Drowning in the renewed loss of my father, I had no idea how to find my way back to sanity.

How could Missy know such an essential piece of Dad's story? And how could my mother withhold such crucial information?

Was there really a note? If there was, why hadn't I heard about it? How dare my mother tell Aunt Debbie about it and not me, and how dare Missy use it as ammunition against me. Fuck all of them.

Missy had always been jealous of my relationship with my dad. Any person on the street could attest to how much my dad cared about me. I was a daddy's girl, and he did everything for me. He was my rock. That is... until he disappeared.

That's when the tears started. Sobs racked through me as I embraced the fact that my dad was never coming back.

My cries were out of control as Justin set me down in someone's vehicle. Deep voices spoke around me, but I was too out of it to care what they were saying. I just wanted to disappear and go where my dad went.

How could my mother not tell me? Was I really the reason my dad left or... the reason he died? Was he actually dead? Had he really... killed himself?

No. No way. Dad would never do something so selfish and irrational. He was the strongest man in the world. The day he went missing had been the most terrible day of my life. My father would never do anything like that to me on purpose.

"Angel?" Justin's voice floated through my horrible cries.

I looked in his general direction, but I could barely see him through the entangled thoughts knotted in my brain. I nodded at whatever he said, but honestly, none of it mattered.

I'm not sure how much time passed before I realized I was in a truck, heading toward town. The sweetness of fresh oranges took over my senses as I became more aware of my surroundings. I knew that smell. Sweet rolls and fresh oranges. I wanted to taste it. It was so yummy, and it belonged to Lucas.

"Where're you taking me?" I asked as I rubbed my swollen eyes, turning my head to analyze his mohawk.

Lucas snapped out of whatever was on his mind as his eyes landed on me. "Gods, Ember. Are you okay? You scared the fuck out of us."

Exhausted from my breakdown, I nodded, and I stared at him blankly before he glanced back at the road. "I don't want to go home. I can't go back there."

"I know." His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel as a muscle ticked in his jaw. "I'm taking you to Justin's place. We're staying there tonight."

"But..." I glanced out the window. "What about his parents? Won't they get mad if he brings home a random girl."

Lucas chuckled as he glanced my way again. "No. They're eager to meet you, Gorgeous. I don't know what you know about our world, but we've all been searching for you for a long, long time."

I blinked hard and shook my head. "What? Why?"

"Well..." Lucas cleared his throat. "Justin told you a little, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but not much. Justin told me about the dreams and mind-reading, and that you guys thought I died, or something like that." I shook my head. I was having a hard time remembering anything right now.

"Well, there are all sorts of theories. Justin believed you were killed when we were little, and Tyler believed you were never born. I don't really know what I believed. I guess I thought you were just some fictional icon, but I know you have a lot on your mind, and we don't have to talk about it now." Lucas glanced at me again, but this time his green eyes were full of sadness. "I'm glad I was wrong. I need you. Just in the short time you've been here, I've changed. I can't see anyone, but you. You're a part of me. You're my missing piece."

I shivered and glanced down, realizing I was wearing Justin's hoodie again. When had they put this back on me? Instead of asking, I stuffed my hands into the pocket, trying to shake off my chills.

"Are you cold?" Lucas asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't think so. I just feel weird." For the first time in forever, I said exactly how I felt.

I usually lied about my state of mind to keep people at a distance since they always wanted to pry deeper, but I wanted Lucas to know me. He deserved that much.

"Come here." Lucas lifted his arm, beckoning me to him.

I scooted to the middle of the bench seat as he wrapped an arm around me. He rubbed my arm, trying to help me feel better.

I caught his hand in mid-rub, and once our skin touched, everything inside my head calmed down. Leaning my head on his shoulder, his hand tightened around mine, causing waves of peace to roll over me.

I sighed.

"You feel it, don't you?" Lucas asked as he tugged me closer.

"Yeah." I turned my face into his neck.

"Thank fuck. I thought I was imagining shit." Lucas chuckled, causing his throat to vibrate against my nose. His aroma was so nice. I wanted to lick his skin to see what he tasted like.

"You're not. You make me feel good." I gave him a light kiss on the side of his neck.

Lucas sucked in a breath. "What was that for?"

"For being so good to me. I'm sorry for being me and being... broken. I guess you guys are probably disappointed with what fate signed you up for." More tears came to my eyes as I imagined them disappearing too. They would eventually. It was only a matter of time.

Lucas slowed the truck down and pulled off onto a small road.

"Is this where Justin lives?" I sat up and moved our hands to my lap, lacing my fingers through his.

"No. I'm pulling over. We're gonna talk about what you just said." Lucas shifted the transmission into park and left the engine running.

"What do you mean?" I asked as he twisted in his seat to face me.

"You're sorry for being you? For being broken?" Lucas's green eyes began to glow as he scanned my face. "Why would you say that?"

"I... I... don't know." I let my head fall forward as I stared at the floorboard.

Lucas's hand tightened around mine as he tilted my chin up. "Talk to me, please?"

My gaze sliced to the front windshield. "I am broken, and my life is fucked up. My mom travels a lot for work, and Dad always stayed behind to take care of me. When my dad disappeared, I kinda blamed my mom for being gone all the time, but mostly I blamed myself. I took too much of his time, and he felt forced to take care of me."

"That can't be true. He was just being a good dad, which is what you deserve." Lucas squeezed my hand, encouraging me to keep talking.

"No. He was more than just a good dad. He was like my bestfriend. We did everything together, and he was so much fun up until the day he went missing. I mean, I fought with him sometimes over stupid stuff, but I loved having him around. When my mom found out he went missing, she instantly blamed me and demanded that I tell her what I did to make Dad leave, like I was the catalyst.

"When he disappeared, everything about me changed. Somehow, I knew something bad happened to him, but my mom never listened. I still have nightmares about him and other people being tortured by these freaky things in black cloaks. The dreams feel so real, but my mom said I was just finding a way to cope or whatever. And now that Missy said there's a suicide note, I don't know what to believe. I'm so confused." When I finally found the willpower to look at Lucas and his eyes were wide with shock.

"What is it?" I asked, afraid that I said the wrong thing.

"I have to call Tyler." Lucas quickly pulled out his phone as I watched him quizzically.

Okay. I guess something I said struck a chord, but damn, that was abrupt.

I heard Tyler's muffled voice answer as I listened to Lucas's side of the conversation. "Bro, you're not gonna believe this. Ember's been dreaming—"

Suddenly, all the surrounding sound was sucked out of existence just as an invisible vice-like pressure encircled me. What the fuck?

Confusion set in as I stared at Lucas. I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear him. Everything was dead silent.

"Let me in," a scratchy voice whispered. I have no idea how, but I knew it was coming from somewhere far away.

Trying to figure out what was going on, I released Lucas's hand and moved to the passenger seat to look out the window. For some reason, I was drawn to a distant shadow in the forest. It had red eyes, and it was staring into me.

The encompassing pressure suddenly intensified, and the silence was deafening. I was in an invisible cloud where no sound could enter, and it was fucking uncomfortable. It was only getting worse as the pressure began to squeeze me. I started squirming in my seat as I fought against it. Was it trying to get inside me?

I flinched back when Lucas shook my shoulder.

As I took in his worried expression, his lips moved, but I couldn't hear him. I pointed at my ears and tried to speak, but no sound came out of my mouth. What the hell?

Throwing my back against the seat, I tried to scream, but it only made the pressure worse. My head began to pound with a massive migraine. Something was definitely trying to get inside me.

Lucas wrapped his arms around my waist and yanked me to him so hard, I nearly landed in his lap. He erratically glanced around as he pressed my head down to rest on his thigh, grasping my hand.

It's a Whistler. Stay down. Lucas said in my mind.

I did as he said, getting as low as I could. I didn't know what the hell a Whistler was, but Lucas obviously knew. I just wanted the pain to end. He held my hand tight, giving me some comfort in my mute state as I fought the thing that was trying to weasel itself into my head.

Keeping my eyes on Lucas, he flipped his truck around before his lips were moving a mile a minute on his phone.

Suddenly, I felt cold air drift over the back of my neck as the scratchy voice whispered in my ear. "Tell me where you are."

The pressure heightened to a severe degree. I grabbed my head and squeezed, wanting to scream. Why couldn't I just yell?

Balling into the fetal position, I wrapped my arms around Lucas. Burying my nose in his stomach, I inhaled his sweet scent. At least I could still smell. That was something.

A bright light filled the cab, and Lucas's hold tightened around me before he slammed on the brake. We came to an abrupt stop, and I wanted to yell at him. He needed to keep going. I was under fucking attack.

Help me, Lucas! I screamed in my mind.

Hold on, Gorgeous. They're coming. Lucas answered as I trembled against him.

Before I could ask who was coming, the truck shook as the passenger door was ripped open. I glanced over to see Justin and Tyler.

Touch Justin. It'll help. The Whistler is blocking our connection to you. Lucas pulled one of my arms from around his waist, guiding it toward Justin.

Justin lifted me partially onto his lap as he moved to the middle of the bench seat, grasping my hand. Can you hear me, Angel?

I barely nodded before the terrible pain made me begin to convulse.

Ember, for this to end, you have to touch Tyler too. Justin instructed in my mind as he pressed his palm to my cheek.

Without questioning it, I reached for Tyler.

Tyler immediately wrapped his hand around mine, and the pressure began to dissipate. It's okay, Shortie. It'll all be over soon. The Whistler can't get through us. We got you.

I wanted to ask what the hell he was talking about, but a sudden whooshing blew through my ears as I gasped in relief. They all watched me writhe in discomfort as my senses rushed back over me.

I could finally hear my rapid breaths raggedly saw in and out of my throat. I was back to normal. I could hear again!

Overtaken by emotion, I searched Justin's concerned face as I burst into tears. What the hell was happening to me? Immense gratitude for all three of them washed over me as gut-wrenching sobs took control.

Justin smoothed his palm over my face as he wiped away my tears. He tugged me into his arms, cradling me. "Take us to my place. We need to get a hold of the Timeweaver, and we need to find a Stitcher we can trust."

I tried pulling my hands back to cover my face as I continued to cry, but the guys didn't let go. Lucas's hold tightened around my hand while Tyler grabbed my legs, tugging them into his lap. Tyler removed my thigh-high boots one at a time and released my hand once he was touching my bare legs.

Lucas steered us toward Justin's house as he caressed my thumb. "I think we need to call an Intertribal meeting. There's obviously a lot going on we don't know about. It's time to turn up the heat and get some fucking answers."

"Who do you think it was?" Tyler's gaze stayed on me as he softly massaged my legs, which felt really good.

"I don't know, but we need to find out. Whoever attacked her is gonna be fucking sorry." Justin cradled me tighter as he dipped his lips to my scalp. Inhaling deeply, he pressed a soft kiss to my head.

The gesture was so sweet my cries tapered off as goosebumps cascaded over my entire body. I wrapped my free arm around Justin's neck and pressed my forehead to his neck, breathing in his comforting cinnamon aroma.

Having their hands on me soothed my nerves, and honestly, I was afraid of what might happen when we had to separate. Somehow, they'd gotten rid of that shadow Whistler thing. I needed to start listening to them for a change.

"I'm gonna kill whoever it was. No one does this to her and gets away with it." Lucas lifted my hand to his lips, giving me a gentle kiss.

"I'm gonna hunt them down and rip out their fucking hearts." Tyler smoothed his hand up and down my legs. "The bond can't be forced. It could've been anyone, and before you say it, I don't care if it was my family. They're a bunch of fuckers, and I'm sick of their lies."

"This is just the beginning. It's time to make some major changes. They're already sending Whistlers." Justin smoothed my hair back as his gaze roamed my tired face. "They know you're not dead. The prophecy is upon us. The Bringer exists."

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