I stare into her red-rimmed eyes, emotions battling inside me. There’s frustration that she’s still treating me like a child. Anger at having been lied to for a lifetime. Pity for everything she went through with the war and Xavier. Fear at what will happen now that I’ve changed into the Scala Heir. Tension crawls up my body. One thing is for certain: no matter what path the future takes, I’m in for a long fight.

At that realization, my mouth rounds with the smallest of smiles. A fight like that? Sounds like a challenge. And I’m always up for a challenge.

Mom leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Did you hear me Myla? You have to hide. Anywhere.”

Stepping away from the wall, I move to stand before Mom and Walker. My voice comes out low and strong. “That’s not your decision anymore, Mom. From now on, I make the choices about my future. And to do that, I need some answers.” I remember what the igni told me: I must understand why and how all this happened.

Mom slumps further into the couch; her eyes lock on the floor.

I kneel before her, taking her hand in mine. “How long have you known I was the Scala Heir?”

Mom looks away, biting her bottom lip. My eyes narrow. I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer this time.

I give her hand a squeeze. “I understand what happened with Xavier and Armageddon. Verus showed me in a dreamscape last night. I know you’re frightened about losing me the way you lost my father. But I need you to be strong now, like you were as a Senator. I need you to answer my questions. How long have you known I was the Scala Heir?”

Mom’s lower lip trembles. “After Armageddon took Xavier, I never saw your father again. Three months later you were born.”

“Three months?” I wince. “That can’t be right.”

Mom inhales a shaky breath. “The Scala Heir develops faster than other children until age three. It’s the earliest they can transfer souls. I knew you were the Heir before you were born.” I imagine Mom in a post-war world, pregnant and alone. I let out a long sigh. At least she had Walker. I turn to him.

“Did you also know I was the Scala Heir?”

“Yes. Your mother told me.” He sets a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’d sworn to your father to protect her and follow her orders in all things.”

I nod softly. Walker probably took some kind of sacred angelic oath. Those are unbreakable. I swing my attention back to Mom. “And that’s when you decided to hide me?” She must have been terrified that my true identity would be revealed. No end to the list of nasties that would want to control me. Or in Armageddon’s case, kill me.