Beauty's Beast - By Jenna Kernan Page 0,1

done nothing but try to protect their children, though lately their protection felt more like a great, frozen cage. All Samantha wanted was to be useful.

“I’m sorry, Mama,” she whispered.

Michaela Proud had once been the last Seer of Souls, but with the birth of her twins, she had become the mother of the only other Seers left in the world. The three of them formed the last of the Ghost Clan.

Michaela’s knees gave way but Sebastian caught her. Samantha would never forget the shattered, desolate look upon her mother’s pale face. It only added to Samantha’s terror.

“No,” her mother whispered.

“Nagi will know,” said her father, voicing what they all knew.

Her heart thudded as she watched her strong, capable mother cling to her father like a child. “What should we do?”

He did not hesitate. “Run.”

Michaela shook her head. “But he can track us. Send his ghosts after us.”

“Not together. But as we planned. We separate. He can’t follow us all.”

Samantha stood motionless as she watched the chaos she had wrought. She had destroyed all her parents’ efforts to protect them because she could not turn her back on one human child.

“I’m sorry, Mama,” she whispered.

Her mother cried as she drew Samantha into her arms. “Oh, my precious girl.”

Her father, the great bear and master healer, encircled them both. But Samantha knew even he was not strong enough to defeat Nagi. It was why they never used their gifts and why they had spent her entire lifetime in hiding.

Blake moved closer and her mother snatched him up as well, gripping him in an embrace that was a useless defense against their enemies. At twenty-two, Samantha was well past cowering in her parents’ arms, wasn’t she?

Her father stepped back.

“We have to divide to the four directions. Quickly. Before he comes.”

“No!” cried her mother. Her opposition frightened Samantha almost more than Nagi.

“Mother, he’s coming. We have to go,” said her father, his voice now low, coaxing. “One to Nicholas, one to Bess. We agreed.”

“But Bess? They won’t be safe there.”

Bess Suncatcher was the raven who flew to the Spirit World. Her power was dark and dangerous. Samantha’s heart crashed into her ribs in wild, painful drumming.

“She knew this would happen. She warned us.”

“You know what she does! You know who she calls family.” Her mother’s voice held both fear and anguish.

Samantha held a hand to her throat, trying to draw a breath past the terror.

Her father’s voice radiated a calm certainty that did not reassure. “My friends will keep them safe if anyone can.”

“Which one?” she asked.

Their father stared at them both and then fixed his gaze on his son. “Blake to Nicholas. He’s the oldest and a leader. Blake will bring the Niyanoka to our cause if anyone can.”

Her brother nodded, accepting the responsibility as easily as if he had been preparing for it all of his life. Samantha did a double take. Had he? Did everyone know of this escape plan but her?

Realization hit, dropping hard and cold into her stomach. Her parents had discussed this plan, laid out this last desperate measure to protect their children. Blake knew, too. It was clear by his grave expression and complete lack of surprise. They’d told their dependable child and kept it from their reckless one.

Michaela clung to Samantha. “She can go with him.”

Where were they sending her that made her mother so frightened? Fear lifted the hairs on Samantha’s neck. To Bess Suncatcher. Samantha searched her mind for details of her father’s friends whom she’d never met.

“No,” said Sebastian. “Two would leave a brighter trail. He’ll find them. She goes to Bess. Bess and Cesar will protect her and prepare her. She knows our enemy better than any of us.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

He smoothed Michaela’s hair and gave her a brave smile. “I may be. But the Thunderbirds do not make mistakes. They know the fates of us all. If it is not safe, then they will bring her somewhere else. Remember they brought Nicholas to Jessie?”

“And she nearly killed him!” she cried, then buried her face in her hands and wept.

“It’s the last way I know to protect them,” he said, his eyes full of sorrow. He reached for his wife, and she threw herself against him. “We have to hurry, Mother, and pray the Thunderbirds leave no trail.”

Sebastian took hold of his twins, gripping the outer shoulder of each. “No more hiding. Your mother goes to her people in the east. I go north to rally the Skinwalkers to fight. Blake