Page 52 of Shadow Weaver
“Shut up,” Fiona hissed. “Just shut up.”
Kash glared at her and then pushed his chair back. “It’s me. I did it. I need to be the one to help her.”
Madam Latrou arched a finely plucked brow. “Mr. Raj? Do elaborate.”
“I … I can’t help it. I’ve tried everything to stop it, but I can’t stop feeding.” He took a deep breath, his expression tormented. “I’m a siphon.”
Fiona was glaring daggers at him, but he ignored her and walked over to us. “It started a year ago, and it’s gotten worse. I wanted to come forward, but I know what they do to siphons, and I thought I could ride it out until I got my amulet. Until I could control it.”
Madam Latrou frowned. “Whatdoyou think we do to siphons?”
“Bind their powers.” His throat bobbed. “With my powers bound, I’d have been exiled. Barred from any union or from fathering any children.”
Her frown deepened. “Bind your power? Where in the world did you get that idea?”
Kash blinked down at her. “Youwouldn’tbind my power?”
“Goodness, no. Siphons are rare, and very useful once they get a grasp on their power. Which is probably why you weren’t aware what the protocol is.” She smiled kindly. “Protocol dictates we fit a siphon with a training amulet as soon as the ability manifests.” Her expression hardened. “Who told you differently?”
Kash turned to glare at Fiona.
“I didn’t know.” She widened her eyes innocently. “I thought siphons were bound for life. I-it’s what I heard.”
“Miss Payne?” Madam Latrou sounded disgusted. “Your grandfather is a siphon. You know we don’t bind them.”
Kash’s jaw ticked. “You fucking lied to me.”
Fiona’s mouth worked for a moment as if searching for the right words, and then she sighed heavily. “Whatever. You were stupid enough to believe me.”
Kash’s hands curled into fists, and for a moment, I thought he’d lunge at her, but instead, he turned to Madam Latrou.
“Please, tell me how to save my sister.”
“Your sister will be fine,” Madam Latrou said. “I knew Miss Justice couldn’t be the culprit. I noticed the tired students last term before Miss Justice joined the class. I had to hope that none of my students could be so callous as to let a fellow cadet die simply to keep a secret.”
Madam Latrou pressed her hand to Joti’s head for a moment, then stepped back.
Joti sat up with a start. “What? Oh, shit. Did I fall asleep?”
Kash made a strangled sound. He reached for her, then checked himself.
“It’s all right,” Madam said. “You can hug your sister. You won’t hurt her.”
“But I have,” Kash said. “I’ve been hurting everyone for months now.” His voice cracked. “No matter how much I try and stay away … When I enter a room with people, they feel the effects.”
And the weavers felt it the most because they were around him the most, except … “What about Fiona?”
Fiona rolled her eyes and pulled up her sleeve to reveal a charm bracelet. “I have protection.”
The bitch.
“What’s going on?” Joti asked.
The overheard conversation came back to me, and my stomach rolled with nausea on Kash’s behalf. The bitch had been blackmailing him to be with her. She’d coerced him into sex.
“I’ll explain later,” Kash said to Joti. “What happens now?” he asked Madam Latrou.
“I can port to headquarters, and we’ll get you fitted with an amulet today.”
