Ugh!” Riley shouted. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself after the stress of her phone call with Jack, then she looked up at Xander.
Who didn’t look surprised at all.
She closed her eyes and exhaled. “You knew everything he said already.”
“Everything except the part about your brother being unable to be killed when he's in two bodies.”
“Is anyone not keeping secrets from me?” She glared up at him. “Did you know our father too?”
Xander looked at her apologetically. “I knew of him. Everyone does. Jack’s right about him being famous. When I was a kid, he was the bogeyman: the fire warrior who could turn Miyala into Veiled people. Being robbed of your animal spirit is a fate worse than death in everyone’s eyes. When we heard that he died, the whole tribe was relieved.”
Riley hung her head. Do. Not. Cry.
Xander sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, Riley. That was really insensitive.” He put his arm around her. “It’s no wonder you and Reed are so talented, given your bloodline.”
“How long have you known who he was?”
“Since the day after you left home and moved to camp. I knew you were related to him when you told me your last name by the river... Thornton is a famous name, and the Miyala community isn’t large. We even had someone check on The Ripper’s family. But we were told he only had one child: a son named Jonathan.”
“Jack is short for Jonathan,” Riley mumbled. ‘Only had one child.’ Reed and I didn’t count to anyone, EVER… except Jack and Will.
And I left them!
“Well, there was no Miyala family on record with a description that matched yours, so we assumed you were distant cousins that had broken loose of a clan. When you drew the picture of your father’s arm, though, our contact in Oklahoma identified him immediately. Only one man had those tattoos. We were then told, after more extensive digging, that the late Terrapin chief actually had three children: a warrior son who is now their future chief, and a set of Unseeing twins that, surprisingly, had made it to adulthood.”
Riley pulled her knees into her chest. “I can’t believe Chief James let me stay here.”
Xander turned her face toward his. “You’re our sister now, too. No one blames you for your father’s actions. Or for Jack’s.” He stood and reached for her. “Let’s go back to the Lodge.”
“Wait… Xander, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Riley briefly explained how she’d been able to pick up Alley’s thoughts when she was drunk. “That’s what I was trying to say last night when you were too angry to listen.”
He blinked. “So you can hear drunk people’s thoughts, and dreamers’… yes, I think you’re right. Your power is seeing and changing thoughts when people’s minds are unguarded. Does anyone else know about this?”
“No one.”
“Good. I want to talk this over with the Colonel before we take any steps. In order to do tests on that we’d have to pick somebody and get them plastered, and then sift through their thoughts deliberately. The Colonel will want to choose who that person is.”
Riley nodded. “I’ll keep quiet.”
They left the chief’s house and walked back toward the Lodge. Riley looked through the trees and caught a glimpse of Reed standing on the porch.
“Who else here knows who our father was?” she asked Xander softly.
“Chief James, the Colonel and Ned. No one else. It will have to come out soon, though. At a minimum, the rest of the Intelligence Committee will need to know. And if we tell Darren something that personal about you, we should also tell Gabe.”
“I want Gabe to know,” Riley said. “But I’m worried about the others. Won’t they hate me when they find out?”
“No, Riles. Some of them won’t trust you, but some of them already don’t trust you because you weren’t raised a Greenwood. Violet, Belman, Perry, Celia... all of them have voiced concerns about how we know for sure we can trust you. And the clan members who haven’t interacted with you much are even more worried.” Xander looked down at her. “But I know we can trust you. And I’ll do whatever I can to help with everyone else.”
Riley put her arm around his waist and gave him a sideways hug. “How come you’re so nice?”
“Because you are.” He returned the squeeze.
“To you, maybe.” Reed’s disapproving voice carried through the woods as they approached. “Chief James wants to see you, Xander. He’s up at the dining hall.”
Xander nodded and walked off in that direction.
When she was standing beside him, Reed whispered, “You do realize that he’s being nice to you on purpose, don’t you? And that they’re all trying like crazy to keep you happy here so you won’t run back to Jack and Will.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t mean his friendship with me is fake. Or his friendship with you.”
“No, I don’t suppose it does. But you need to remember that he’s a clansman first and your friend second. And so’s everyone else here. Jack and Will are, too, for that matter.”
“We’re the only ones who aren’t, I know.” Riley stared at the ground and swallowed. “I just hung up on Jack.”
“Then I’m sure he deserved it.”
“He thinks I’m helpless, Reed.”
“Of course he does. You’re a girl. Never mind that you’re more powerful than both your brothers put together and you have more sense. He’ll never see past the skirt. Yesterday I told him about your training. I told him how well you’ve been doing hitting targets and how proud of you I am. He flipped out! Said it shames men when their women enter a conflict, and shit like that is what happens when men aren’t taking care of business themselves. And I was like, ‘Even if I agreed with you that wouldn’t be true this time, because Riley IS the conflict. She’s got to be able to defend herself!’ So then he reads me the riot act. I’m being irresponsible, I’m risking your life…”
Riley looked up at him, glowing brighter. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into all this.”
“I’m not. My life has never been so exciting!” He grinned down at her.
“What does Will think about me doing combat training?”
“He’s afraid for you. That’s the beginning and end of his feelings on the subject. He’s down for anything that could keep you safe, and opposed to anything that would put you in more danger.” Reed looked away uncomfortably and shrugged. “That’s how I feel too, I guess.”
Riley leaned her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know why you think I have more sense. You’re the one who’s always right.” She thought again about Alley charming Jack. “Reed, I want you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don’t ever make eye contact with Alley.”
He chuckled. “What?”
Riley looked up at him. “It could be very bad for you.”
His smile faded as he saw the look on her face. “Okay, Riles. I promise.”
She shivered as a cold wind blew by. Reed put his arm around her, and she leaned further into him.
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