When she finally speaks, her deep voice is surprisingly gentle. “And why, pray tell, would I do that?”

I avoid Emmett’s gaze and clench my hands together behind my back in prayer. “Because,” I say, “you believe in knowledge and truth. And the truth is, I am one of you. I’m a Horangi.”

16: Of Course There’s a Prophecy

I’M NOT SURE WHAT I thought would happen after I dropped the ultimate truth bomb on Emmett. I guess I expected him to scream and shout. Maybe even throw out some colorful words that would land a few bucks in the swear jar. But in reality, he doesn’t even look at me. It’s like he can’t look at me.

“Em…?”

The three Horangi scholars are staring at me with plate-size eyes, so I know everyone in this room has heard the truth. But instead of responding, Emmett shrinks into his chair. He keeps his eyes down and blinks blankly like a robot. It’s like the news is so outrageous and unbelievable that all he can do is retreat into his shell and pretend it was never uttered.

“Em,” I try again, not knowing what I want to say. “I only found out at Hattie’s ceremony. It’s why we couldn’t do the gift-sharing spell. I was going to tell you, I promise. I was waiting for the right time. I…It’s just that I…” I trail off. What words could I possibly find to tell him how sorry I am for keeping the biggest secret of my life? How must he feel knowing that I come from the clan that killed his mom?

My eyes start stinging, and I don’t know if it’s from the blinding whiteness of this room or my blinding guilt. “Em, I’m sorry,” I manage to whisper before a hard lump forms in my throat.

Sora coughs as if to bring herself back into the present. Then she signals to the Horangi boy and nods to Emmett. The boy rubs his wrists together. I notice that, like Austin, the boy doesn’t have a Gi. He closes his eyes and clasps his hands into a ball. Then, in one swift motion, he releases them and brings them down as if imitating a lava flow. Immediately, the water ropes binding Emmett release and splash around his feet.

I gasp. The man could control the metal stars on his jacket, and this boy can wield water…. And neither of them used Gi or incantations. How is that possible?

But I don’t get to ponder the question for long. As soon as he is free from his watery shackles, Emmett makes a mad dash for the exit, taking Boris with him. He doesn’t give me a second thought, much less a glance. He just pulls the door open and runs away, away from me, and something withers inside my chest.