Page 2 of Catalyst

“I have a friend at work who’s interested in you—Trenton Taylor. He’s a good guy.”

“Is he a six-five Korean pyromancer?” I challenged, knowing damn well it wouldn’t have mattered if he was. I didn’t like Sulien for any of those things; I liked him forhim.Sure, Sulien’s thoughts were an anxious mess, but his heart wassogood. Everything he said, he meant; none of it was an act.

I’d been spying on his thoughts since I started at Valor University. At first, it was an accident; I caught a few of his thoughts and immediately needed to know more about him. From then on, I followed him whenever I could, lingering close enough to listen in on him but far enough not to look like a creep. When my mom suggested I help clean up his reputation, I jumped at the chance just so I could actually have a reason to talk to him.

And it went better than I ever could’ve imagined. When he fell for me, he fell fast, hard, and true, and that made me comfortable enough to do the same.

“Uh… no?” Jack laughed awkwardly before sitting back on my bed.

Just being near him made the temperature drop by ten degrees. Goosebumps prickled my arms. I drew my knees closer to fend off the chill becausesomeonehad taken my blanket.

“He’s like an inch or two taller than me. Dark hair, dark eyes, super strength, dude can turn himself into solid metal, ninety percent sure he’s bulletproof—haven’t tested that, though.” Jack raked a hand through his short blonde hair as he blew out a laugh. “Dad thinks he’s going to be the top hero at Aegis soon. And it would look good on the center for him to be a Voltaris.”

My jaw dropped. Sulien had been dead for just a few months, and they were ready to sell me off? For the family’simage?

“What about what I want?”

Jack’s blue eyes bore into mine. “Callie—Mom and Dad are letting you keep the baby.”

“Lettingme keep my son? The one I made with my boyfriend, who is nowdead?”

Even if he hadn’t died, I still wouldn’t have given up the baby. Sulien had been too excited. I had my misgivings about being a teen mother, but Sulien and I would’ve figured it out together.

Now I had to do it all alone.

“Sulien would have ruined your life. He wasn’t like us;youhad a bright future. It was only a matter of time before he snapped and became a villain, just like his old man.” A wry laugh clipped Jack’s words. “Callie, our family only wants what’s best for you.”

“No, Mom and Rori want what’s best for me—you and Dad want what’s best for the Aegis Center.” My eyes started to burn, but I fought back the tears by clearing my throat.

Jack’s expression hardened. If I had been wrong, he would have argued with me. But I wasn’t. So, instead of fighting me, he stood up.

“Just get your fat ass dressed. Mom and Dad want to have breakfast for your birthday.”

I scanned his mind, trying to figure out if that was really the best insult he could muster. Unfortunately, it was. Sulien was right—my brotherwasan idiot.

I waited for him to leave before getting up and tugging on a pair of leggings and a tee-shirt that still fit, even if barely. Seeing as school was starting the next day, I probably needed to actually get maternity clothes—or at least something a size or two bigger.

I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror.

Just a few months ago, I had been exactly what my family wanted: always made up, not a hair out of place, the perfect, straight-A golden girl. Still, I had a power associated with villains, so they made me take suppressors. They forced me to claim that all I had wasempathyor, at most,minor telepathy. They even tried to convincemethat I was powerless, and I pretended they were right in hopes they’d love me like they did my siblings.

But now, all that was for nothing. No matter how hard I tried, I’d never be the Voltaris golden girl anymore. Instead, I’d always be the one who ruined our gene pool by mixing it with Vexxas’s.

My hand drifted to my stomach. I’d like to think if Sulien were here, he’d make me feel like I wasn’t fucking up my life, or that I still deserved to be loved. But he wasn’t, and I didn’t.

I sighed as I ran a brush through my hair and pulled it into a messy ponytail. My reflection made eye contact with me, and I gave her a sharp huff before heading downstairs.

The smell of freshly squeezed orange juice and cooked vegetables greeted me. Instantly, my mouth watered. For the past few weeks, all I’d been wanting was vegetables and cheese—specifically spinach, but I wasn’t picky. My mom knew this, and had kept ingredients on hand so that I could have an omelet every morning. Usually, I had to make it myself, though. Having my mom cook for me made me feel... special. I was an adult, but there was something undeniably comforting about being taken care of by my mom, even if I didn’t need her to.

When I finally got to the dining room, I was a little shocked to see only MomandDad sitting there. The second I came intoview, Dad looked away. Unfortunately, I’d gotten used to that. Mom smiled the second she saw me, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. That’s when I noticed just how heavy the atmosphere felt.

“There’s my baby girl.”

Mom rose from her chair to greet me. She wrapped me in a tight hug, burying my face in her auburn hair. She smelled like cinnamon and roses, the same way she’d smelled since I was a kid.

“How are you, sweetie?” She pulled me away and cupped my chin. “How’s my grandbaby?”

She smoothed my hair before dropping a hand to my stomach. The gesture was one I was still getting used to, even though she’d been doing it since I started showing.

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