“You mean, Tarian?” Dorian says.
Gael shrugs. “I suppose TarianisGaea’s spokesperson. Do you know why my uncle didn’t like me, Electra?”
I don’t askwhy, since he’s bound to tell me.
Sure enough, he says, “Because I outshone all five of his kids.”
Dorian snorts—again. Again, it doesn’t ruffle my conceited genitor. To think that Ines, who has little tolerance for most people,choseto marry this man. It seems incongruous.
Although shewasin Saul’s employ for a mighty long time, and he definitely had a high opinion of himself.
For some reason, I find myself saying, “Saul tried to pawn me off on your ex-wife, but she didn’t want me. Pretty ironic that I turn out to be your kid, isn’t it?”
The silence that ensues makes me glance around the room. No one meets my stare…
“Holy shit,” I gasp. “It’s not ironic. Ines knew exactly who I was! That’s why she didn’t want me.”
Gael works his jaw from side to side. And then he’s taking out his phone and dialing someone using speakerphone. Ines’s voicemail clicks on.
“Call me back when you get this,hun.” His tone is so brittle that it cracks like glass.
CouldIneshave dealt with my mother and given her hush money?
“How long has she known about me?” I ask Dorian. “And don’t lie, because I’ll find out.”
“If you don’t, I will,” Gael says.
I should resent standing on the same side as him—against my parents and Dorian—but I don’t. I’m glad to have someone in my corner.
“She was only trying to clean up your mess, Monta,” Dorian says.
Every cell in my body stings with outrage now. “By doing what? Abandoning me in the human world?”
“She didn’t know for sure that your mother was pregnant, Elle,” Dorian grumbles.
“She could’ve checked a few months down the line, don’t you think? I mean, it does take a wholeninemonths to make a baby.” Although aware that only Tarian or the mine can end an Atlantean’s life, I can’t help but ask, “Was she hoping that the woman who gave birth to me would end up bleeding me to death?”
No one says anything.
I get to my feet, nails biting into my palms. “Why do you all keep protecting that woman?”
Before anyone can stop me, I’m streaking through the living room and into my kitchen.
“Elle, wait!” Mom calls out. “Come back. Sweetheart, wait.”
With magic, I fling my front door wide and punch the elevator’s call button. And then I put up a wall to keep her from charging after me.
“Electra!” My mother’s palms are lifted and pressing against my barrier.
Before she can tear through it with magic, I spin, fury roiling through me. “Why didn’t she check, Mom?Why?”
“She was eighteen, trying to make her marriage work. Besides, you know how humans are around influential, rich?—”
“Stop making excuses for her. Stop protecting her!”
“Electra, honey…”
The force of my barrier bursts outward, blasting her bangs clear of her wet eyes.
