Jason’s mind was racing. Who had Pietro been? Why did he look like him?

A while back, just after Jason had first met Selene, he had written to his father, asking for a genealogy tree. He wanted—no, needed—to know if he was his descendant. If he was, that would explain why he looked so much like him. In fact, it would explain a great many things, from his looks to his power.

It would also explain why he was—despite himself—so attracted to Selene.

A week had passed since he last saw Selene, and he was beginning to wonder if he would ever see her again. He thought about seeking her out, but other Vampyres, including her brother, could find him first. That wouldn’t be the best thing to happen, considering she left to keep him safe, and spitting on that would incite her wrath. And that was something he wanted to avoid.

Another week passed, finally bringing word from his father. The package left at the front desk of his apartment was twice the size of his head…and weighed it, too. He knew his father had filled it with centuries worth of information. Jason only hoped that it had what he was looking for.

Next time he was home, he would have a long discussion with his father about why Selene’s place in history was hidden. Politics probably, like Selene had said, but it was the truth, and she deserved the recognition.

Sitting on his floor, lost in thought, going through the papers, a knocking sound startled him. Dropping the papers in his hand, he raced to it, scattering the mound of papers that had accumulated around him. Hoping it was Selene, Jason even peeked into the thoughts on the other side of the door. Skidding to a stop, shell-shocked, narrowly avoiding his tall coffee table, he stared at the door, letting those on the other side knock again. Taking a deep breath, counting back from five, he regained his composure and padded his way to the door, his bare feet moving slowly on the wood floor. Standing just on the other side of the threshold were Miranda and his two friends, Cecilia and Nicholas, with bags of food and snacks.

“Hey guys,” he said, welcoming them in. Taking Miranda’s coat, he kissed her lightly on her warm and rosy cheek.

“We haven’t seen you around much,” said Nicholas, nudging his arm.

“Perhaps we should have called first,” said Cecilia, looking around. “This place is a mess.”

“She’s right. What’s with all these papers?” asked Miranda, one arm wrapped around his waist while her other addressed the mess before them, brows arched high on her forehead.

“Oh, um, just some family records. There’s an ancestor of mine I’m curious about.”

“Oh! Well, we can help!” chirped Cecilia, picking up a sheet of paper. “How far back are you going?”

“About two thousand years.” Through his peripherals, he caught Miranda eying him suspiciously. Nicholas punched him in the shoulder again, causing Jason to wince. Sometimes, Nicholas didn’t know his own strength.

“Good thing we came along then, man. How you ever get along without us is beyond me.” The big brute slumped down on his sofa, grabbing a wad of paper. He shifted through them in his own way, tossing page after page to the ground, studying the pictures of women in his way, making the mess even larger. “I forgot how many hot Reborn chicks you have in your bloodline.”

“The person I’m looking for was Touched Born named  Pietro,” he said, snatching the papers from Nicholas. The last thing he needed was Nicholas’s perverted thoughts filling the air.

“Very well.” Nicholas shrugged, picking up another stack of papers. Jason left to grab some plates so they could eat, wishing he wasn’t aware of Miranda following.

“What’s wrong?” The tone of her voice gave away her annoyance, but what did she have to be annoyed about? Nothing he was doing had anything to do with her.

Pressing down on the bridge of his nose, he leaned against his countertop. “Not now, please.”

“No, tell me now, what’s wrong?” The insistence in her voice was fueled by her anger.

“I just need to know about him. I just want to learn about him. Things haven’t been adding up since that assignment in Professor Gildian’s class about  the ‘Barrier’s Fall.’ The Council is hiding parts of history, parts the Professor has forbidden me from sharing. And she told me I reminded her of someone who had been exactly like me, right down to my gift. These are questions I need answered, Miranda. Is that good enough for you?”

Miranda nodded, gently touching his cheek. His whole body lit up at her touch, and he tightly wrapped her in his arms, taking in her sweet perfume. Despite everything about her that pushed others away, he loved her.

“Hey, Jason! I think I found him!” called Cecilia from the other room. Letting Miranda go, Jason grabbed the plates, returning to the living room and a grinning Cecilia.

“You’re phenomenal,” he said, trading the plates for the papers.

With a wink, she said, “I’m aware.”

“So what’s so special?” asked Miranda, sitting on the floor beside him.

“His name was Pietro Amedrade,” began Jason. “He was a Touched Born—”

“Here’s a portrait of him,” interrupted Cecilia, handing him the old portrait. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to tell. Magic held the portrait together, making it look unravished by time. Jason grabbed the portrait that was obviously protected by magic. The strength of the magic hadn’t been what had caught his breath, though. Wrapped in the loving embrace of his arms was Selene. She had a bright smile on her face and her hair was done up in an elegant braid with lavender stems. A twinge of jealousy hit him.

“You look exactly like him,” commented Miranda, full of awe.

“Uncanny,” muttered Nicholas, mouth full of food.

Cecilia took the delicate portrait from him and studied the faces. “I wonder who the girl is. She’s beautiful.”

Jason looked at the back of the portrait. “Her name was Selene Sintas. It says on the back right there.”

“What else does it say about Pietro?” asked Miranda, her voice soft like wind.

“Oh, um, he married four years upon the ‘death,’” he began, adding air quotes as he spoke, “of Selene. Selene was turned into a Vampyre after an attack on her home village, currently known as the expanded city of Telos.”

“Shame, man. That Selene was one beautiful lady.”

“How tragic,” muttered Cecilia, covering her mouth with her hands.

“Continue love.”

“Pietro married Katherine Venatia. They had three children before she killed Pietro in his sleep, stabbing him repeatedly.”

“Oh dear heavens!” exclaimed Cecilia. Nicholas laughed at her exclamation. Cecilia slapped his shoulder, lips pursed. Jason ignored them both, reading on.

“She was—”

“She was killed by a Vampyre, as was her sister, her brother, and her brother’s son. Only Pietro’s children and Katherine’s niece were left alive.” Everyone turned and looked at Miranda, who sat, fists clenched, staring at the portrait of Selene and Pietro as if willing it to burn up.

Jason looked at her, concerned. “Miranda, how do you know that?”

“Katherine Venatia was my ancestor. I am the descendant of her niece on her sisters’ side, and hearing this now, I know which Vampyre slaughtered my family. It was Selene Sintas.” Miranda snatched her jacket from the back of the sofa and stalked from the apartment, her thick, clunky heels banging against the wood floors. Each step she took tore Jason in half. He didn’t know who he should worry about more. Miranda or Selene? Jason looked back at the portrait, at the beautiful smile that made her face glow. So in love…