Page 100 of Kingdom of Chaos
“Well,” Imogen laughs, “too bad he went to all that trouble, because our girl Locklyn over here opened the portal to the human world anyway.”
“She sure did,” Kade says, and then his gaze, along with every other head in the room, turns in my direction.
“What?” I say, blinking as they all stare at me, Kade giving me a pointed look. I can’t help but let out a half laugh, unable to believe what he’s actually implying. “You can’t seriously think I’m a descendant of Lucian? That makes no sense. Lucian was this super-powerful creature, and I’m clearly human.”
“A human with the ability to wield magic,” Ares says, speaking up. “Do you think an ordinary human could do that?”
My mouth falls open. “Come on, that’s because of Shadow Striker. I don’t have my own magic.”
I glance around the table, expecting someone to back me up, but all I see are mixed expressions of surprise, concern, and even a little envy.
“Still,” Ares says, glancing over at Kade. “It’s her. I’m positive.”
“No way,” I say, shaking my head. I refuse to believe this.
“If that’s part of the prophecy,” Talon finally speaks up, “then why have we never heard about Lucian’s descendant?”
“That’s a valid question,” Kade says. “You haven’t heard that part because Lucian hid the full prophecy from the creatures in your world. In fact, from what we’ve been told, he forbade the original members of your Society from recording any account of his departure, which matches what you know. He didn’t want anyone to know that one of his descendants might one day be the cause of catastrophe.
“He feared someone would try to use that descendant to bring about the destruction of the human world. So, he left the creature realm and had every possible means of travel between the worlds sealed and guarded, ensuring his bloodline would remain separated from Shadow Striker.
“The hope was that this day would never come,” Kade finishes, his gaze shifting back to me.
“Stop,” I say, shaking my head. “I am not Lucian’s descendant.” I’m starting to sound like a broken record. “Igrew up in the creature world, remember? And let’s say, for argument’s sake, you’re right and Lucian did travel to the human world. If that’s true, then his descendant would be here, somewhere in your world, not in the creature one.”
“That’s right. His descendant would have been born here.”
Kade slides a manila folder across the table to me. I’d noticed it when we entered the room but hadn’t thought much of it.
“What is this?” I ask.
“Open it,” he says.
I glance over at Talon, feeling off-balance. Under the table, he places a hand on my knee and gives it a gentle squeeze. I take it as his way of saying he’s here for me, no matter what’s inside that folder.
Taking a deep breath, I flip it open. Inside is a single sheet of paper: a birth certificate for a girl. There’s a small square photo of a baby in the corner. Her features are scrunched like she’s about to let out a wail, and she has a full head of hair. According to the document, she was born here in New York a little over eighteen years ago.
“Why are you showing me some random girl’s birth certificate? Who is she?” I ask, looking up at Kade.
Kade stares straight into my eyes and says, “That’s you.”
Twenty-Seven
Dropping the birth certificate,I shove away from the table and stand. My body temperature spikes, and I’m sure flames are about to burst from my fingers.
Before that can happen, Talon jumps up and grabs my hands, cooling them instantly with whatever magic he’s using. A moment later, shadows swirl around the room, and Ensley gasps. My vision flickers, and suddenly everyone but Kade has a glowing aura.
I slam my eyes shut, overwhelmed. I want to curl up on the floor and disappear. It’s too much. The magic surging through me, this impossible story Kade and Ares expect me to believe. I just can’t.
“Everyone, out,” Talon barks.
Chairs scrape back from the table, and I think the others are actually listening and leaving until I hear Ensley’s tentative voice asking if I’m okay.
I don’t even know how to answer her. Am I okay?
Yes. No. Maybe.
All I want is to go back a few months to when I was just a girl without powers, hopelessly in love with her best friend. Life wasn’t perfect then, but it was a lot simpler.
