“Mm-hmm,” Lucille says. “We have our own boogeymen that make the Regents and their Seneschals look like pests to trick and avoid. This one’s a demon that wants nothing else but to devour as much power as he can.”

Valec sighs. “An ancient sonofabitch that nobody’s been able to see coming or stop. He wants aether, he gets it, and he wants Rootcrafters in particular.”

“Why?” I ask.

“A Rootcrafter mid-casting offers a direct line to their ancestors—that’s a lot of raw power to consume. Even goruchel are scared of the Hunter because he’s been known to go after them, too.” Valec wiggles his brows. “They call him ‘the Great Devourer.’ ”

Sel hisses. I swallow hard and Lucille’s eyes sharpen. “Y’all know him already.” A statement.

“I’ve…” The room looks at me. How do we explain Kizia without explaining who I am? How do I explain the Hunter without telling everyone what I saw in my last blood walk with Jessie? Luckily Sel answers first.

“We came across a goruchel who was scared out of her mind about this demon. She was scared of Bree’s power, too.”

Valec’s eyes light up. “Of course she was. I saw just a bit of that root and I have a feeling you weren’t even firing on all cylinders, were you, powerhouse?”

“I… I don’t know how powerful I am. I don’t know how to call it on purpose.” I swallow. “But I’d like to. That’s why we need your help.”

“Bree wasn’t raised in root,” Mariah intervenes. “But she’s good people, Auntie. Just atypical.”

I nod. “It’s true. The women in my family didn’t practice in a community.”

“And why would that be?” Lucille asks, her head tilted to the side.

Mariah and I exchange glances, and she dips her head, encouraging me forward. If it weren’t for her familiar face, I’d never say the words out loud. But I have to.

“My ancestor was a Bloodcrafter,” I say, and add quickly, “out of necessity.”

Lucille stills, and beside her, Valec makes a thoughtful sound.

“Bloodcraft is a sin,” the older woman says.

“I know.”

“There is no necessity worth its cost.”

My anger flares. “You weren’t there. You can’t judge her.”

“And you were?” Valec asks.

I nod. “I saw it happen. In a memory walk.”

He and Lucille exchange glances. He shrugs, raising his hands. “I got nothin’. If she saw it in a walk, she saw it in a walk.”

“Not my place to judge your ancestor, you’re right.” Lucille puts her tea down. “But I can judge you all I want. Do you think your power is worth its cost? Whatever that cost is, you must know it by now.”