We turn and Emil is coming down a set of stairs from one of the towers. Dad used to love saying when we had a pep in our steps and Emil certainly has one in his. I don’t know where Wyatt is, but maybe he and Emil hooked up. Any other day I would be proud of him, but not right now. He notices the blood.
“What happened?”
“Some bastard phoenix.”
“What did you do?”
“You for real? Do you think I maimed some phoenix?”
“I don’t know what you’ve been up to.”
“Likewise. What did Wyatt want?”
“He wanted to talk about my past lives, so he took me up to this tower with young phoenixes and—”
I force out a laugh that shuts him. “I’m happy that you’re playing with phoenixes while I’m getting attacked by one. Did you at least bring up using Nox to track down Ma?”
Emil’s flushed cheeks say everything.
“Wow, Emil.”
“I didn’t get a chance. Wyatt had some sort of breakthrough and he ran off to find Tala.”
I’m boiling because I’m tired of Ma’s kidnapping feeling like something that can keep being overlooked. “Whatever. I’m going to go for a run and wash up. Have fun telling Prudencia about the phoenixes.”
I dash down the halls, and I’m a little dizzy from the blood loss. Wesley wouldn’t have advised me running in bursts of swift-speed in this condition but I had to get out of there before I could lay into Emil. I find a bathroom and immediately get a wet towel against my cut until there’s no more blood. I scrub my cheek clean and I’m left with a nasty scratch. It’s frustrating and ridiculous that I’m not self-healing yet, especially since phoenixes and hydras both have that ability, but it wasn’t instant for Emil, so I got to hang tight.
I’m not in a rush so I walk back, catching up on my messages. I’ve got a text from Nina, who I haven’t heard much from since we broke up. She left a voice message after Dad died, but that’s about it. Even with everything that’s thrusted my family into the public eye this past month, this is the firs
t time I’m hearing from her. Her little brother apparently wants an autograph. That kid snitched on us when Nina and I were planning on having sex. Normally I wouldn’t do him any favors but it works out since I’m glad I got to have my first time with Prudencia. I tell Nina I’ll send something when I get the chance. I really got to get my merch shop open.
“Brighton, Brighton, Brighton,” Wyatt calls out to me. “You know, my mum is from Brighton. She took the train into London and met my dad. Great name you have.”
I was supposed to be Miguel, but Dad wanted to honor his best friend and named me after him. Not that I’m telling Wyatt any of this.
He stares at my scratch. “Are you well?”
I cut right to the chase. “You said your phoenix loves tracking. Help us find our mother and the Blood Casters will be there too. Kill two birds with one stone.”
Wyatt cringes. “Surely you understand that expression is distasteful around these parts.”
“Please educate me on phoenix-friendly expressions after my mother is no longer locked away with major heart issues in a severely stressful situation.”
He looks embarrassed. “Sorry, mate. Nox is indeed a brilliant tracker. Do you have any of your mum’s personal belongings?”
“Not on me, but back at home. Can’t you use my blood?”
Wyatt shakes his head. “’Fraid not. The Reaper’s Blood will throw the whole hunt out of whack. It needs to be pure, and we sadly can’t use Emil’s blood either since . . .”
“Since he’s not her biological son.” This is the one curse the Reaper’s Blood has cast on me, but it’s still valuable. I may not be able to use my blood to find Ma, but I will use the powers the blood has given me to be her Infinity Savior. “Then what do we do?”
“I tell you what. We can send for some of your mum’s clothes back at your house and see if Nox can pick up a trail. But for now we should gather your lot and meet with Tala and Maribelle in the library because I may have discovered a skybreaking way to channel your phoenix abilities.”
“What? Don’t keep me in suspense, especially not after you ran off with my brother like I’m insignificant—”
“I believe you can travel back in time.”
Thirty-Three