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The ice at my feet began to spread even faster, shooting uncontrollably up the walls, encrusting the lamp, until the entire room shimmered dangerously like glass.

How did this power manage to create such quantities of water and transform them at such speed? What sacrifice did it demand in return?

Gloria's expression changed with every inch of ice that spread, and for the first time, I saw an unfamiliar look in her eyes.

She inspected me, first the floor, then me from foot to head, not without lingering on my belly, just like they all did. But with her, it was different.

I didn't want her to look at me like that, to look at my babies as if they belonged to her. Because that was how it was. I was her property. And with me, my children. Erik's children.

Our eyes met, and another unfamiliar expression crossed Gloria's face.

Was she afraid of my powers? Of me?

Gloria started to move, made a quick hand gesture that made her eyes flash gray before the door closed behind her. She kept walking and stopped in front of me.

Fear, which I hadn't felt in a long time, shot through my trembling limbs.

I heard the ice crack beneath us.

Abruptly, Gloria stopped.

“Rebecca,” she hissed, without taking her eyes off me. “Why is this girl using her powers?” Silence. “I specifically ordered you to teach her to suppress them.”

Surprised, I turned my head to Harlow, who had stepped back and was adjusting her glasses.

She had lied to me.

What exactly did she gain by disobeying Gloria's instructions?

Anger welled up inside me, but it couldn't overcome the fear that made me look back at Gloria.

Her gaze was fixed on Harlow. “She carries the child of prophecy within her, and may the gods protect your position if anything happens to that child!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rebecca walking around her desk. “How is she supposed to learn anything if...”

Gloria lunged forward toward the table, the ice beneath her feet cracking sharply. “She's not supposed to learn anything!” She slammed her hand down on the icy table, breaking more ice. “These destructive powers are a threat to our kind!”

A chill spread through me.

“We could use her as a weapon. Against the Senseque and...” Harlow replied steadfastly, and I looked at her in disbelief.

Me. As her weapon.

She seemed to be pursuing her own plans. And in those plans, I had no more value than I did in Gloria’s.

I should have known.

“Don't be ridiculous!” Gloria snapped at her, but Harlow didn't seem to know where Gloria's boundaries lay.

“She's making progress,” she insisted, looking back at me, but I could no longer look at her without any expression. Anger burned in my eyes.

A shadow all too familiar to me flitted across her face. The same one that adorned the faces of the Circle members as soon as I entered the main temple of Moenia in my white robe.

Fear.

Two powerful women in high positions. And both of them feared me. While one saw me as a dangerous weapon, the other saw me as a threat and wanted to keep me down while the Quatura society used me as their incubator. In both cases, I was an object to be used and controlled.

“I don't care!” Gloria growled, but she got no response, because Harlow was still staring at me.