“Miss?” the elderly lady called after me, and I hesitantly looked over my shoulder. “I may not know what danger was after your parents, but evil leaves its marks. Take care of yourself now.”
She nodded at both of us, but I continued to the road, not saying a word as hot pressure built inside my veins.
“Hey, Selene.” Ender’s hand softly fell on my shoulder once we were a block away. “You don’t have to face this alone. Confusion, pain, hurt … are all okay to feel.”
I stopped to face him. “It’s just…”
“It’s a lot.” He finished for me when I couldn’t. “But you aren’t alone.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and his arms engulfed me. Some of the smothering pressure released from me, and after a few moments of silence, he spoke.
“What’s the next step, Captain?” His voice vibrated in his chest.
“Time to make some calls.” I gritted my teeth and pulled away.
This wasnotwhat … I tensed. Ender must have realized and turned, following my gaze behind him … where myfatherstood next to some woman with black hair in a short bob. Something about the woman was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
Aura pranced down the road, looking happy to see us.
Chapter Thirty
Selene
“Sotellmeagainwhy we had to travel down the coast of the Adriatic Sea to grab a bite to eat.” I stood behind John—my father—in line at a small window carved in between other stone buildings. The ride in John’s rental car had been quiet.
John twisted so he could see me, merely giving me a look and turning back around. Aura didn’t receive any glances, even though she was cradled in John’s arms.
Ender’s arm brushed mine, and I leaned into him. The woman standing behind us who had come with John was Ender’s guardian, Priscilla. They boxed us in between them, and I didn’t like it.
The couple in front of us grabbed their food and walked away. John placed an order—in fluent Croatian—and walked off to the side. He set Aura down, much to her dismay, and waved for us to follow.
“She’s camouflaged. Similar to how the academy is.” Priscilla leaned in. When I raised an eyebrow, she nodded toward Aura.Oh. Now the lack of stares made sense.
Wind rustled the leaves as animals and insects hummed, and the ocean waves crashed against the shore somewhere behind the stone buildings and through the trees. It reminded me of my island life growing up—even though we had rarely left our home. Minus the quiet chatter among the few others eating, it would have been serene, but the silence among our group was stiff.
The man behind the counter handed four cardboard containers to John, and we headed to a nearby table.
“I’m trusting you’re not trying to kill us with food from a stone window.” Ender grabbed the box John held out and took a seat in one of the metal chairs.
“Opposed to the fast food restaurants with greasy, frozen food in America?” John sat and passed out the rest of the food as I joined them. “I have not been to this specific area, but all of these places are quite good.”
“Did you go tothese placeswith my mom?” I spun the box around, flipping the lid open. The smell of fresh sweet dough and Italian dressing wafted out. Two different types of deli meat and sliced-up veggies were stuffed inside a flaky loaf of bread next to a sliced-up apple. “And what makes you think I like whatever this is?”
“Your mom lovedburek.” John’s lips naturally curved upward as if a joyful memory tugged at the edges.
So, you did go to these places with her.I shook away the image of them walking along the uneven stones through small cities.
“We have food now,” I said. During the ride here, he had said he would explain everything, but first we needed to get food. “Explain.”
“You haven’t eaten.” He frowned.
“I’m not hungry.” The only question he had answered was why he had shown up when he did. Ender and I were already aware our phones could be tracked, but why show up at that moment? His answer? Noretta. Apparently, he knew that Noretta, the very kind neighbor, had still lived next door and figured his strong-willed daughter—like my mother—would figure it out, and he apparently wanted to be there for me when I did. His words. Not mine.
A grumbling noise came from my belly, and I glanced at the sub-looking thing. Mom had made Viv and me large sandwiches all the time growing up. John laughed at my stomach’s betrayal, his normal professional headmaster demeanor gone.
“I will talk, but you need to eat.”He sounded like Mom.“Noretta gave you the story, but I’ll still give you your background. Anna, your mom and I separated—not our marriage—physically from each other to protect you and Vivian.” John rubbed his empty ring finger. “Your mom had a twin sister who was also an ether mage.”
I spared a glance at Priscilla, waiting for her reaction. Something about her hollowed-out cheeks and strong jawline, straight black hair, and tall, athletic build was familiar, but I still couldn’t place it. While I didn’t know her, Ender seemed to trust her.
