All In (The Naturals, #3)

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

“Seven Masters.” Sloane appeared in the doorway, as if the mere mention of numbers had called her to us. “Seven circles. Seven ways of killing.”

picture of a paper flower. Origami. I stumbled backward and grabbed the edge of the counter for balance, thinking of Beau’s last moments, the words he’d said. I don’t believe in wishing.

I don’t believe in wishes, she’d said. There was a white origami flower behind her ear.

“Beau said the ninth member was always born to it. How did he phrase it?”

“Briggs saved my life.” Judd forcibly shifted his eyes away from the man in the picture and turned to look at me. “He saved me, the day he brought me Dean.”

“Home isn’t a place, Cassie. Home is the people who love you most.”

I wanted Nightshade behind bars. I wanted answers—but when I let myself, I wanted this more. Dean and Lia and Michael and Sloane—home is the people who love you most.

“It’s a rare snake,” he translated after a moment. “Its venom is slower-acting than most. Find a zoo that has one, and you’ll find the antivenom. In time, I hope.”

I always knew—I always thought—that if she’d survived, she would have come back to me. Somehow, some way, if she’d survived— “Forever and ever,” Laurel whispered, each word a knife in my gut. “No matter what.” “Laurel,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Where is Mommy?” “In the room.”

The Pythia chooses to live, Nightshade had told me, knowing quite well that my mother was the one who’d made that choice.

My mother hadn’t been killed. She hadn’t been buried at the crossroads with care. She’d buried her predecessor. My mom’s favorite color. Her necklace. Traces of her blood. From

For Laurel’s sake, the cult needed to think we hadn’t put the pieces together.

To protect Laurel. Forever and ever. To find my mother. Find the Pythia. Find the room. No matter what.