Page 67 of Tainted Gifts
My stomach sinks, dread filling me. She'll get herself killed to keep me safe. Uncle Brazen knows it, his eyes saddening as he stares at her.
"Araya, I don't need you on the road. I need you doing something only you can do," Jase says, staring at her hopefully.
"You're just trying to keep me away from the fight," she refutes. "This is my daughter's life we're talking about."
His lips purse as he nods. "I'm perfectly aware of what's going on, but there are twenty other children who don't have parents, and they need someone to protect them from the Scorpions. They'll come after them. You're the only one who knows what those children have gone through. And you're the only one I trust with their safety. I'll send you a team, and Greta has agreed that she will stay to help you as well."
Mom groans at the very mention of my grandmother's name. Uncle Brazen's parents were the only grandparents Simone, Rex, and myself ever had. I told you we were a weird family.
"Jase, my daughter needs me."
"Not as much as these children do. I promise we'll call you if we need you. Do you trust anyone else with their safety? If so, then I'll let you go out into action. Aria is a full grown gifted hybrid. These are scared, defenseless children. Some of them share your scars, so they won't just trust anyone. I need you, Araya. I need you to do this."
You're so good at this.
Jase stifles a grin. He knows just how to work my mother. I suppose that's what makes him a good commander. He can control his people without controlling his people.
"He's right," Uncle Brazen adds, knowing how reckless my mother would be if she felt it necessary.
Mom groans, gripping her head as she sits down beside Kellan. She takes the bottle of liquor he's drinking from and turns it up, making Kellan chuckle lightly at the haste in which she consumes it.
He reaches over and grabs another, opening it and starting over in his own quest to drown his misery. I'm the reason for his misery. I hate that. When holding Jase's hand, I don't feel anything at all for the hybrid intended for me.
Jase doesn't make an attempt to acknowledge that thought, and I'm thankful for that. Mom finishes the bottle before finally ceding to Jase.
"Fine. But you had better call me when you need me because you will need me."
"I promise," Jase says, kissing the back of my hand.
The butterflies ruffle around, making me fight a girly grin. He stifles his own smile as well, letting me know he's hearing every salacious thought rolling around in my mind.
"I've got a friend I want you to go talk to," Mom says, pulling her purse out and digging around in it. "Back when we dealt with Ty, I found a female full blood who helped us catch a big break. She served a lesser sentence for her help, and she's cleaned up her act since then. However, she still keeps an ear to the ground for any information she might can offer me.
"If there's any activity going on in her circles of contacts, she'll help us out. You might have to play dirty to get the info, but she likes to be seduced. Just play the game."
"I can interrogate her and full blood boy can read her mind," Kellan says, no longer keeping Jase's secret.
Everyone gapes at Jase who shrugs, not too shocked with Kellan's big mouth reveal. "We all have our secrets. I'm no different."
Mom blushes fiercely for reasons I really don't want to know. Uncle Brazen's eyes widen to the point of popping out of his head. Corbin just looks completely confused.
"You can... so you... how much..."
Mom can't seem to formulate a full sentence.
"Don't worry. It's not like I haven't heard or seen worse," Jase chuckles, poking me in the side playfully.
Ew. You've seen my mom's fantasies? Sick.
He laughs fiercely, shaking his head while leaning over to whisper in my ear. "I tune them out the second they stir."
My eyes narrow accusingly at the smiling full blood.
You said you couldn't tune anything out.
He gives me a wink, not really answering me as he looks toward Mom. She keeps her eyes low while handing him an address.
"She just sent me this in a text. She'll meet you tomorrow at the Citandel. It's only five hours from here. Room 405. And... she's into women, not men."
