“What about my dad? Do I take after him too?”
The three adults shared a look, but Masie was the one to answer, “You would have shown signs by now, so we don’t think so.”
At least that was one thing I didn’t have to worry about. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the whole shifter thing.
“Saige.” Masie’s hand landed on my arm, and I opened my eyes, staring at where she was touching me. “I’ll explain everything, but we need to go.”
I furrowed my brows. “Go where?”
Mom answered, “There’s a school for young people like you. They can teach you how to use and manage the abilities you have.”
I snorted. “You’re sending me to a witch school? Who am I, Harry Potter?”
The similarities set in, and suddenly, it wasn’t so funny. My parents died when I was a baby. My pseudo aunt and uncle raised me. Now I found out I was a witch and was being sent off to a school. I really hoped there wasn’t some evil snake-obsessed weirdo missing a nose who wanted to kill me. I drew the line there.
Maybe I’d get an owl.
Dad chuckled. “Sorry, kid, but from what your parents told us about it, Drexel Academy is more normal than you’d think.”
Drexel Academy? They were serious? “You’re really sending me away?”
I stared at Brielle. I didn’t want to leave her. Or Aiden. Or my parents. They might be overprotective, and my desire to rebel was at a constant simmer beneath the surface, but I was a teenager. That was normal.
This. This was anything but normal.
“Oh, sweetie.” Mom looked like she wanted to come over and comfort me, but the sleeping angel in her arms prevented her. “It’s not like that. Attending the academy is the best option for you right now. You need to learn how to control your abilities. It’s not safe otherwise.”
“It’s not safe?” I asked.
“Your abilities, your powers, whatever you want to call them, are getting stronger without you learning how to control them. It’s getting more dangerous. Nothing was damaged from the earthquake or the water show, but that doesn’t mean that next time won’t be worse,” Dad explained.
I sagged against the cushions and gripped Masie’s hand. “Okay, so where is this school? When do I start?”
“It’s in Montana, pretty isolated so the students have free-range to test their abilities without drawing attention,” Masie answered, then dropped her eyes. “The fall term starts this week.”
I blinked. No. School wasn’t supposed to start for three more weeks. I still had some of summer left.
“That’s why we have to go.” Masie stood, and I looked at my parents.
“Now?”
They nodded, and Mom bit her bottom lip. “Masie has taken care of everything. You’ve been enrolled, and they’re expecting you to arrive tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I repeated. What about my friends? What about Aiden and Brielle? I couldn’t just up and leave. “But I have to say goodbye.”
Dad shook his head. “There’s no time. You have a flight to catch.”
“You need to go up and pack, sweetie.” Mom’s voice was tight like she was holding back emotions.
“But,” I stopped when I realized this wasn’t up for discussion. I had no other options. I’d woken up this morning expecting an ordinary Saturday, and within hours, I was being shipped off to Nowhere, Montana.
“Come on,” Masie offered her hand. “I’ll help you.”
I followed her upstairs, hearing the murmur of my parents talking but not able to hear their words. It didn’t matter. I entered my room in a daze and stood frozen next to the door while Masie went to my closet.
“Where’s your suitcase?” she asked, pulling clothing off the hangers.
I shrugged. “In the garage?”