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appeared out of the coagulation of butterflies. “Um....”
    “And you’re going to trust this one? She’s a bloodsucker, and you’re going to stand for that? We had to take the nest because we weren’t given any information on which female you wanted. Really, Joe, what did you want with this creature? She is—”
    The other one stared at Tris, and he quieted immediately. It was clear that he was Tris’s boss if he could make them quiet with a look. A current of power flared over her, but it seemed to fluctuate. He turned his gaze to her, and it cut through her. She would have blushed if she could have.
    “No, I’m not going to run away. I wouldn’t make it very far. Attila over there would have my head off in a clean minute. Besides, there are hardly any shadows here with all these lights.”
    Joe smiled. “Good. And yes, that’s why I’ve chosen this wonderful place. There’s a reason, Tris, why I didn’t give you specific details who I wanted from the brood. They were a nuisance and had to be destroyed.”
    “Why would you kill the only family I have? What good am I to you?” Daniella asked, not being able to contain her anger any longer.
    “Be quiet!” Tris commanded her. “Learn to speak when you’re spoken to.”
    “Tris, you will be kind to her. After all, she’s going to be your guest for a while.”
    Tris’s expression went from shock to disbelief all in the same moment. It was rather amusing, and she would have laughed if she thought it was appropriate. He drew in a breath and pulled the curved dagger from his belt and held it to her throat. The sharp edge sliced into her skin but she remained perfectly still, praying that she would not be killed. Joe rose from his rock and went to him.
    “Let her go!” Joe commanded.
    “Why? Tell me what’s so special about her?” Tris demanded.
    “Tris, do what Joe says. You don’t want to face the consequences.” Lori tried to convince him to lower the weapon.
    She stared into Tris’s cool eyes and did not see any feeling for her except the pure loathing that made his eyes steel gray. Nothing would break him. She could see that. He was determined to take her life with one swipe of the curved blade. A cry strangled her throat as the weapon moved further into her flesh, only millimeters, but she could feel all of it. Daniella grabbed for his arm, but his free hand slipped into her hair and wrenched her head back.
    “Hands off of me, filthy creature.”
    “Let me go!” Daniella curled her fingers around his wrist, but she could not pull him away from her neck or break his hold. Her nails pressed into her flesh, but he was too strong.
    Joe waved his hand. The blade disappeared from her throat, and Tris was thrown backward. His face was red, but he was pinned against one of the large palm trees. She ran her fingers over her skin and came away with them stained with blood. Her whole body shook. Daniella realized how close she had come to losing her head. Questions ran through her mind. She was nothing. Why would they want her? Joe walked over to Tris and stood before him.
    “Tris, I’m getting tired of you talking back to me. We may have had disagreements before, and I’ve let you go to extra lengths in disparaging nests when you didn’t have to kill all of them. I understand your sordid past with the undead, but you will do as you’re told. She is important. Already her Grigori master has a raised interest in her because of you botching up and not being able to fetch her yesterday.”
    “That was not our fault. We couldn’t find her. The nest had fled,” Lori tried to explain.
    Joe turned. “I know that. There are factions even among the Fallen who are traitors. We do not know them yet.”
    “What are you talking about? Who would betray us?” Tris asked.
    Daniella listened intently and was surprised to hear that there was some dissention in their ranks. Fallen. That word rang something within her as though she should know exactly what it