“Huh.”
“That’s it? ‘Huh’?”
I flush a little under her expectant stare. “What did Brandt say?”
“He said I cahnneled primordial magic. But I still don’t really know what that means. I’ve only been here for like three weeks.”
“Six months, for me.”
That takes her by surprise. “Aren’t you a little old for a freshman?”
She doesn’t know.
She has no idea what a moratus is.
Which means she has no idea who I am. And she’s the only one on campus who doesn’t seem to care.
Say it, coward.
Fuck.
“I was… a late bloomer.”
“Okay?” she asks, and the knot in my stomach tightens. But with a heavy sigh, I go for broke.
“You know how most people go through their epiphaneia after they turn twenty?” She nods when I look to make sure she’s following. “If your power doesn’t awaken by the time you turn twenty-one, general consensus is that it never will and you’re basically shunned. No one wants to associate with a failure. No family wants that kind of shame. Because power?—”
“Is the only thing that matters here. So I’ve been told,” she interrupts with an eye roll.
I laugh under my breath. “Exactly. As rare as that is, it’s evenmorerare for someone’s magic to awakenafterthe age of twenty-one. Like, only a handful of documented cases since we started recording our history separately from the humans. They’re called “morata”. Latin for ‘delayed’.” I see the moment she connects the dots.
“So when that chick said I was an idiot to piss you off, it’s because you’re a moratus?”
“Yeah…” I trail off.
“What’s so bad about that?” Fate bless her ignorance, I can almost pretend this isn’t the first normal conversation I’ve had with anyone in years.
“Because morata areexceptionallypowerful. It’s thought that the power inside of them is so great, Fate waits until they’re strong enough to wield it before it’s permitted to manifest. Not just physically, but mentally, too.” I tap my temple.
“Isn’t being more powerful a good thing?”
“Not if you’re too powerful for the Council to control.”
She hums in sudden understanding. “So, you got your magic late and the powers that be got nervous.”
“It’s not just that.” I brush my hand over my face and look away, debating on whether to tell her the more grisly parts.
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense,” she drawls.
“When magic like that is triggered, it’s… catastrophic.” Her eyes widen but she doesn’t interrupt, giving me enough ropeto hang myself with my next admission. “I was working as a bouncer at some shitty club. Lots of people. Lots of humans.”
“Oh shit,” dhe gasps, covering her mouth.
“When the Council hunters finally caught up with me, they told me I leveled an entire city block. Then they dragged me here to learn how to control it.” We sit in silence for a beat, dread making my stomach churn waiting for her response.
“They sent hunters after you?” dhe asks, frowning. That’s… not the question I expected. Shouting, running away, throwing things at me—that would have made more sense. “They broke into my apartment after stalking me at work.”
“Who did?” I practically demand, outraged at the thought of Council sending hunters after her like they did me.
