The Guardian Lineage by Seth Z. Herman

didn’t really care at the moment. “Why does this all have to happen to me ?”
    Garzan was silent for a minute. “I think you can answer that one yourself, Michael.”
    â€œBecause of Rafael? I don’t care that he was my great-grandfather, I’m not him! I’m not some two-face who’ll betray his friends, I swear it!”
    â€œI’m happy to hear that, Michael, but that’s not what they’re after.”
    Mike took a deep breath, trying to keep himself together. He realized yelling at the guy who just saved his life would not help matters. “My mom mentioned something. About my family’s power.”
    Garzan nodded. “That is what they seek. And it is my job, amongst others, to make sure they don’t get it.”
    â€œBy keeping me locked up?”
    Garzan chuckled as he switched off the brights for an oncoming car. “No, Michael. By turning you into the most powerful force for good the world has ever seen.”
    Mike didn’t know how to respond to that little nugget of information. He was already uncomfortable with his newfound yet uncontrollable power, and it sure didn’t seem like he was worth all the trouble. What would the bad guys steal, anyway – some kid who blew stuff up by just thinking about it? Okay, that could be useful, but Stockton had said this war had been going on for centuries – surely the bad guys had other ways of detonating Guardian targets without needing to steal an actual Guardian kid…
    â€œYou’re not the only one they’re after, you know.”
    Mike cocked an eyebrow. “I have cousins here at Windham?”
    â€œNo, Michael.”
    â€œThen who…”
    Horror spread through Mike’s limbs like he’d downed a shot of whiskey.
    â€œWait, my mom ?”
    â€œShe was able to get away,” Garzan said softly. “But I do not know how long she will be able to hold out.”
    â€œThen get her here to Windham!” Mike said desperately. “Bring her here, protect her!”
    â€œIt’s not that simple, Michael.”
    â€œNot that simple? Okay, I get it, I come from a family of traitors. But she’s not a traitor, I’m not a traitor—”
    â€œListen, Michael.” The Headmage paused to navigate a sharp turn in the forest road. “I know you don’t realize the severity of it all, but we are in the middle of a war with the Brethren. Our Guardians are not all here at Windham. They have other… tasks to perform.”
    Mike thought of the dream he’d had the previous night, about how his mom was warning him about a spy in Windham. Could it be that his mom was doing Guardian spy work herself, somewhere else? He thought about telling Garzan about the dream, but for some reason, he didn’t think the Headmage would take him seriously, not after the stunt he’d pulled tonight.
    â€œWho were those guys, anyway? Black Brethren?”
    â€œPerhaps,” Garzan said absentmindedly, “Or maybe Slayers.”
    â€œSlayers?” Mike echoed. “What are Slayers?”
    Garzan pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
    Of course, don’t tell me. They almost killed me, but it’s not like it might ever happen again . Mike looked back out his window. The trees passed rapidly, the headlights making it seem like the forest was five feet tall. Above that, everything was black. As if the forest held deep secrets, and was unwilling to let anyone see but a glimpse of what might be.
    Kind of like how Mike’s life was unfolding.
    â€œBy the way,” the Headmage said as he pulled the SUV onto Windham’s driveway, “I’ve spoken to Magus Stockton about reinstating you into Sparring class. I know he has his methods of discipline, but I’m afraid we may not have time for you to miss a week of class.”
    Mike didn’t say anything. He couldn’t tell if the Headmage was trying to do him a favor, or