"My dad was still alive," I said. "Just barely." My memories flashed red, red, red. So much blood. But I'd zeroed in on his eyes, open, pleading, instead of anything else. "He wanted me to take the atern from his wrist. He wanted me to save them." I swallowed thickly, then placed my palm against Kason's chest as if to hold him there in case he jerked away after hearing the rest. "Save them with dark magic."

He sucked in a sharp breath. "Bring them back, you ...