Page 35 of Shattered Magic

“Nearly a dozen voicemails and over a hundred and twenty emails. I haven’t checked the texts.”

The elder stared at the phone. “Open it for me, Vega. I am sorry for my earlier message, but I was under stress.”

Vega sighed and used her thumb. The elder began to flick through the emails.

Arkus put the oxygen mask on her again. “Why did you give it to me?”

“I thought you could use it.” She sighed. “I thought I could just be normal now.”

“I am more than capable of keeping myself alive, and you have never been normal.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, and look at me now.” She waved at her body while the elder’s features got darker and darker as she went through the emails.

Her hives were settling into a surface mottling that looked gross. Being everborn had kept her from being affected by that kind of thing until now. It was a sudden thud to the ground for her ego now that she lacked protection. She was going to have to adapt to her new life quickly. She now had a normal life and death ahead of her.

Arkus looked her over, nodded, and slid a hand behind her neck, removing the oxygen mask.

Vega was shocked when he lifted her for a kiss, and she saw light flare between them. Her birthright returned to her with a soft stroke of his tongue, and he slowly let her settle back against the pillow.

She felt her own energy settling inside her again, and her skin began to feel normal almost instantly. She blinked. “You didn’t have to do that. I had a plan.”

Arkus’s hand remained on her neck. “I didn’t like your plan, Vega. I prefer mine.”

The elder murmured, “Agree to him, Vega. It’s for the best.”

Vega turned to her grandmother. “You have no pull with me. Not after what you said. As you stated when I was growing up, you have to watch your words because they will burrow in memory.”

Arkus sighed. “It will take time for the wounds to heal.”

“Knowing your entire community of family, friends, and people you grew up with want you dead is humbling, and having many expose how much they hate you is infuriating.”

Her grandmother looked at her and sighed. “They were scared. Scared for your sister, scared for our future children. The power in your body was supposed to be returned to the village.”

“You would have all been blown open if this happened five days ago.”

Her grandmother nodded. “I know, Vega.”

Vega flinched. Not once had she gotten the title her sister had. Granddaughter. “Why are you here, Elder?”

“Because words were said, and Arkusarian explained who you are to him. I wanted to make amends, Vega.”

“Great. Consider the message delivered.” Vega rubbed her forehead. “Will this make it easier?”

She focused, and the mark of the village burned and then disappeared from her neck. “Now it is no longer a concern.”

Arkus murmured, “Vega.”

“What? They were concerned because I was part of the village and I was making them look bad in your eyes, and now that is no longer an issue.” She stroked her neck. “All gone.”

Her grandmother paled. “Vega, you didn’t need to do that.”

“I think I did. When you blame my mother and console your other granddaughter, remember that I have no family titles, allegiances, or friends among your family and people.”

Her grandmother reached out for her hand. “Vega. We need you.”

“The trusts for education and development are in place and will continue for a few generations. By then, another one of my kind will probably have appeared. If I am still around, I will adopt them to keep them free of you. Your society may remain pure. Miners and craftsmen to the end.”

The elder stepped back. “Vega.”