How would you know if that was her or my son?” Baubie said. “It seems like you’re trying to find someone to blame for what may have been caused by one of your own.”

  “That prisoner has been locked up for decades. No one tried to let him free, but when Yuni came… he was gone.”

  Baubie played with a ring on his finger. “Sound like a coincidence to me.”

  “You think she’s safe here with him out? He’d kill her just because she was trying to help my father.”

  Baubie smirked and patted Hawth’s shoulder. “Raun tells me the Raven isn’t a threat. So… why should I be worried about him?”

  “Is it because you bring him food everyday and had little chats?” Erador said, glaring at Hawth. “When we went to the cage, you were terrified and now you tell your father he’s not a threat?”

  Hawth took a puff of his leef. “I didn’t want to worry him.”

  “Well… he should be worried. If the Raven doesn’t take you, don’t think I won’t.”

  “If I don’t hear from Raun again, I won’t hesitate to check on him,” Baubie said with a warning look. “And don’t forget, your father can’t protect you like he used to.” He fixed his vest. “Come Raun. We have much to talk about.”

  As they walked away, Erador wanted to tell him when his father rises he would. He couldn’t trick himself into believing it, even when that vision made him believe the father he feared would return. Erador had to fend for himself.