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Sebastian still looks displeased, but finally, “Alright, Miss Smith. If that’s what you want.”

“It is what I want,” I say firmly, then start out to the parking lot with Jade, who’s smiling.

“Oo hoo hoo,” she sing-songs, “look at you getting all firm and stuff. It’s good seeing you have some spirit again.”

I huff out a little laugh. “It’s because I'm tired. I have a low tolerance for bullshit when I’m tired.”

We get to Jade’s car, and she unlocks it. “Why are you so tired?” she questions. “Don’t you usually take a nap?”

I sigh, “Yeah, but not today.” I duck into Jade’s car, and she turns over the engine and pulls out. She peels out of the parking lot at her normal high speed.

“I think you’re going to lose Sebastian,” I remark mildly. I don’t really care if we leave the vampire in our dust.

“It’s fine,” she says dismissively. “He’ll catch up if he doesn’t drive like a grandma.”

We get out on the road, and I don’t look back to see if the SUV is following us. Jade is right. He’ll catch up.

“Alright,” she says, “lay it on me. What’s going on with you? You look like crap, and now you’re moving in with the Commandant? What in the Styx happened yesterday?”

What didn’t happen yesterday? I don’t even know where to begin. So I start with what I want to know most. “Look, do you know anything about sirens?”

Jade shudders. “Only the old legends. They were always very rare. Apparently, they started a lot of wars and can mind control like a ton of people all at once using their blood. They can also influence emotions with their voices and are said to be insanely beautiful. They were all hunted down, and the last one was killed years ago. Why?”

Hunted, huh? That doesn’t sound good. And Jade’s initial reaction isn’t promising. Maybe I shouldn’t tell her? But I need someone in my corner, and I need more information, since Julian won’t tell me specifics.

I sigh again. “Julian thinks that I’m a siren. After he drank my blood, he freaked out and had Gaspard throw me in this creepy cell that they have in the basement. That’s where I was all day yesterday.”

Jade glances at me from the corner of her eyes, still keeping her focus on the road.

“Are you serious? Are you sure?”

I shrug. “He’s sure. He thinks I’m dangerous, but I just feel like plain old Andi. Nothing about this feels real.”

We pull up to a stoplight, and Jade turns in her seat to look at me. “Andi, this is super serious. If you’re really a siren, people will be after you. Not just hunters who think you’re a threat, but dark covens too. Siren’s blood is a potent magical ingredient. Your blood in the wrong hands would make someone unstoppable.”

I feel a little sick to my stomach. “Someone like Colton?”

Jade shudders. “I can’t even imagine the Circle getting that amount of power. They would rule the Other World in months, and that would not be a good thing.”

The light turns green, and Jade pulls forward, building up speed. I start, “What can I—” when suddenly, my world dissolves into blinding pain, an airbag in my face. The car lurches to the side and spins out. I’m too shocked to do anything, even scream. Someone hit us in the intersection? But the light was green. What the hell?

The airbag deflates, and I turn to look at Jade. She looks okay, but a little shaken.

“Are you alright?” she asks. “What—”

My eyes widen as I see tall headlights coming toward the car again at high speed through the driver's side window. “Jade! Look out!”

It’s too late. The truck rams into Jade’s car a second time, and this time my head bangs against the passenger window, disorienting me. We slide to the side and then stop. I breathe heavily, my eyes blurring. Why did they hit us a second time? What’s going on?

My door suddenly opens, and I feel hands scrambling at the seat belt buckle, more hands pulling me out of the car. Paramedics? Already?

“I’m fine,” I mumble, “I’m fine. My friend . . .”

“Shut up,” a low voice growls.

“Is the package secure?” asks another voice.

“The girl is fine. Get her in the trunk.”