“Since Serena does not eat as the rest of us do, and she has information we need to know, while we partake, she’ll give us her briefing.”

Serena was doing her music video thing by the window and I wondered if she sat, seeing as she could float apparently effortlessly.

Obviously, I didn’t ask this for more reasons than the fact that she started talking and I started eating.

“Although fortunate that we were on the inside with the traitors, which meant we could intervene when they attacked The Sacred Triumvirate some days ago, this also means that we are no longer on the inside.”

I looked to Abel who felt my eyes and looked to me.

I mouthed, “Traitors?” since I hadn’t heard them referred to that way.

He gave a slight shrug and we both looked to Serena when she kept talking.

“By the time we exposed our true allegiance, we’d learned that, while planning to do damage to The Three—and they were looking at this a variety of ways, such as total annihilation or simply dispensing with one which, according to The Prophesies, would make the rest ineffectual—they’re also planning to expose the existence of immortals to humans. And they were not planning on doing that diplomatically.”

Leah, Sonia, and I gave each other looks even as we ate and Serena carried on.

“However, the one wraith we have left in position, who infiltrated our sisters who have long since sided with the traitors, has shared with us that the plans we were once privy to have been changed. Unfortunately, due to my sisters intervening to save The Three, they’re being far more careful with all wraiths, including the ones who actually share their ideology. Therefore, she hasn’t been able to ascertain any of their new plans.”

I swallowed pancake and butted in quietly, “Thank you for that, by the way. Your, um, sisters, coming to the rescue. We wouldn’t have made it or would have…” I shook my head, swallowing for another reason, thinking of Snake, Chen, and Jabber, before I finished, “Things would have gone far worse if your sisters hadn’t been there.”

“We’re committed to equality amongst ourselves and all beings, so it was an honor to come to the aid of The Three who’ll keep all beings allied and free,” she replied.

“But if that’s your philosophy,” Leah put in, “how did you get the others to think that you might be on their side?”

Serena looked to Leah. “Our mates are phantoms.”

“Sorry?” Leah asked.

“Wraiths are ethereal, for the most part,” she stated, drifting a hand in front of her. “For those humans who have seen us who we did not let know what we truly are, we’re known as ghosts. All wraiths are female. Phantoms are the same, but they’re male.”