I clear my throat and pick at my nails. “I was found two years ago, near the boundary of Emerald Territory, practically beaten to death. My brothers and Anders, I think, were the ones to find me. I don’t remember what happened to me or the life I had before I was found. Doc says it’s dissociative amnesia, most likely due to the trauma I experienced. I have nightmares—bits and pieces of being chased by wolves in the forest—and sometimes, I remember being beaten and a group of people shouting over me. Sometimes, something will trigger a reaction, and I’ll hear these voices in my head, saying these horriblethings. Other than that, nothing—no memories. I didn’t even know my real name. The only clue I had was the letter G written on the tag of my clothing I was found in.”
The knife in his hand clatters to the counter. His hand starts bleeding.
I rush toward him, grabbing a nearby towel. “Let me see.”
“I guess my career as chef is out,” he jokes. His hands shake.
I apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
“How are you still alive?” he mutters under his breath.
I look up into his brown eyes. I can’t decipher the emotion I find there. Maybe fear or worry.
He takes the towel with his free hand and peeks at the wound. “I… uh… should have this looked at. It’s pretty deep.” He takes a step back. “I need to… uh… go.” He moves quickly to the door.
“Owen? Did I say something wrong?”
“No. I’m just going to the clinic. I’ll be right back. You should eat while I’m gone.” He leaves me alone and confused because he’s a transitioned shifter. His hand would heal without medical attention.
Chapter 59
Sad News
JESSICA
Six Years Ago
Reggie is awake. Chris returns to his room to confirm everything Odyssey saw while he was unconscious. We let Reggie rest, and Chris asks me to follow him to the computer lab. Chris informs me that he has taken over the lead to find Tyler. He believes Tyler is still alive, and he will do everything he can to find him.
He has a plan, although I’m not privy to most of the information. He asked that I not mind link and to trust the process. I don’t want to heighten my anxiety even more by learning things I shouldn’t just yet, so I listen to Chris and put my trust in him.
Yesterday, Anders tasked Darwin to hack into the Larson and Sons firm database. Like Emily, Anders suspected something was going on with the Larson family. With Darwin’s new ability to hack into anything, courtesy of that mysterious yellow-white orb of light, he broke through the firewall and discovered a largeencrypted file labeled Project White Magic. Darwin is currently working to decrypt the data.
While we wait, Chris orders Odyssey, Alexis, and Skunk to search for a possible rat. The Leads and Shadow suspected someone when I was framed for the murder, but we couldn’t pinpoint anyone. Even when Tyler brought Darwin on board to help investigate, they couldn’t find anything solid.
None of the recruits acted suspiciously, and no other incidents have occurred since then. We kept what we knew tucked under our belts and moved on. My instincts tell me that we missed something, even though we covered our bases as well as we could. The Leads aren’t convinced that having a rat is related to Tyler’s attack, but they don’t want to leave anything to chance. Neither do I.
Chris sits me in the computer lab under watch. The Leads want to keep me safe until they obtain more information. Also, they want to stop me from creating more magic wielders.Like I did that on purpose.Apparently, I can’t even be trusted to sit alone in my dorm room either. So, here I sit, pouting like a child.
“Don’t be like that,” Chris scolds me, without looking up from Squirrel’s computer screen.
“Be like what?” I ask, feigning innocence.
“You’re pouting,” Chris replies.
“I am not pouting. Sitting here, doing nothing, makes me feel useless.”
Justin looks up from his computer. “You’ve done plenty. For now, we got this.”
I snort, ready to debate how I could help more, when Elias walks into the room, cutting off all potential protests.
“Hey. Anders just got a phone call from Kaminari’s father. Something happened, and he needs him to go home. He sent a car to pick him up. It should be here shortly.”
“Did Odyssey and Alexis clear him?” Chris asks.
Elias grunts a confirmation and motions for me to follow him. Once in the hallway, he looks around to ensure that we’re alone. He bends his head down and places a hand on my shoulder. “Owen’s mother passed away last night or early this morning. We weren’t given all the details of why or how it happened. Right now, I think he needs a friend.”
“Does he know? Did you tell him?” I search Elias’s face for an answer.
