Mom leans back against the counter with a sigh. “Ada, your abilities, they’re genetic; they run in our family. Your grandmother didn’t have them, but she thought I might. When I was young, they were constantly testing me. I spent half of my middle school years being analyzed in a lab until they finally determined I wasn’t what they were hoping for. I didn’t want that for you.”

I don’t even know what to say. This is the last thing I expected to hear. I mean, I knew being a Sire was genetic. It probably should have occurred to me that it might run in the family.

“All my life,” my mother continues, “I’ve felt like I needed to work harder than everyone else to make up for the fact that I had failed to be born exceptional. It became a challenge. If I could perfect everything within my control, then maybe what was out of my control would matter less. But I never wanted you to feel that way. I couldn’t bear for you to have the weight of the Families’ scrutiny on you the way I did. And you didn’t need them pushing you. You have always managed to be exceptional based on your own standards, not anyone else’s.” She takes both of my hands in hers. “And I’m so proud of you for it.”

I pull my hand away, but just so I can wipe my wet cheeks. And my nose.

“Why couldn’t you have told me all of this sooner? I thought I was such a failure.”

“I’m so sorry. Your grandmother… She would try to motivate me by telling me about her difficulties growing up. But it always felt like she was trying to manipulate my emotions to bend me into what she wanted me to be. I didn’t want to do that to you, but clearly I overcorrected.” She hands me her napkin to help deal with my snot fountain. “But even though I’ve been distant and busy and not as forthcoming as you needed me to be, it’s because I was working to keep you safe. Everything I have done has been to protect you.”

Were all those years of feeling inadequate worth that protection?

The anger over the possible answer to that question is overshadowed by a bone-deep sense of relief. And an extra boost of confidence that the ridiculous thing I’m about to do is the right thing. If my own mother, who has been deeply involved with the Families her whole life, thinks they’re so dangerous she had to keep her daughter away from them, what does that say about what they’re capable of? But now that my mother is being up front with me, maybe she can help.

“Mom, Kor started the next stage of Operation Genesis early, and I need to stop him. Do you know anything about it?”