Page 72 of Secret Gifts
“Your turn to be honest with me. No lies, no sidestepping. How do you know about emergents?” I murmur while pulling back from the kiss.
He sighs, his forehead pressing against mine as he does, and then he walks back around.
“Don’t freak out,” he mumbles.
“About?”
He turns back around, and he props up against the counter beside the slow-going coffeemaker.
“Your dad told me about you and your mom centuries ago,” he sighs out, his eyes looking toward the floor.
“What?” I shriek while jumping up. “And you’re just now mentioning this?”
“Please calm down,” he murmurs, his eyes still on the ground. “I can’t tell you anything else until you do.”
Hale Banner! I’d kick your ass if you were here right now!
“My mother? Does my mother know you know?” I gasp, suddenly realizing I could at least chastise one of my parents.
He stifles a grin for reasons unbeknownst to me, and then he shakes his head while finally meeting my gaze.
“Definitely not. Your mom would freak out. Your dad only told me because he wanted someone else to help him keep the two of you safe after he was gone. My family is very prominent, powerful people. We can make things happen, and he trusted me with your biggest secret.”
Holy shady Daddy.
“I can’t believe he told you and never told my mom. He didn’t keep anything from her,” I growl.
“He had to. The safety of you and your mom was all that ever mattered to him. In truth, it’s why he took the commander’s position to begin with. He knew he could keep anyone from ever doing emergent research. The fewer people who knew about the emergents and their secrets, the lesser the chance of your secret being found out. He spoke on behalf of the new commander, knowing he could trust him to take care of his family.”
I shake my head, the contents of all my drama sloshing together, and then I lower my head to the bar.
"So you lied when you told me you told me you didn't know until that day when I did my freaky thing and killed all those people."
I look away, feeling a little... I don't know what to feel right now.
"I didn't lie. I simply stated that I saw your eyes that day. I did. I never said that was the way I learned about you and your mom."
“Is that why you spoke to me that night?” I almost whimper, now feeling as though he was merely curious about something that isn’t supposed to exist.
His arms wrap around me, and he jerks me up to feel his shirtless, incredible upper body pressed against me, as his comforting embrace brings me back from the brink of tears.
“Not at all. I didn’t even know what you looked like. I came to that campsite because I felt like that’s where I was needed the most at the time. I can’t really explain it. Then I saw a girl sitting off to the side, her back turned on all the fun. I was intrigued, and I felt… I don’t know… a little drawn to you. I walked over, and then you told me your name. I wanted to meet you before I knew you were Hale Banner’s daughter.
"I only heard of Hedin's lashing that day. I didn't see it, so I had no idea it was you when I initially struck up a conversation. I actually found it humorous that I literally stumbled upon you."
I can’t believe my dad trusted a full blood with our secret. That’s so unlike him. The only full blood he ever trusted with such things was my Uncle Brazen. Why trust Jase so much?
“Your dad trusted me because I owed him a hell of a lot more than I could ever repay him for,” he says to answer my silent thoughts.
I lean back, my head tilting to the side. Something hits me. I think back, and I realize this isn’t the first time he has done that - answered my thoughts. Suddenly an image of my bloody side intentionally pops into my mind, and he winces while looking away.
“I can’t believe this,” I murmur in a nearly muted tone, my eyes growing wide in shock.
“You’re not the only one with secrets, baby,” he says with a bit of a smirk while walking toward the finished pot of coffee.
“You’ve been reading my fucking mind this whole time?” I screech, my cheeks suddenly heating up, and I feel his laughter rather than hear it.
“Sorry. It’s not like I can shut it off, and it’s not like I can just tell someone about my little ability. Full bloods aren’t supposed to have such a thing.”
