Page 6 of Cursed Gift

In a moment, Papa Stephan was on his knees in front of me. He grabbed my hands. “Look at me, Izzy.”

I did as he said and the storm quieted.

“Remember we talked about focusing on the present?”

I nodded again, looking into my father’s eyes like they were an anchor in stormy seas.

Alexei was stiff next to me, looking on desperately but useless all the same.

“Is she okay?” Mother asked.

Papa Stephan nodded. “Maybe in a bit of shock.”

“Angry is more like it,” I said, the words passing through numb lips. “I saw it. I saw that same room. If I’d only known...”

“If,” Papa Stephan said, squeezing my hands once more to emphasize what he meant. “You had no idea of knowing that room belonged to the Chang’s.”

“But when they didn’t show…”

Papa Christian moved forward now too. “They were free to do as they pleased. We couldn’t have known that was the reason.”

I knew all this deep down inside, but I still felt the heavy collar of guilt choking me. I knew, and I didn’t do anything to prevent it.

Hands came up on my shoulders and squeezed me.

Alexei was warm, like the heat of fire on an otherwise chilled day. He rubbed my shoulders, still saying things to me I couldn’t quite latch onto.

Papa Christian gave my mother a look. A defeated one with a smirk that I couldn’t quite understand.

“I think we have to tell them all about my visions,” I said, picturing Felix when I did so. “We can’t wait any longer.”

“I thought you wanted to wait until after you chose your mates,” Papa Connor said.

“It’s not fair if I wait any longer. Not with this going on.”

“We’ll have to call a Council meeting,” Papa Christian said. “Everyone needs to know what happened to the Chang’s. We can’t sit on that information, so if you’re sure, you can tell everyone then.”

Alexei grimaced. I sensed his mood change as soon as I brought up the visions. He rose to his feet. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What?” I growled. I’d have thought he’d be on my side, wanting to be my mate and all.

He held up a hand and his eyes caught mine. “Defensively speaking. If you tell everyone about your visions, the word is going to get out there. It won’t be long before the enemy knows it too.”

“We don’t even know who the enemy is.”

“Exactly,” Alexei said. “We don’t need to give them any information. I don’t like lying about it either. If it makes you feel better, you can tell the ones close to you, but I wouldn’t tell the whole clan. Word would spread just like it has always done with you, Izzy. The people are fascinated, and this, having the same abilities as the past queen, it would reach far and wide. Probably to the very people we would wish to keep it from.”

“Fine,” I said, teeth clenched. I hated to admit it, but his warning had merit. “Even though I can’t control it and it’s barely useful to me, I guess we’ll keep it to ourselves still.”

“Isn’t that a good reason too?” Alexei asked.

My body burned with fire. He’d hit me right where it hurt most. I hated I couldn’t control this damn ‘gift’. If I could, I could’ve helped them.

I gasped.

“The ones who wanted to leave?” I asked, suddenly looking up, panic streaking through my veins. “Did you already send them away from here?”

“This morning,” Papa Connor answered. “It was only Kai who wished his mother to leave. She was sent with two guards to make the trek.”

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