“I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
That’s the fucking problem with all of his plans. They didn’t think far enough ahead to all the possible outcomes and probabilities should their plan fail. “You said your sister doesn’t know she’s alive?” It’s a rhetorical question right now, but I’m mostly thinking out loud at this point.
“Yes.”
“Is she still in Territory Two?”
“Yes.”
“Why would she stay there, knowing they killed her child?” Liam asks in disbelief.
“To protect the rest of the pack. Not all of the pack members are as horrible as their Alpha and Beta. The only time a pack member can leave is if they die. It’s not their fault that many of them were born into a pack as horrible as this one. During our time there, we could see it bothered everyone to witness how Jessica was treated. But they were too afraid to defend her or stand up against her bullies. Many of them tried to help in secret. Like I said earlier, those who did help died. I was told things got worse after I was removed from the territory.
“She’s too invested in the pack’s wellbeing to leave and wanted to stay to help them where she could. With the limited access outside of Territory Two, courtesy of Beta DuPont, it would be difficult for my sister to learn that Jessica is Grit. Sinceour plan to take Jessica to the Void didn’t work, we decided not to tell her that she’s alive.”
“Then we leave it that way. If Dimitri ever returns for vacation or whatever, this ensures it won’t accidentally come up. In the long run, this is to protect them as well.” Especially if Elaine goes to her uncle or cousin in retaliation for being sent away. They all agree.
“What if he recognizes her?” Darwin asks.
“Tell him you were ordered not to tell anyone about her whereabouts to protect her from the Resistance. In your case, tell him you didn’t know anything because she can’t remember anything before she was found.”
“If he pushes for more answers?” He’s testing my patience. Why can’t he be more like Liam and stay quiet?
I sigh. “Then tell him to talk to me.” I stare, waiting for more questions.
“I’m done,” he says sheepishly.
“You sure?” he nods,
“You must have driven Charlie and Ean crazy.” I smirk at the thought.
“Oh, no, wait. I do have another question, but it’s for Sodie. Been thinking about this one for a while now,” I motion with my hand for him to ask away. “If you have the ability to heal others, why did you wait so long to heal Jessica?”
“That thought crossed my mind a few times as well,” Liam concurs.
Sodie explains, “I couldn’t get into her room. She always had someone with her. The Luna Queen, Luke, one of the twins, the nurse, or the doctor. Finally, Luke left to come here. I was on night shift duty. So, I snuck into her room. Her body was so badly broken; it took a lot of magic out of me. I wasn’t even close to finishing when I heard someone in the hallway. I left. Ithought I would have an opportunity to work on her later that night, but I didn’t expect her to wake up and start running.”
I frown at the memory. “I was in the area that night. I would have seen you in the halls.”
“I never said I sneaked in through the main door of her room.”
“So, you climbed in through the window?” Darwin asks.
“Nah, more like went through the window,” Sodie answers with a mischievous grin. “My superpower is intangibility.” Sodie lifts his arms and then pulls them down, right through the dishes and table. He raises them again without disturbing a single item.
I knew there was more to his magic than he let on. That requires a lot of control. It also explains how my grip on his throat literally traveled right through him. “How long have you had your magic?” I ask.
“Since I can remember, my parents and older siblings tell me I used to run around naked half the time because my clothes would fall right through me.”
“When did you develop your healing powers?”
“When I met Jessica, my brother and I spent so much time patching her up. One day out of nowhere, we just healed her.” He pauses before continuing. “Dimitri started to demonstrate magic around the same time,” he mumbles, almost to himself. Worry furrows his brow. “I just want her safe. I’ll do anything to make sure she’s safe.”
“We all want that,” I reply.
Darwin squeezes Sodie’s shoulder.
We call for one last round of beers, and I send a round to the two young men in the corner. I had texted them to meet me here, but I didn’t think our conversation would take this long. I sure as hell didn’t expect Sodie’s revelations. The young men approach our table.
