“Eventually, yes, but there are easier ways for things to come to pass.”
If that wasn’t cryptic as shit, I didn’t know what was.
“Though knowing the future doesn’t make decisions easier, does it?” she asked.
In front of me, Asami’s eyes bounced back and forth between us, and I knew that despite being so young, she was eating up every word of this conversation. I was relatively certain Alex didn’t have any kind of premonition, but why? And did anyone else in his family have it?
I cleared my throat. “I don’t have that ability like I think you do.”
“It only runs in two lines of our people, and it’s the strongest in your family. Some abilities work that way. I inherited it through my great-grandmother on my father’s side, but my daughter took after her father,” she clarified. “With the right mix, I think it would continue. I would like to see that happen.” There went another sneaky little, loaded word.
I eyed the board hard though I wanted to focus on her instead. “Mine is mostly just a stomachache when something bad is going to happen, or when something monumental is, but usually only right before it does. Maybe a few hours depending.” It felt unreal to be having this conversation with her. To actually admit that maybe there was something in me that might actually be Atraxian.
Asami’s bright blue eyes glowed suddenly for a moment, like she didn’t control it, reminding me of just what was possible and what wasn’t.
“That talent is too diluted in you. It’s a testament to the strength of your line that you still retain some of it,” Grandmother said.
That had me meeting her incredible purple gaze. “Really?”
A small smile tweaked her mouth. “Oh, yes. My mother admired your family greatly. She wanted her brother to marry your great-grandmother, but she wouldn’t have him.”
My great-grandmother had to be the baddest bitch there was, because I had a really hard time picturing anyone telling this woman or anyone like her no.
“She knew our lines weren’t meant to cross then. It wasn’t until decades later that I understood why it wasn’t supposed to happen with them.” Grandmother’s attention moved to her great-granddaughter and lingered there, contemplative. “Your ancestors were the ones who led us here, who promised us that this was where we were meant to go when they left Atraxia. It may have cost them in the end, but I don’t think they regretted their choices. Not many can say that about their decisions.”
“What decisions? Letting their… strengths die off? By marrying humans? Having children with them?”
“Yes. They were the first to distance themselves when we arrived here. They insisted on integrating. So the story goes,” she said.
“Grandma said you and Uncle Lexi are gonna get married,” Asami whispered with a gleeful look in her eye. “Can I be the flower girl?”
I almost fainted, and I know I wasn’t imagining the dry chuckle that rose from Grandmother’s throat.
“Ithinkyou’re going to have”—she held up two tiny fingers—“two boys.”
I swear I swooned, and I might have fallen out of the chair if her hand hadn’t shot out and grabbed me by the side of the shirt to keep me in place.
“I don’t… I don’t know about all that, Asami,” I tried to say and heard it come out high and wheezy as I gripped the table to keep from falling over. “We’re friends, and I like him, but I don’t think….”
The little girl’s eyes flicked toward her grandmother, and I saw the smug, smug smile form on her face. I didn’t need to look over to know the older woman was probably smiling at her too, mixed up in their own little secrets. Secrets I was pretty sure I partially understood.
“Remember what I told you about choices,” Grandmother said. “Life is full of them, but there are some that matter more than others.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY
A few days passed,and I still hadn’t heard a word from Alex. Not a call or text. Not even a smoke signal.
It was fine. It was cool. It wasn’t like he knew my number anyway.
Knowing his sneaky ass, he might have gotten it somehow behind my back though.
In the meantime, I took my time putting the finishing touches on my new work site. The same one that I really wasn’t sure I would be able to use. I planned on talking to Alex to see what he thought.
I’d also wandered around the property. I had annihilated a lot of his food supply too, not wanting to leave the house and drive his fast car. I’d swear I went through a pack of cookies faster than I thought I would and that there had been more sodas in the fridge, but I figured I just had my mind on more important stuff and wasn’t keeping track.
I slept a lot too. Iwasfeeling better, but my body was still so tired. My soul was as well if I was going to be honest. That conversation with Alex’s grandma had really gotten under my skin and into the cavities of my heart.
I was just as confused as I was lonely, and it was weird to be both when I thought my past would have prepared me for all the time being spent in a quiet house.
