Page 38 of Origins

His stormy gaze settled on me as dark clouds gathered in the sky. It didn’t take a genius to know he waspissed off, and this was the last way I wanted to meet her father. But there was no turning back now.

I cut the engine and grabbed the plastic bag full of popsicles I’d picked up on the way over. Somehow, having an offering in hand felt like it’d help him like me more. Right now, Callie deserved more than popsicles, but this was all I could afford. Once I got my placement and started making real money, I’d provide for her better. I just hoped her dad could see that.

As I approached the front door, WindWeaver'eyes swept over me. “So, you must be Sulien,” he said calmly.

I extended a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

He looked at my outstretched hand as if it were garbage. For a moment, I thought he’d swat it away, but after a tense second, he took it. His grip was crushing, a test of strength, seeing if I’d crumble under pressure.

“You look like your father,” he commented, his eyes narrowing in contempt. “Never in my life did I think I’d welcome the son of Necro into my house.”

I shifted under the weight of his gaze. “I’m not my father, sir.”

“That remains to be seen.” His lips quivered into a grimace. “Nonetheless, I invite you inside.”

He stepped aside, motioning for me to enter. If Callie hadn’t been waiting for me, I might have turned and left. But I needed to be there for her.

Once inside, WindWeaver led me to a den, far from where I knew Callie’s room to be.

“Take a seat,” WindWeaver ordered, pointing to the brown recliner.

I swallowed hard and sat, the leather creaking under my weight.

“Were you aware that Calista isn’t allowed to date?” he asked, settling into the chair across from me.

Her name’s Calista? I tried to keep the surprise off my face. “No, sir, I didn’t.”

His gaze narrowed, and after a moment, he mumbled something about her being rebellious. That was something I could agree with, but he didn’t need to know his baby girl had been sleeping with villains.

“I need you to understand that under any other circumstances, I would rather kill you than bring you into my home.” His voice was smooth, but his words cut like a knife.

“Yes, sir,” I mumbled, not wanting to make this worse.

“That being said,” he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, “Calista is very... unwell right now.” Sadness colored his strong features. “And she said that you can make her feel a little better… Is that true?”

I never thought I’d see a hero like WindWeaver show vulnerability. But if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was scared.

“Yes, sir,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time. “I can’t make it all go away, but I can pull her fever out.”

WindWeaver studied me for a moment more, and I watched the internal conflict play out on his face. This man didn’t want to trust me, but he had no other choice.

“In addition to that... I would like to see you be able to provide for my daughter.”

His words caused me to jolt back. “...Provide for her?”

He nodded. “At the moment, you and Calista are on a path I do not approve of, but one I can’t stop… All I can do is support her, and to do that; I have to support you.” His nose wrinkled in disgust. “That being said, I am prepared to offer you a very tentative placement at my center.”

My eyes widened to the point that I feared they’d bug out of my head. The Aegis Center was a fast track to becoming a top-performing hero. But more than that, it was close, and Callie wouldn’t have to worry about me going away.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I barely listened tothe terms and conditions WindWeaver laid out. The most important parts were that I had to perform well in the showcase and take care of Callie—both of which I could do in my sleep.

Once our conversation finished, I wasted no time racing to Callie’s room. When I finally reached her door, I paused just long enough to catch my breath. Everything WindWeaver said swirled in my mind like a vortex. I needed to step up and learn how to provide for Callie; I needed to prove myself if I wanted to show the world I deserved a spot at Aegis. But those were future problems. Right now, none of that mattered. What mattered was making her feel better.

I forced my mind to stop spinning long enough to open her door.

She lay in her bed, swallowed by a mountain of covers, a space heater going in the corner, and despite all that, she still shivered.

“That’s not how you get rid of a fever,” I joked, unplugging the heater on my way to her bed.

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