Later that day, I was lying on my bed, mulling over the information I'd gleaned from Anna. I knew more than before, but this new world they thrust me into wasn't any clearer for it. Everyone around me had been born knowing they possessed this kind of power.

They could trace their ancestry back over a thousand years, and I didn't even know the name of my parents. I suppose there could be others like me who'd been separated from their birth families and didn't know their heritage, but that also made me wonder what exactly our heritage was.

Maybe the only way I'd be able to learn anything was if I joined the group of Children training on the island. I'd not questioned their decision to leave me in the house with them before, but now I wondered if it was because they were afraid I'd learn too much if I hung around with the newest recruits. And, if Talents were actually passed down through family lines, maybe I'd meet someone with a similar ability.

I conveniently ignored the fact that Percy shared a gift that closely matched my own. Finding out he was my long-lost cousin was pretty far down on the list of things I wanted to discover about myself, but it didn't stop me from daydreaming about finding a relative with a more pleasant disposition. One who might be able to tell me who I was.. Because the biggest secret I was keeping from them was a secret to me too.

Lively music and boisterous voices drifted through my open window, drawing me out of my revelries. Typically, the compound was quiet in the evenings as people collapsed after a long day of training.

At least, that's what I assumed, because I was worthless after Anna manhandled me for eight hours. By the time I reached the window to investigate, I could smell the smoky scent of a bonfire and hear the wood snapping as it burned. A sizeable crowd had gathered around the fire while others played in the rougher than usual ocean surf. Steel colored clouds hugged the horizon, explaining the bigger waves.

The group seemed to be composed of trainees, many of the faces much younger than I expected, though most seemed to be about my age. Clothing was casual and, in some cases, optional. My eyes lingered on several of the men. If they were going to display washboard abs, who was I to ignore them, but before long I found myself thinking about a particular set of abs I wouldn't mind seeing.

As if summoned by my wanton thoughts, Calum joined the beach party. He'd ditched the black outfit for casual attire, but even fully clothed, he made my heart race faster than any of the other men. There was, of course, the off chance that some of my heart's discomfort came from irritation.

The man who couldn't keep his eyes off of me the night at the bar, the man who'd carried me in his arms, was now the man who couldn't be bothered to speak to me. The haze of lust cleared the longer I thought of his recent behavior.

The spark of anger flared when Percy, Anna, and Fleur joined the party. Anna greedily downed the contents of a red solo cup before joining the larger group, swaying to the pop music pumping out of the stereo. I suppose they had lost my invitation in the mail.

"Family my ass," I muttered, yanking open my closet. As soon as I confirmed I was going to stay on the island, my clothes had been transported to my room, along with an alarming number of yoga pants and tank tops. Within a few days, I understood the need for the quantity.

I dug in the drawers until I found the articles I'd been searching for. A quick shower later, I stood in front of the steamy mirror in a pair of nearly indecent cut-off shorts that I'd once sworn to never wear outside of my apartment and a rose red bandeau bikini top. The person staring back at me was a stranger. I wasn't vain, but I'd seen better days.

Peering into the mirror, I considered the enhancements I could make. I couldn't do anything that wouldn't be possible without makeup and styling products. I used to stay indoors because the look I'd chosen this time didn't do well beneath the sun. The pale skin on my face was blotchy from days spent running on the beach and the fragile skin beneath my eyes was dark. I'd focus there first.

Gripping the counter, I released the iron control I had over this mask. A golden hue replaced the ruddiness, and I replaced the uneven texture with an airbrush finish. Satisfied that I could claim to be handy with bronzer, I focused on my lashes. The barely there brown hairs darkened to black as they lengthened and made the blue of my eyes pop. Stringy blonde hair dried to beachy waves with sun bathed highlights, and the pale peach of my lips darkened to berry.

I would be sad to see this version of Camille go, and I wondered if I really needed to go back to the wallflower version. Anton wasn't going to be looking for a beachy blonde on an island anymore than he'd be looking for a mousey bartender. For the first time since I'd escaped his grasp, I felt safe. I flashed a bright smile at the girl in the mirror. She looked like she was going to have a good time.

By the time I was ready, the party had amped up even more. The music was louder, and the alcoholic concoction being passed around had done its job. The coordinated movements of the dancers had become little more than lazy swaying. Couples snuggled on blankets in the sand. The dark clouds from earlier had moved away, lightning striking miles off shore creating an epic light show that we could watch in safety beneath the stars.

Percy and Calum still stood off to the side. Anna had managed to pull Fleur into the crowd. I considered jumping right into the party, but stopped when I noticed Percy wave a hand toward my window. Thinking he might be blaming me for the earlier incident, I approached a table that had been set up within earshot of the men. I pretended to fix a drink while I listened in on their conversation, confident that I looked different enough to avoid scrutiny.

"It's done now. Quit griping."

"I'm not griping. You're the one who came up with the idea, and now you're the one who didn't follow through," Calum responded in an even tone.

"I followed through. I was just late getting around to it. Anna made a mess of things earlier. It took me a while to sort it out. Besides, I have to make sure it's up late enough that she doesn't look too closely with that Talent of hers."

Calum's laughter was rich and warm. "I heard about that. I can't say I agree with her methods, but knowing you, you probably deserved it."

"We should reconsider Anna being her trainer. Anna's getting a little too friendly. She's going to give away too much."

"Isn't that the entire point? Our goal is to make her part of the team. We want her to feel like she has friends here. How long do you think the illusions you cast outside her window will keep her inside? Are you going to follow her around forever, changing what she sees to fit the reality you want her to have?"

The sticky cocktail sloshing over my hand alerted me to the fact that I'd crumpled the cup I was holding. Percy had been casting illusions outside my window? Hiding these get togethers perhaps?

I'd wondered at how quiet the compound was with so many people living here, but here was my answer. I poured a shot into my cup and downed it, ignoring the burn. These people tricked me into believing I was one of them, or at least on my way to being one of them.

Tuning out their conversation, I tossed back two more shots. I snagged a beer from the cooler and moved toward the bonfire. Percy had made it clear that he didn't think I belonged with him, but maybe I could belong with one of them.

"Haven't seen you around gorgeous."

I turned to look at the man who'd approached me. He was shorter than average but built like a brick wall. His hair was a strange mix of colors, reds and browns, touched with hints of blonde that glimmered in the glow of the fire.

His eyes were the color of whiskey, and I liked the crooked lean to his smile. Glancing over my shoulder, I spied Calum still standing near the drink table, his arms crossed while his eyes swept the crowd. I couldn't be certain at this distance, but I swore his gaze lingered longer in my direction.

"Couldn't you come up with something a little more original than that?" I questioned, taking a sip of my drink while peering through my lashes at my new companion. The fruity drink danced on my tongue and increased my buzz. Ice queen had vacated her throne. This new version of Camille craved a little heat.

He chuckled as he stepped into my personal space. "Well, I actually haven't seen you around, and you are gorgeous. I tell it like it is."

His hands had slid around my waist, and he was moving his hips to the beat of the music. Gulping a little more of the liquid courage, I snuggled in closer. "Are you the official welcoming committee?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"I'm just wondering if everyone here is this friendly?" Inwardly, I cringed at the breathless quality of my voice. I let my free hand cup the back of his neck and relaxed enough to allow my body to mimic his sway.

"Oh, we're a pretty friendly crew, but I'm definitely the friendliest."

A girlish giggle escaped as I rolled my eyes. Judging from the female frowns I was receiving, he was extremely friendly. He lifted my chin so that I was making eye contact with him while we danced. During my time as a bartender, I'd witnessed enough interactions on the dance floor to know what he was planning, but I didn't stop him as he leaned in to capture my lips with his.

There was no warm rush. Just the sensation of warm skin against skin. I pulled away and hid my face against his shoulder, pretending to be embarrassed rather than unenthusiastic.

"Come on, let's go introduce you to the others," he whispered, using the hand at the small of my back to guide me away from the fire.

The others ended up being a small group relaxing on the beach. I was nervous about straying so far from the compound, Percy's outburst fresh in my mind. I was angry about the way I'd been treated since agreeing to stay, but I wasn't so angry that I wanted to be tossed out.

My new acquaintance high-fived the guys and bid the girls hello as we sat down on the blanket they'd spread over the sand. I attempted to put a little distance between us, but he tugged me closer to him and kept his fingers intertwined with mine.

"Hey guys, this is," he started to introduce me but halted when he remembered we hadn't exchanged names.

"I'm Camille," I supplied.

"Nice. I'm Kent. Sorry about that, by the way. These goofs are Jarod, Nelson, Bri, and Chloe."

I acknowledged each person with a head nod and a little wave. Between the light of the moon and the fire, I could clearly see everyone. Jarod was nearly as built as Kent, but from the length of his legs, I imagined he was taller than his friend. His smile was kind, and I instantly liked him.

Hipster black frames sat on Nelson's square face, and his hair had a very purposeful dishevelment about it. Even out here on the beach, he was clad in skinny jeans and a plaid button up.

The girls were less enthusiastic about their greeting than the boys. Bri, blonde hair falling down her side in a messy braid, pretended to study her manicure as she said hello. Chloe, with her mass of dark curls and caramel colored skin, reached out to shake my hand. Her dark eyes never settled on me; instead, they darted anxiously between Kent and Bri.

I didn't have to be a genius to figure this situation out, and I wondered if she wasn't so concerned about a jealous outburst, it might excite Chloe to bring another girl into the mix. Of course, she was most likely a faithful lapdog.

"How come we haven't seen you around?" Nelson asked, pushing his glasses against his face. They hadn't slipped.

I'd already decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. "Because I've only been here a few weeks. This is all new to me, and I was hurt when I first got here."

Bri scoffed, "You didn't know you were one of the Children?"

"Oh, come off it Bri," Chloe chided then looked at me. "Bri is one of the lucky ones who can trace her ancestry back to the beginning. Some of us had a few crappy ancestors, so the Talents skipped a generation."

I reevaluated my first impressions of the girl. She was a lapdog with teeth. "I'm afraid I'm not really very knowledgeable about any of this. I've been kept busy training with Anna, mostly."

Nelson gave me a sharp look. "One on one training? You must have an impressive Talent."

I shrugged and shook my head; the lie rolling easily off my tongue. "Not really sure what it is."

Kent gave my hand a comforting squeeze. "That's cool."

"But if she's not manifested her Talent, then how do they know she's one of the Children?" Bri turned her full attention on me with suspicion dancing in her eyes.

I cursed inwardly, seeing my chances for getting answers slipping away. Bri was an expert in this world; I would lose any game she wanted to play. Jarod, who'd been silent until that moment, saved me from answering.

"Children are identifiable by more than just their Talent. We all have increased stamina, speed, and strength. I'm sure if she is working with Anna, they know she's one of us. And maybe that even witnessed her using her Talent and recognized it for what it is. Not everyone has a flashy Talent. I mean, look at Nelson. Dude could put us all down, and we'd never know it."

Bri rolled her eyes. "Do you even know what family line you belong to?"

"No."

"Man, they really didn't tell you anything," Kent said.

"Look," I snapped, growing annoyed, "I know you love how ignorant I am, but I'd really like to be enlightened. I promise there isn't much you can say that will shock me after the last couple of weeks."

Bri smirked. "Oh, I wouldn't say things like that. Though I'm sure our mentors have reasons for not telling you all the juicy details about who and what you are, I'm not terribly concerned about sharing it. Just because I want to see your face. What do you know about Arthurian Legends?"

I shrugged, not sure where Bri was going, but eager to hear more. I dug through the pop culture memories I'd managed to acquire over the last four years before answering.

"Just the usual. Camelot. King Arthur and the sword in the stone. Lancelot and Guinevere."

"So the Hollywood version then," Nelson snorted derisively.

"The main quest of King Arthur and his Knights was to find the Holy Grail. There are a lot of theories out there about what the Holy Grail is. The most common one being that it is the cup used in the Last Supper of Christ. Another lesser known theory is that it was a stone housing all the angels who couldn't pick a side in the war between God and Lucifer."

"Bri, is all of this background info really important?" Kent groaned.

"Yes"

"You sure it's not just a chance to sound like a know-it-all?" The words earned me an appreciative look from all but Bri. Suddenly, explaining everything to the new girl had lost its shine, but she'd look petulant if she stopped now.

"The Holy Grail is a vessel for magic created by the queens of Avalon to help humanity stand against the tricksome Fae like their banished sister, Morgan LeFay, who refused to leave earth and return to the Faerie Realms. These Fae delight in tricking humans and leading them to their death. To drink from the Grail was to be given the powers of the Fae queens. A Cupbearer was appointed to choose from among mankind those most worthy, and so Arthur and his knights were appointed as guardians of the earthly realm. We are the legacy of the Grail."

She opened her mouth to continue, but I had risen to my feet. "You're telling me that we are descendants of King Arthur and his court?"

Her lips curled up in a satisfied smile. "Yep. Though I doubt your family tree reaches so high as King Arthur. I'd guess one of the lesser knights."

"Damn it Bri," Jarod growled as Kent tried to tug me back down beside him.

"Of all the crazy stories I imagined you'd create, this was not even close to making the list. Look, it was nice meeting you all. I'm gonna head back."

The trip back to the beach house was hazy. At one point, Anna may have spotted me, but she seemed too drunk to understand what she was looking at. With the changes to my appearance, I could sneak past Percy and Calum, who hadn't joined in with the party. Still fully clothed, I crawled beneath the daisy bedspread and fumed..

Why were Bri's words so distressing? I'd expected something a lot worse. Like finding out I was really a vampire. Why would they worry so much about keeping this a secret? What did it matter if my many times removed grandfather was Knight of the Roundtable? I half laughed, half sobbed at the thought.

And then the truth struck me. Since the day I woke up a blank slate, my sole focus had been on survival. I didn't have time for anything bigger than that, and if what she said was true, I was meant for more than hiding and running. I had a destiny I didn't remember agreeing to. Had my memory loss been a way of escaping this world?

Deep calming breaths, I instructed myself, curling into the fetal position. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

Leaves crunched beneath her bare feet as she darted through the trees, chasing the spots of sunlight that pushed through the heavy forest canopy. Her step-mother would have died to see her in such disarray. Burnished strands of hair had slipped loose from the confining knot she was forced to wear, and the tight curls mother so carefully arranged around her face now stuck against damp cheeks in pitiful strings. No bustle. No stays. No one would recognize her as the Carrollton girl.

But none of that mattered because she was free, and after tonight, they would be together forever and always. No more talk of destinies and Talents she wanted nothing to do with anymore.

She clutched a hand against her bodice and grinned foolishly at the flowers. The sharp snap of a stick, pulled her out of fanciful revelries, and she turned to find a man approaching. Heart jumping when she recognized him, her mind turned to confusion and then excitement. He was supposed to wait for her outside of the stables, but he'd clearly been as impatient to begin anew as she was.

No movement was made, but a sharp pain erupted in her abdomen. Clutching the blossoming red flower that stained her gown, she tried to run. The dress turned traitor, dragging her to the soft ground as it tangled around her legs. Crying, she raised a bloody palm to ward off any further injury. He smiled. Dimples and blue eyes like the angels, but she felt hell clawing at her soul.

"Calm love," he whispered. "It'll be over soon. I'm doing what's best for you." His voice was like honey, stealing the will to live and forcing her fear away. She turned away from him, trying to gather her thoughts enough to remember why she was hurting. "Sleep now. Sleep."