Page 76 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“Hold to your memory of her while you hold to us, and step inside your divination affinity,” Rooke instructed.

I seized onto memories of my grandmother and wrapped an imaginary hand around my bonds with Wild and Rooke. I heard Wild grunt as I drifted up my divination affinity to where my demon used to be. Passing through her uninhabited black smoke to continue further into my magic was strange to say the least. Who would’ve thought I’d miss her hisses and glowing red glares?

I really did.

I blinked as black smoke rose ahead to form a wrought-iron gate. “High school.”

“You have mixed memories of high school.”

“Yes,” I murmured to the voice in my head. “I wanted to know more of humans. I wanted friends. But I could never have real friends with what I hid from them. Syera made school bearable, and I enjoyed learning humans’ ways, though some of their teachings are ridiculous.”

I walked out the school gates toward Grandmother, who stood leaning against our car of the week. She couldn’t drive, but she could use her magic to move the metal box where she liked.

The voice asked, “How did Syera find school?”

“She liked to think of humans as little pets. She doted on those who displayed good behavior. Was admonishing to any who stepped out of line. She ruled the school openly.”

“Openly?”

“I ruled it, really,” I said, my lips curving. “But no one knew. I didn’t want them to know.”

“It must’ve been hard to never grow close to anyone.”

My heart panged. “Secrets have a way of keeping people apart.” My current life was further reinforcement of that life lesson.

My grandmother snapped at me, “About time.”

“I always finish at the same time, Grandmother.” I kissed her cheek. “Good afternoon.”

“Yeah, yeah. Where’s the other one?”

“With her human chauffeur of the day.”

Grandmother cocked a white-gray brow. “Too cool for her grandmother, is she?”

“She has a reputation to uphold.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I just need her to uphold hers in order for my plans to go ahead.”

She cracked a grin, and the wrinkles beside her mouth deepened. Her gaze shifted over my shoulder. “You part of those plans, boy?”

Wild answered from behind me. “I’d like to be.”

“You are or you’re not,” she spat. “Decide.”

“I am,” he said firmly.

She glared. “Next time lead with honesty instead of wasting my time.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Grandmother maintained her glare, then was in the car in the next instant. I was on the middle seat, and Wild sat to my left. Though… I couldn’t recall climbing in nor opening the car door.

“Where are we off to?” asked my mother from the front seat.

I shook my head. Had she been here the whole time?

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