I’d just met my father.

  Goosebumps ran up my arms and down my spine all the way to my feet as I followed the others into the portal room. The others were talking, but it was like I was underwater or very far away. I knew they were talking, but I didn’t understand anything.

  The moment the door closed, Miel pushed past me and pinned the Anubis against the wall. I blinked as her voice came into focus.

  “... one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now?” The ivory woman extended her claws as she gripped the alluring demihuman’s neck.

  “I’ll give you two.” Despite being held by the throat, the young woman didn’t seem fazed. “Lord Nevah put a barrier on on me…” A smirk crossed her face as Miel struggled to tighten her grip. “So even if you wanted to kill me, you can’t.” Her golden eyes met mine. “And he doesn’t want a desolation to happen.”

  I choked on the words that I tried to form.

  “You’re a…” Ether moved in between us, her shield coming out of her CB.

  “Only a Nephilim.” Her eyes looked my wife over. “But that still makes enough of a pop to kill…” She looked around the room. “Most of you.”

  Aelin squealed.

  Justia smacked the blonde on the back of the head.

  “What?” The brown woman spoke too fast as her excitement ran wild. “She’s one of them!”

  “Exactly.” Justia moved beside me. “Which is why we shouldn’t trust her.”

  “Really?” The Anubis tilted her head. “I’m not the one who is holding someone by the throat and threatening their life.”

  “You were with Nevah and you know what I am.” I left out the part about Ether. I hoped the seal that Trent had on us would be strong enough to mask her.

  “And that this rabid animal is one of Klix’s brood.” She grinned as she looked at Miel.

  “If you know that much about us, then why are you here?” I looked around Ether’s shield. As much as it was endearing that she was trying to protect me, it should have been obvious that we couldn’t hurt this woman even if we tried.

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  “Because I want what you want.” She sighed. “To go into the Dungeon and fight monsters. To get my own city someday and be in control of my own destiny.”

  “And how do you know that’s what I want?” I motioned at the women around me. “What if my dream is just to surround myself with beautiful women like Nevah?”

  She winked at me. “Then I’ll fit right in.”

  Aelin squealed again. “I LOVE her!”

  “Aelin…” I shook my head and turned back to the Anubis. “This is all too strange.” I motioned at the door behind me. “Besides, we’re on our way to pick up the sixth member of our team.”

  “Trixie Beeki, the Hunter.” She smirked. “We know.”

  “We?” My blood ran cold. She used that term way too confidently. “You mean Nevah knows what Rix is?”

  “I mean, yes, the Pleasure God knows what Trixie is as well as Pixie Warray, Cora Perisa, Rowan Aziel, and Lyra Forasa.” She looked back at Miel. “Nevah doesn’t usually get involved, but you’re lucky he did or those Lunatics you ran into would have been the least of your worries.”

  My heart beat louder in my ears. My brain tried to process what she was saying, but it was Miel who spoke first.

  “You know a lot for one so young.” My protector released the demihuman. “Who are you?”

  She gave me a slight bow. “Nakten Saisol.” Her smile only grew wider as none of us showed any recognition. “I’m not surprised that you haven’t heard of my family. My father only recently brought them in, but we’re Dungeon Farmers in Votic.”

  There was silence as her declaration sank in. I thought I knew what she was saying, but I didn’t want to be the one to give it a voice.

  “Your father is Votic.” Miel spat the name of the God.

  “He is, but that’s not the part that is important.” She tilted her head. “What’s important is what I’m here to offer.”

  “You’re Tier Zero.” Miel scoffed. “What could you possibly offer us?”

  “Level one actually.” She laughed as she looked at me. “Thanks to you, I was able to have my Mantle activated, which is why I’m able to be here.”

  I stepped around Ether and put my hand on Miel’s arm. I could feel the older woman tensing, but we didn’t need to make an enemy if we didn’t have to.

  “Thanks to me?” I moved in between Miel and Nakten. “What do I have to do with all of this?”

  “Because Nevah likes you for some reason.” Nakten looked me over. “You’ve got his bloodline, but so do hundreds of other Godlings.” She shrugged. “Either way, he offered the Primus a deal to leave you alone.”

  “What did he offer them?” I tried to keep the nervousness out of my voice.

  “Offer them?” She laughed. “I have no idea. But as long as I’m with you, the Primus will leave you alone.”

  “Yeah, because the Primus is going to avoid a level one Nephilim.” Miel snorted. “If anything, having you around puts a bigger target on his back.”

  Nakten blinked, then laughed. “Oh, you don’t get it. The Primus will leave you alone because they’ll do what my father tells them to.”

  I felt goosebumps run up my arms again, but not in a good way this time. “Why’s that?”

  “Because…” She smiled. “Votic leads the Primus.”

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