He laughed. “But I am not a female.”
My brow furrowed.
Barrett’s eyes widened a hair. “You don’t know.”
I hated admitting being out of the loop, but I had no clue what he was talking about.
“Female Chimeras are far more powerful than males. Not everyone can access their true forms, but seventy-five percent of our females can.” His eyes flickered. “Or they used to.”
Something in his tone piqued my attention. “How many females are left?”
A sad smile. “Rhona’s death left only one.”
I sucked in a breath. “No.”
“I’m afraid so. You are the last living female Chimera, Evie Quinn. And our last hope to keep our bloodline true.”
Chapter
Thirty
Moira swore viciously. “Is that why you wanted her?” She looked like she was about to come out of her chair and claw his face off.
He shook his head, watching her warily. “Not at all. But Evie must know how important she is to our kind and the good she could do if she wanted to. Her bloodline is unique and must be protected at all costs. If anything, consider me a form of protection.”
A thin smile before adding, “Though I do not believe she needs any protection. She’s more than proven her capability of protecting herself.”
“True that,” Moira said proudly.
“In saying this, I have to add a caveat.”
“You better not say a word about my ovaries,” I growled, fed up with every single man on the planet at that moment.
“You need a teacher,” he said bluntly. “Chimeras are masters of magic, and you have relied on blunt force instead of stealth. This is the second reason I came here. Allow me to show you who you can become. Then decide on your path forward. With or without us.”
I didn’t sense any subterfuge, which made me nervous. Nothing he proposed was simple. Not being taught how to master my magic or stepping up to act as the Chimera representative, an act that would paint a big fat target on my back.
I looked at Moira who simply shrugged. “This one’s on you. I think you should go for it, though.”
“Doing so will change everything. You, me, Ash and Tess, the shop. Where I fit in with Caelan.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “You need to ask yourself if you want to keep living in fear or if you want to be able to finally exist as you are.”
Barret wisely stayed quiet, allowing us to debate.
Finally, I squared my shoulders. “I want to meet the other Chimeras.”
He didn’t say no right away. “Why?”
“I want to see who I’d represent if I chose to step up.”
“We can’t gather everyone in one spot. Are you amenable to video meetings?”
“With some, yes.”
Barrett nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Fine.” I crossed my arms and stared him down. “In the meantime, what are we going to do about the swans?”
