"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 mean."
I nodded.
"He asked you to do this?"
"No. He couldn't speak. He held his arm out to me, the one with his atern, and he kept looking from me to...to them. My little brothers and Mom. They didn't have near as much magic as he did, so I...I got a knife from the kitchen."
Kason released a long breath and settled his lips against my hairline, his hand still cupping the back of my head.