Page 61 of Tainted Gifts
She takes a deep breath, letting her words fall down and resonate before continuing.
"That's right. Clay Jude, my best friend, healed you, saved you with the very blood you all fear right now. My blood. I'm the daughter of the emergent who survived past her fated end. My blood brought this world back to life. Do you fear me for saving you? Do you fear my gifts? The ones who saved you from the man no one else was powerful enough to defeat?"
Everyone gasps, fully understanding now. They dare not whisper aloud, worried about what she'll hear them say. A few glances pass to me, and Jase pulls me even tighter to his body in a protective motion. Not that he could do anything if they all came after me. He took an oath to serve the people.
"Fuck my oath," he laughs out, not caring who overhears, acting as though I'm crazy to think he'd let anything happen to me over his promise to his rank.
Mom lets the roar of surprise simmer down before continuing. Jase smiles, apparently listening in on the minds of everyone.
What are they thinking?
He smiles bigger, leaning over to whisper. "They're thinking they really, really don't want to piss your mother off. They feared her before they knew her secret. They think you've been holding out, so they're worried what might happen if they piss you off as well. Not to mention, the hybrids realize how right she is about them and their pointed out hypocrisy. The full bloods realize they'd be dead by now had it not been for the woman the nation has adored for hundreds of years. Your mom just kicked ass. That's what they think."
I smile, wishing I could somehow tell her that.
"Do you understand what's happening? Someone is desperate. They could be creating an army of emergent hybrids, and we just found one of their honey holes. Do you want to be the monsters they come after because of your ignorance? They'll give you a reason to fear them if you keep killing them for the blood they have. Do you want to face an army of emergent hybrids with none of your own to defend you? Because I'll sure as hell walk away from here with my life, and I can promise you that I won't be here to save you ever again."
Jase stands, adjusting his tie and releasing me as he goes to join my mother again. He looks to the committee, and one of them pulls off their hood before addressing the commander of the United.
"Commander Ericson, were you aware of Mrs. Mordel's lineage before today?"
He smirks, not feeling worried at all. They're about to relieve him of his title or take his life. I'll kill everyone here before I let them touch him. My gift will be too afraid to fail me.
Jase smiles back at me, letting me know he just heard my protective thoughts, and then he turns his attention to the uncloaked woman.
"Yes I did. As commander, I was granted access to such things. I also knew what Aria Banner was before I started dating her, if that's where you're going with this. After learning about how Araya gave us a much better quality of life, I decided it was information I could live with. Do you disagree?"
She squirms uncomfortably, her eyes shifting behind her to gauge the reaction of the crowd. Then she shakes her head while leaning back.
Jase stands beside my mother, not wavering on his stance as he stares fearlessly into the eyes of everyone.
"Does anyone disagree with the decision I made? If so, you're welcome to vote for impeachment."
He stifles a grin as he listens in on all the inner thoughts of everyone. Then, a hybrid general stands. I know him. General Dyson. He's a level seven hybrid, and he's gifted with some type of fire gift.
"I think these children should have the chance to prove all the bullshit wrong, Sir," he says very formally. "Personally, I'd love to welcome them to the United force one day."
Jase smiles, nodding in appreciation. "Anyone else have anything to say?"
And from there, everyone stands to agree with the commander, which makes Mom visibly relax. Jase pats her arm, and she winks at him before heading toward us, smiling at my Uncle Brazen like she wants to do disgusting things with him.
Ew.
"Then it's decided," a committee member says while reading the votes passed down by all the others. "The children will have their chance to live, and evolution will occur. May they all turn out like Araya Crush."
Suck up.
"Stand down, Corbin. Araya just managed to rock the house," Uncle Brazen says into the phone.
"Fucking really? How?" Corbin gasps, disbelief in his tone.
"She's Araya," he says with adoration dripping from his tone before hanging up and pulling my mother to his body.
Watching their connection, I realize it doesn't have to be a counter to make you that crazy in love. But in the end, Mom chose Dad. Dad had a span. Kellan doesn't.
"Let's get out of here," Mom murmurs as the meeting adjourns.
I nod, looking over my shoulder for Jase, but I frown when I see him being flogged by the whole damn building.
