“The bridge is this way,” Anna says, following a forking path to the right. The gravel turns to dirt as we pass through a maze of colors. Everything is cloaked in mist, making the plants and flowers look ghostly.

Through an arch made of intertwined branches, the path opens into a white wooden bridge wrapped in moss and dead vines. A willow hangs over it, its wispy branches haunting in the mist, and a strange clacking noise fills the air. Coming our way across the bridge is a man in a dark leather jacket, his blond hair stuck to his head by the drizzling rain.

Kaden.

He stops when he sees us, a serpentine smile cutting across his face that’s nothing like the sleepy man from the photo. “I’ve been looking for you, boy,” he growls. “And a Ballinkay, too, how perfect. He’ll be mighty pleased to see you dead along with the Raven.” He draws a knife from his belt.

Max hisses, his fur standing on end, and Anna makes a small noise of surprise. Not at the knife, but at what Kaden said. She repeats it under her breath. “A Raven?”

My hands flex at my sides, months of training itching to be used. Boxing, wrestling, grappling. Liam taught me a lot since we started moving, and at the moment I want nothing more than to unleash all of it on Kaden. He’s on the small side, while I’ve always been big for my age.

“Careful, Colin,” Anna says quietly. “Something’s off about him.”

“Who was the other man in the room with you?” I close the distance between us.

“My lord doesn’t concern you,” Kaden replies smoothly. He flips the knife around expertly so the butt of it faces his chest, ready to slash, and suddenly I don’t feel so sure about this. Kaden might not be big, but he’s still bigger than me, and I’ve never been in a fight with anyone other than Liam, and definitely not with a knife.

“Colin, I don’t know about this,” Anna says.

Some part of me knows she’s right, but I can’t walk away from this. Kaden is my only chance to get answers.

“What are you?” I demand. “Where’s my brother?”

“You ask a lot of questions for dead folk,” Kaden hisses. Then he lunges, slashing with the blade.

Control the knife first, Liam’s voice commands. I catch Kaden’s forearm with both hands, shoving away the knife as Anna falls back. My fist comes up lightning fast, catching him on the jaw with a hard hook. He stumbles back half a step, looking more surprised than hurt, and I feel the same shock on my face.

“I forgot you Pierces were fighters.” He tests the spot on his face with his fingers. “Won’t happen again.”