Blue put her hands on her hips, and the boy’s eyes skated down to her tomahawk. “Why would our kind be interested in someone who can choose their fate?”
“Because the choice can be taken away.” Viktor looked between the kids. “Apologies for any crude language, but you must have heard all this before.” He sat down on the sofa where Blue had previously been sitting, the scenery blurring behind him. “For centuries, there have been those who’ve hunted Potentials. Some were killed, but others coveted them. Humans are so much easier to manipulate and control than someone born as a Chitah or a Shifter. Those who are born Breed have innate qualities of strength and defiance. Humans are malleable. A Vampire can make their own progeny, so they have little interest in Potentials. But not every Mage is a Creator.”
Claude frowned. “But most other Breeds can mate and have their own children.”
“They do not want these children to raise; they want them for other purposes. Mates, perhaps even slaves.”
Spotted patterns rippled across Claude’s arms and neck, and a growl settled in his throat as he dipped his chin. Blue nudged him, probably so he wouldn’t scare the kids.
“There are those who believe Potentials become the purest Breed,” Viktor continued. “Because they have human blood, it is a clean slate. No mixture of different Shifter animals in their lineage, no inherited defects. But it does not matter what they believe. It only matters that we protect the children.”
“Stop calling me a child,” the boy snapped. “I’m sixteen.”
Ignoring him, we all took a moment to digest the new information. Christian didn’t appear surprised to learn about Potentials, and neither did Shepherd.
“How do they choose?” I asked.
Viktor loosened the collar of his turtleneck. “A Potential becomes Breed with the first person they have intercourse with, even if they have been with humans.”
The boy’s face turned beet red.
“Cool necklace,” the blonde said, eyeing my ruby with interest.
I tucked it beneath my sweatshirt. “Thanks. So what are your names?”
“I’m Carol. It’s an old-fashioned name, but the people at the orphanage named me, so that’s what I got stuck with. Carol. Probably someone’s great aunt.”
“I think it’s a lovely name,” Blue said.
Carol shrugged. “It means champion, but I don’t feel like one. I just do what everyone tells me so I don’t become somebody’s love slave.”
The hair on my arms stood up when Claude snarled and backed up.
Carol slinked down in her seat, her eyes fearful.
“He won’t harm you,” Viktor assured them. “Claude is very protective, and if he does not go into the bedroom and calm himself, you will see just how protective he can be.”
Taking the hint, Claude separated himself from the group. I wondered if anyone brought tranquilizers.
“I’m Eve,” the other girl chimed in. “And this is my brother, Adam.”
“Whoever gave us our names is an idiot,” Adam said. “She’s my twin, and that’s just gross.”
“Hey, don’t call me gross!” She shoved him, but he didn’t shove her back. Adam took it and rolled his eyes. Despite their bickering, I sensed a bond between them. They had each other, whereas Carol had no one.
“How old are you?” Blue asked Carol.
“Fourteen. I’ll be fifteen next month. Does anyone have any gum?”
No one moved, but then Christian reached in his pocket and handed her a pack.
“Thanks.” She peeled off the top. “I prefer bubble gum, but whatever.”
Blue sat to Viktor’s right and rested her arms on the divider as she looked at Adam. “Why did they bring you all the way up here from Mexico?”
“Our mom died after we were born. They never told us how or why. Someone down there must have seen our marks and reported us. I guess they didn’t have any secret hiding places, so they moved us up to Jersey, then Nashville, then here. They don’t like to keep us in one place for too long.”
“Why not?”
