Page 124 of Shattered Omega

“What… does that mean?” I asked.

“Chronic idiopathic aura volatility disorder,” Shatter supplied. “AVD. It’s when an alpha goes into violent rages they can’t control. It’s really rare, but happens mostly when someone’s aura emerges for the first time because of extreme trauma—only… that type of AVD is often temporary or curable. Chronic idiopathic AVD, though, that means… Well…” She trailed off awkwardly. “Well, it means they don’t know why it happens, and it won’t stop.”

There was a strange silence and Shatter slipped from my lap, tugging the papers from Dusk’s grip and peering over them.

He let her take them, looking a little shell shocked.

He cocked his head. “I was put in one of the most secure facilities for dangerous alphas on the continent and they don’t even know why?” he asked, stunned.

“Oh—but, look,” Shatter said. “Decebal connected it all—he knew all the time, right? He thinks after you got the Atropa’s poison, most of the AVD symptoms vanished. Even your seizures became much more intermittent. That’s…” She frowned. “Well, that’s fascinating. You haven’t had any seizures in ages, right? Decebal said a few when you first got out, but that’s it?”

“The trials…” Umbra had to cover his spluttered laugh with a cough. “Cured you?”

Dusk tugged the paper back. “This all has to be wrong.”

Umbra snorted. “What did you want it to say?”

“I don’t know. Not this. Something… dramatic, like I went crazy and lost control of my aura protecting my baby siblings from a bad guy or something? Like… heroic.”

“You were heroic,” Umbra scoffed. “Apparently, you got five high-ranking members of the Harpy gang apprehended because you elbowed the fire alarm when you went down.”

“Decebal got the wrong file.”

“What about family?” I asked curiously. “Do you have siblings?”

“No,” Shatter said, scanning the document again.

“So… you were a spoiled Harpy-runner only child.”

“I’m not Harpy,” Dusk snapped.

“No, you’re not,” Umbra said. “Says here they didn’t want you after that, anyway.”

Dusk picked up his hot chocolate as if wanting to find something to do with his hands as he glared into the fire. “That was lame as fuck,” he grumbled at last.

“Exactly why I’m burning mine,” Umbra said with a grin.

“What if there’s someone out there looking for you?” I asked.

Umbra’s frown was stiff for a moment as he looked down at the paper. “There isn’t.” He looked at Shatter. “What about you, Nightshade?”

“I…” She chewed on her lip. “What do you think? Maybe… could someone read it and tell me if I should?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because… if we know, and it’s not good. I don’t know. You’ll always wonder. And besides, Decebal has seen them, if there was anyone looking for you, he would…” I frowned, realising what I was about to say.

“So… there’s no one,” she whispered.

My throat was dry, but she steeled herself, always so much stronger than I gave her credit for. She swallowed, glancing between us, and looking sure as she crossed back to me and settled into my lap.

“What are you thinking, Little Reaper?” I asked.

SHATTER

Are you sure?

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