Page 45 of Catalyst

She let out an almost sarcastic sigh, and I narrowed my gaze. When Callie freaked out, I thought it was all stress. But, now I wondered if my mom used her fear manipulation to worsen an already unpleasant situation. Her ability was a powerful tool for leading Pittsburgh’s largest mafia, but powers like hers weren’texactly trusted in any sense of the word. Honestly, if Callie could do anything more than read minds, she probably would have been sentenced to be a villain, just like us.

“Mom.” I sat my glass down a little too forcefully, causing the white wine to slosh around the cup. “I swear toGodif you did anything to Callie–”

“I wouldnever.” She pressed a hand to her chest as she gasped. “Kane, she’s a sweet girl–but let’s be realistic. Some people just aren’t built forourworld. And while I’m sure she was alovelydistraction for Sulien, he had no reason to be messing around with a Voltaris.”

“Gianna, Callie loved my son. And that’s enough for me,” Shin said firmly before looking at whatever else Jace was showing him.

“It may be enough foryou–But how do we know the Voltarises weren’t involved in the showcase disaster? I mean–When my daughter got pregnant at sixteen, I considered killing her boyfriend.” Mom shrugged with a smile. “The only difference iswearen’t above the law… The same can’t be said for heroes.”

Shin’s brows tilted down, his gaze dropping to the table. As much as I hated it, Mom had a point, but the last thing we needed was for Shin to go out seeking revenge for his son.

“Mom, you were pissed Maya got pregnant because you didn’t like the guy.” I reminded her.

Once again, Mom shrugged. “It’s our duty as women to pick men with valuable abilities, Men likeSulien. But, no, she had to make a baby with someone who lackedanyability.”

I almost groaned at my mom’s comment, not only because I’d heard this spiel about Maya and being perfect for Sulien but also because of how tired I was of my mom rehashing the same archaic line of thought over and over.

Sure, it used to be commonplace for heroes and villains alike to pick partners based on the children they wanted to breed, butthat whole thing was fucking gross. Not only that, but women weren’t just incubators for the next generation of men.

Luckily, we, as a society, realized that was fucked up. Still, a few women, such as thelovelyGianna Anastasakis, believed power was more important than happiness. That’s why my sister and I had no clue who our dads were.

Fuck, to Mom, people were tools, nothing more. If it hadn’t been for Shin, that belief would have gone unchecked, and he was too powerful for my mom to dispose of.

“My son didn’t fall in love with Callie for her bloodline. He loved her because shesawhim. And I need you to stop talking about the mother of my grandchild like that.” Shin warned as he leveled my mom with a look that I knew meant he’d reduce this whole fucking house to ash if she didn’t stop.

“Remember, Shin. You’re a villain now.” My mom let out a heavy sigh as she ran her finger along the edge of her glass. “Honestly, you should have just stayed in Busan if you wanted to continue to play hero.”

Shin’s jaw tightened as his dark gaze bore into my mom. She should have feared the guy, anyone with sense did, but Mom had always felt untouchable.

“Gianna, you should know better than anyone that I do notcarehow the public labels me.” His voice had that quiet anger that was worse than screaming. “Heroandvillainare just words. As long as my family is taken care of, I’m content. Right now, Callie Voltaris is the only family I have.”

“Her name’s Calista,” Jace added.

Shin cast him a fleeting glance as he let out an annoyed breath. “CalistaVoltaris is my family.”

Mom arched a perfectly manicured brow. “Her father ruinedyourheroing career, which sent you tome, and you’re going to callherfamily?”

A look of apathy crossed Shin’s weathered face as his gaze slid to mine.

“Kane, Calista is sick… I think you and Jace should go take care of her,” he said far too calmly.

“What—no?” Jace protested. “I want to watch the old people fight.”

“Jace,” Shin warned before turning to me. “And you… I have a few things for Callie in my bedroom. Is there any chance you’d be able to give them to her?”

When the fight between my mom and Shin wore down, he led me back to his room. I wasn’t thrilled about leaving my mom with Jace, seeing as his favorite hobby seemed to be egging people on. But I didn’t think I had much of a choice.

Shin’s room was as empty as usual, or as he liked to call it,clean and uncluttered. On the wooden nightstand next to his neatly made bed was a stack of carefully arranged items–worn leather-bound journals, faded photographs, and a few half-melted toys. Each of them was labeled with Shin’s impossibly neat handwriting.

“Shin, what is this?” I asked softly, stepping forward just enough to run my fingers over the glossy material of the photos.

The one on top was of a much younger Sulien, maybe five or six, dressed in a WindWeaver costume. His smile was wide enough to showcase his missing front teeth.

Shin’s face softened as tears he refused to shed pooled along his lashes, shining with the same brilliance as diamonds but littered with the tragedy only loss could cause.

“I loved my boy.” He swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he did. “Andsheloved my boy. Sulien would often call and tell me as such.” Shin’s voice broke as he straightened his back, fighting to compose himself. “From my understanding, she’s lost her father, and I’ve lost my child… and though I willneverfill the hole left by Flynn Voltaris, and she’ll never be Sulien.” He stopped again, swiping the photo from my fingers and kissing it before slipping it into his pocket.

His hand lingered over the fabric as if that act alone could anchor him just enough to prevent him from floating away in his grief.

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