'Love?' Alexa asked. 'What role did my mother play in all of this? Don't tell me you found out she was the spy who stole your manufacturing strategy and gave to the witches and vampires?' Her tone was incredulous.

'Oh no!' her father said very quickly, shaking his head vigorously. 'Your mother was not like that. Your mother was a great woman. I have never met any like her!' he said, a faraway look in his eyes, a tremor in his voice.

Alexa was shocked as she stared dumbfounded. Could it be that ...