I closed my eyes. This was too much. Too horrible. “Masie, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe you did all that.” And while grieving her sister and brother-in-law.
“I did what I had to do to keep you safe. Jason, Melissa, and I agreed that as long as you didn’t show any powers or shifter traits, we would treat you as a non-supe. While magic is passed down, there’s never a guarantee a child will have powers. We just prayed you wouldn’t.”
I understood now. I got why they hid my past from me. I didn’t know if I would have done anything differently if I was in their shoes.
“I’m truly so sorry that we kept you in the dark, but it was the safest plan we had.”
“I know.” I wanted to hug her and soak in her comfort. “You did your best in an impossible situation. I love my parents and my siblings. I’m grateful for the life you’ve all given me.”
She choked back a cry. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’ve lived every day wondering if I did the right thing. If Amber and Peter would be disappointed in me.”
“No, Masie. I’ve had so much love and happiness in my life because of you and them. I might be behind the others here, but I’ll eventually get there. I’ll be safe here.”
“As long as you don’t tell anyone, Saige. You have to keep your past a secret.”
“I know. I will.” There was no way of knowing if anyone was still looking for me, or if the council still wanted me dead. There were hybrid students here, so maybe things had changed, but it wasn’t a risk I wanted to take.
“Do you need anything? More clothes? Anything for your room?”
I debated asking for a new blanket or something to add color to my side of the dorm, but it could wait.
“I think I’m okay for now.”
There was a sound in the background, and I could hear her talking to someone. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll do better about replying to your messages and calling you. If you think of anything you need or want to know, just reach out.”
“Bye. I love you.”
“Love you too.” She hung up, and I pushed my phone into my pocket.
The game was still going, and I watched from my spot at the players and the students in the stands. Life was carrying on for them. Everything was normal. They didn’t just find out a huge missing piece of their history.
I didn’t know what to do or how to feel. After the whole adopting and witch announcement, not much could shock me, but finding out that my parents were murdered, and I should have been killed with them, was a lot to swallow.
And it was another thing I couldn’t talk to anyone else about. It wasn’t just a matter of trusting my new friends. This was huge. My safety could be in jeopardy if the council found out I was alive. If the wrong person overheard . . .
I couldn't think about what might happen.
And Robert’s warning about not knowing who or what might be around to listen played in my mind. I couldn’t risk it.
After composing myself and filing the new information away with all the other recent life-changing news, I headed back to find Hannah.
Nothing I learned was actionable. I couldn’t find the person responsible for my parents’ death. I couldn’t search out their friends to see if there were more survivors. I couldn’t ask too many suspicious questions.
There was only so much one person could do, especially while I was isolated in the middle of Montana. The most important thing was to do what I came here for. Learn. Master. Control.
Someday, I would get all the answers.
“Everything okay?” Hannah asked when I sat back down.
“Yeah, just my aunt checking in.”
She smiled and pointed to the scoreboard. “You missed Malik’s try.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I know you spoke words, but I have no idea what you said.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “A try is like a touchdown. He scored his team five points.”
“Oh. Good!” I tried to match her enthusiasm but fell short.