“John,” he says, our feet crunching in the gravel on the side of the road. “There is something else you should know.”

Of course. Just when I was beginning to let my guard down around this guy, right when we’re going into battle together, he’s going to spring something on me.

“What is it?”

“The General is my father.”

CHAPTER

EIGHT

I ALMOST SKID TO A STOP, BUT ADAM DOESN’T seem to be slowing down any, so I keep pace with him.

“You’re kidding me.”

“No.” Adam frowns, focusing on the road ahead. “We don’t exactly get along.”

“Are you going to . . .” I don’t even know how to phrase this. “Will you be able to . . . ?”

“Fight? Kill?” Adam replies. “Yes. Show him no mercy, because he won’t show any to us.”

“Your own father, man? I mean, even for a Mogadorian, that’s pretty cold.”

“At this point, defeating him in battle is likely the only way he’ll ever feel pride for me,” Adam replies, adding weakly, “not that I care.”

I shake my head. “You guys are so screwed up.”

We fall silent as the entrance to Ashwood Estates comes into view. The Mogadorian in front of the gates spots us and shields his eyes from the sun, trying to get a better look. We keep up a steady pace and don’t make any attempt to conceal ourselves. We’re separated from the gates by about fifty yards and closing fast, but to the Mog we might look like just a couple of joggers. He won’t notice the guns strapped to Adam just yet.

“Wait until we’re a little closer,” I say through gritted teeth, and Adam nods.

At thirty yards, the Mog turns his head, saying something to his two buddies in the gatehouse. Warning them that something might be up. I see them stand up, silhouetted in the window, peering out at us. The Mog in front edges back a bit, his fingers inching towards the blaster surely hidden under his coat. But he hesitates, probably still thinks he’s being paranoid.

They really never thought we’d come for them. They aren’t prepared.

With twenty yards to go, I fire up my Lumen, flames roaring across my hands. Next to me, in stride, Adam draws both his guns and takes aim.

The closest Mog tries to pull his blaster, but he’s way too slow. Adam fires two shots, one from each gun, both of them muffled by silencers. Struck twice in the chest, the Mog teeters for a moment and then explodes into a cloud of ash.

I launch a fireball at the gatehouse. The Mogadorians inside are scrambling around but, like their friend, are also too slow. The fireball explodes through the window, sending glass everywhere, and causing one of the Mogs to go up in flames. The other one manages to throw himself out the door, flames dancing up his back. He’s standing right in front of Ashwood’s locked entrance, so I reach out with my telekinesis and tear the wrought-iron gate off its hinges, crushing the Mog.