“We will revisit it then,” Cara agreed.
“We have to trace her parentage, without alerting the Elders as to her existence,” I insisted. “Jacques felt there be something not right about the accident that took her memory. There might be Cryptid council involvement in a cover-up.”
Cara nodded. “Cody mentioned that. He was going to ask his Sabre connections about it, but I don’t know if he has heard back yet. They would only be involved if there was a Cryptid issue. Which there might have been, considering Anna’s powers.”
Bess frowned and glanced at Cara. “You mentioned Ontario as the accident location?”
Cara nodded. “Yes. Northern Ontario. Afterward, as the only survivor and in a coma, Anna was shipped back to Winnipeg.”
Bess straightened. “How long ago?”
Cara’s gaze sharpened. “About two years. Why?”
“Timing would be about right.” The tall Watcher began to pace. “Two Watchers came through the Guelph gate right about then. Riding Gryphons. It was strange enough that I queried them, but they would only tell me they were in the realm on Elder council business.”
“Which Watchers?” Cara asked.
“Isobel was one of them.”
Isobel? Something inside me twisted, and Cara and I exchanged a look.
“Maybe it not be the Cryptid council that be involved with Anna’s accident,” I growled.
“The Elders would never sanction killing a family.” The horror in Bess’s voice fed into the absolute certainty of her words.
I fought for patience. Bess still believed Isobel be gullible and under Galeran’s influence. I be not so sure of that. And I knew Cara also had her doubts. Two years ago, Galeran was still trapped in our home realm. Had Isobel acted on behalf of him? Or the council?
“It can’t be a coincidence,” I insisted. “Maybe Anna’s parents resisted.”
“A Watcher would never kill to achieve their aims.” Bess had gone completely rigid.
I gritted my teeth. Both Bess and Cara were everything a Watcher should be—but I had good reason to lack faith in our kind. At the top of that list—was Isobel.
“We must get to the bottom of this,” Bess said. “If we are arguing about her origins, imagine if the Elders find out she is here. The last thing we need is more divisiveness.”
“I agree,” I said. “Training her will provide us with some enlightenment. There is an outside chance she be the result of a weird combination of Cryptid talents.”
Bess’s brows rose. “That can manipulate life essences? We have yet to see that.”
“The Torshin had that ability,” Cara pointed out. “There may be others. Or it could be a random mutation.”
“We’ll see what Cody finds out from his Sabre contacts,” I said. “If the Cryptid council got involved, they’ll have some insights as to why.”
Cara’s eyes moved to me. “Meanwhile, I will take over her training in the special abilities class. Although I may need you for part of it. And until she gets better control over her talent, she will need to be partnered with care for the physical training.”
She had no idea what she be asking. With a sense of desperation, I offered, “Dragons be resistant to life essence manipulation.”
“That would be useful if we had enough to go around,” Cara stated. “Which we don’t. Tyrez is needed in a few hundred places.” She stared pointedly at me.
“You want me to fight train with Anna?” I hadn’t meant to say that aloud. Even saying it caused my heart to thunder.
Did the Watcher’s lips twitch? I be sure her blue eyes took on an innocent air totally unsuited to the manipulative person I knew she really be.
“You are the safest bet for now,” she said, her gaze moving to Bess, who frowned at me.
The problem with being around those sensitive to energy, be that it tended to betray your deepest insecurities.
Cara’s steady gaze assessed both Bess and I. “We are all tired. We need to recharge. Cody wants to return to regular classes tomorrow.”
