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The memory of the document I had found at my mother's house hit me like a brick to the head.
“I found something a few weeks ago.” Everyone looked at me. “A document.”
Everyone seemed to be waiting for me to say something, but I didn't really know how to confess that I had withheld information to protect my mother. Something that didn't matter anymore anyway.
Larissa raised an eyebrow. “Bayla...”
“It was among my mother's work documents.”
“And you're only telling us this now?” Julie looked at me in disbelief.
I raised my hands in defense. “I didn't really know if I should tell you, because my mother told me not to talk to anyone about it.”
“I'm your best friend!” Larissa looked at me aghast.
“I wanted to tell you, but then Alarik told me not to tell anyone about it and…”
“You showed it to Alarik?”
Emely sounded flabbergasted, and now all three girls were staring at me as if I were a felon and they were the justice system.
“I'm sorry... after I showed it to Julian, he said I should show it to Alarik...”
“You did what?!” Larissa jumped up. Her eyes began to glow red.
Great... Why did I always make things worse?
“I'm sorry, it was the night my mother sent you away, and then there was only Julian left.”
No matter what I said, it only got worse.
“Glad you had fun at your little sleepover without your bestie.” Larissa sounded seriously offended. “And I thought we didn't have any more secrets from each other.”
“Wait... Julian slept at your place?”
I looked at the surprised Emely and my overwhelm grew.
“Could we maybe clarify what this is about first?”
I gave Miles a grateful look, and Larissa slumped back onto the sofa in a huff.
Finally, I had time to pull my phone out of my pocket without having to look at the other girls. Still, I could feel their eyes on me and my cheeks grew noticeably hot.
When I found the picture, I reflexively handed my phone to Larissa, who literally snatched it from my hand.
“Research results. At first, we thought these were from my mother and Amanda Westcode, but Alaister is probably the research partner, even though that theory doesn’t quite match the date. But who knows how accurate these dates are.”
The thought had crossed my mind a week ago when I had gone through the document again, searching for hidden clues regarding my origins.
Mum had obviously done some research. But the fact that it had taken place within the context of this secret society now explained her fear. And it heightened mine about what might await her in Moenia.
“Jeez. Looks like being a Ruisangor is also a curse for Legacy men. I wonder if that also applies to the Transformed,” Larissa wondered, looking at Miles, who was staring at my phone’s display with a serious expression. Suddenly, Larissa laughed. “If this is true, then we’re a real danger to everyone.”
No one laughed.
Miles impatiently took the phone from his sister's hand and his jaw began to work as he scanned the document.
I stared at Larissa.
