Page 212 of Infernal Secrets

A lanky man in plain street clothes crouched in front of me, aiming a camera in my face. I turned my head, letting my messy hair shield me. I didn’t want to be on a stupid television program.

“But you didn’t do this alone, did you?”

When I didn’t answer fast enough, the man I believed was Cyn’s father snapped, “Answer him, human.”

For a species that relied on humans to sustain their home, they sure treated us like trash.

I shook off the thought as the pressure on my throat eased and the magic binding my vocal cords released. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” I coughed, clearing my throat.

Cyn’s father stepped forward. “No? What would you call capturing someone against their will?”

“Yes, do tell,” Zeke’s father said. “Because I know my son would never leave without permission.”

I angled my head toward Zeke.

His teeth pressed into his lower lip as he looked from his father to me.

Cornaith’s power flared. “Do not look at them!”

I flinched and glared up at him.

“We will not have you manipulating our sons any longer,” Cyn’s father said.

I knew they were waiting for my answer.

I sighed. “I didn’t mean to summon them. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

Cyn’s mother came to her husband’s side and clutched his arm, and he relaxed at her touch. “What do you mean by that?” Her voice was gentle. She didn’t sound like she hated me.

I looked up at her. “I received a book. I thought I was playing a silly game. I was only looking for a distraction because I’d had a bad day at work.”

Her voice stayed gentle, encouraging. “What kind of game?”

“We have games on Earth that aren’t for kids. Occult-ish stuff—Ouija boards, tarot cards, séances… Nothing I ever believed in. I played to kill time. I thought the book was one of those.”

Zeke’s mother’s stern voice cut in. “You understood the book. How do you explain that?”

“What do you mean?”

She frowned. “Was my question not clear? Explain how you knew infernal tongue.”

“Infernal tongue?”

“Languages, girl,” Cyn’s father snapped.

“Oh. Sorry—I didn’t know what you meant.” I sighed. “The page was in English.” Everyone but Cyn and Ezra’s mother made sounds of disbelief, I added, “I thought it was weird too because I couldn’t understand any of the other pages.”

“There are no English pages in the book,” Zeke’s mother said.

“Well, not anymore.” I licked my dry lips. What I wouldn’t give for a glass of water. “After the guys showed up in my house, the page turned blank except for some of my blood dried on the page.”

Cyn’s father’s lip curled in the same way his son’s lip did when he’d heard something he didn’t like. “Convenient. You expect us to believe the ritual you used disappeared without your influence? Do you think us fools?”

“No, sir.” I swallowed. “I’m only being honest. I don’t know what happened.”

“I want to know who gave you this book,” Cornaith said. “Where did it come from?”

Zeke’s parents nodded in agreement.