Page 277 of Midnights
His lips twitch, like he wants to laugh but wisely chooses not to.
Fucker.
“If your grandfather had you swimming in a freezing lake with no clear reason or pattern, then he must have known.”
My stomach drops.
“Known what?” The words come out a question, but deep down I know exactly what he means.There’s no way.
I’m soaked, I’m freezing, and I’m not in the mood for more cryptic bullshit.
“What are you saying, Cam?”
Please tell me he’s not about to say what I think he’s going to say.
“Your grandparents must have known about your magic, Rae.”
No.
He watches me carefully. “Think about it, the cold water, it wasn’t some random endurance test or training exercise. It was to help you manage your emotions. To keep your power in check. I’m sure of it.”
The world narrows and my vision starts to go blurry.
“You mean… he was training me… to control my magic?”
The words feel foreign, like they don’t belong to me.
He nods slowly, “It makes sense. They might not have told you outright, but they were preparing you in their own way. They knew, even if you didn't.”
They knew. The realization crashes into me, knocking the breath from my lungs.
Theyknew. Theyknewthis whole fucking time.
A storm rages in my chest.
Anger, frustration, grief, relief.They knew.
For the first time since all of this started, something actually makes sense. I don't know if I want to laugh or cry.
“They should’ve told me.” I whisper, the words raw and bitter. “They should havetrustedme.”
My voice cracks, and I hate how small it sounds.
“They did trust you.”
Cam’s voice is soft, pulling me back before I unravel completely.
“Enough to prepare you.” His voice lowers, and I hear something serious settle in his tone. “Enough to believe that when the time came, you’d figure it out. Or at least train you enough for you to watch your back.”
The words hit something deep, something I’m not ready to look at.
And then he turns sharply, and everything about his usual easy going demeanor is replaced with intense focus. “Come on. This changes everything.”
And just like that, he’s walking away, already lost in thought.
I stare after him, while my pulse continues to spike, and my mind is spinning with a dozen questions, all fighting to be first.
“What do you mean this changes everything?” I practically jog to keep up, my breath coming faster.
