Page 87

She smelled of soft rose, and the dark green of her simple dress accentuated her eyes and hair in the same way it did mine.

There was no arguing that this woman was my mother. Even though we looked more like sisters at this moment, her youthfulness frozen in time.

“Tell us more, Bryn. About Six,” my father said excitedly.

He’d already shared he knew quite a bit about the world I’d grown up in from his own travels with The Nine, but he indulged me, nonetheless, wanting to know every detail about my life there.

“Well, we have telephones, and vehicles. Airplanes that can fly you across the sky from one country to another in a matter of hours.” I looked sheepishly at Adrian, embarrassed to be talking about myself in front of him. But he seemed just as interested to hear what I had to say as my parents did, giving me the courage to keep going. “I drove a truck there.”

“Excellent!” My father clapped his hands together. “Truly incredible.”

“It is, but there’s none of this.” I waved my hands through the air. “There isn’t the feeling of magic everywhere.”

“That is a tragedy,” my mother said, sipping from her glass of wine.

I smiled shyly at her and my father. “What are your powers? If you don’t mind me asking.”

My mother spoke first, eager to answer, “Well, your father has returned his to the earth. But years ago, he was the most magnificent earth-wielder I’d ever seen.” The look my mother gave Callum was one of pure love. “I have to say, I’ve quite enjoyed watching him age.” Her tone turned flirtatious as she ran the back of her knuckles through a patch of gray in his beard.

“Oh, Theodora, you woo me.” My father chuckled, placing a kiss atop her head. “Your mother is a wonderful day-wielder. Has a few more years left of it, too. Perhaps she can show you tomorrow, give you a glimpse of what you’re in for.”

“What I’m in for?”

“You were once a day-wielder, too, my love.” My mother beamed, reaching across the table to pat my hand. “It is likely the same magic will be restored to you.”

A day-wielder.

The power to harness the sun.

I could almost feel the sun beneath my skin. A tingling sensation saying, Yes, Bryn. I’m right here. I’ve been here all along, waiting for you.

I smiled. “I would like that very much. For you to show me.”

“Of course.” My mother squeezed my hand. “And tell us about your family on Six. Are they kind?”

“My mom and dad . . . they were the best. You would have loved them. Though, they’ve passed now. And my brother . . .” I paused, not sure I could finish. “My brother . . .” I whispered. “He died in the last Decodon attack.”

Adrian set his hand on my thigh, squeezing softly.

I could feel him trying to get me to look at him.

“Bryn, dear, we are so sorry,” my father said.

I stood, and Adrian’s hand dropped back into his own lap. “I’m so sorry, if you’ll excuse me, I’m actually quite tired.”

Adrian pushed out his chair. “I’ll walk you to our room.”

“No, please . . . stay. Finish your meal.” I tried not to look down at him, but I couldn’t avoid his eyes. The concern in them breaking me completely.

I hadn’t told him what Leo and I had discovered on Six before the council meeting.

My knees gave out right as Adrian threw my arm around his neck, helping me from the dining room to the stairs.

“We’ll have a plate sent up for her,” I heard a female voice say sadly.

Theodora.

My mother.