Page 37 of Smuggler's Beauty

“Don’t worry, I put your things in storage first. No one’s been rooting through your underwear or boning on your sofa.” She eased herself onto the matching patio lounger.

“You’re not allowed to say ‘boning.’”

The “being a grown up” strategy was thrown out the window. Evelyn put the drink down. There wasn’t enough alcohol in it to get her through the conversation with any ease, anyway.

“My darling girl, you have to know that all adults know what sex is.”

“Irrelevant.”

Their silly banter felt good. Normal. Life had changed for Evelyn forever multiple times in the last week, and learning about Corvinia’s real purpose in her father’s cabinet was but one more shift in her perspective. The betrayal stung, but it was a balm to know that Corvinia was really still her Aunt Corrie under it all.

“Why did you never recruit me?” Evelyn’s voice was low as she asked the question. That’s what had really been plaguing her since she learned the truth. She averted her gaze and tried to make out the exact outline of the mountains in the distance

Corvinia let her breath out in a lip sputtering puff. “I promised your father I wouldn’t. He couldn’t bear to see you in more danger than you were already in by virtue of your birth. And you always hated your talent. Why torture you?”

Evelyn’s eyes were on the red rocks, but her memories were speeding back to adolescence. Fourteen, awkward, not understanding why her devices could never keep a charge. Wondering if she needed eye surgery, not understanding the pulsing waves that had started to emanate from everything, the corresponding vibes she had begun to feel around people.

The shock and shame of learning that her unique talent, her place in the universe, was one that was used as a bedtime story to terrify naughty Tanalian children into compliance.

Be good, or the Siphon King will get you.

Do your chores, or the Siphon King will come and suck away your life in the night.

Mind your manners, lest you become a decorative husk on his mantle.

Behave.

Long, serious lectures about how she could never, ever lose control. Stars forbid she have the weight of accidentally ending a human life on her hands, their stolen energy running through her veins. Best to bury the impulses, keep them under lock and key. Learn to ignore that she saw the energy pulsating in all the things that surrounded her. Tune it out, like a television left on in the next room. Don’t take, Evelyn.Never take.

“I hate it because it wasn’t something I could use to help people.Public service is our purpose, remember? I can still hear Papa saying that in my head clear as day. But . . . you could have found a way to harness it if you tried.” Evelyn felt the tear escape her eye. She swiped at her face and kept looking ahead.

“I could have,” Corvinia said. Evelyn saw her nodding in her peripheral vision. “But I took my promise to your father very seriously. I wanted to protect you, too. You’re my favorite niece.”

Evelyn smiled at that. “You’re not allowed to have favorites.”

“I think we both know I tend to do what I want.”

“That you do.”

Corvinia fiddled with her tie. Evelyn wasn’t accustomed to seeing her fiddle with anything.

“Are you out of spy practice or something? You’re exceptionally fiddly.”

“This level of honesty is weird for me. I’m very good in my mask. Taking it off is hard. But you deserve honesty, so I’m pushing through.”

“Fiddle away, then.”

Corvinia sighed and released her hair from the severe knot she’d tied it in. She piled hairpins on her thigh before giving her hair a vigorous shake. “You still could, you know. Learn how to use it.”

Evelyn stilled. Possibilities flooded her mind. Public service, indeed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Please do. And don’t get sucked into a self-flagellation cycle. There are myriad ways to use your talent.”

“I imagine you have a list of things you’d like to try.”

“Oh, I’ve been keeping it for years.” Corvinia dragged a hand through her hair. “I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. You did a really brave thing, sacrificing yourself to Emil. Stupid. Poorly planned. But brave. If you’re willing to be brave again, I think we can make a big difference. And if you’re over the whole shit show, I fully support you getting out of dodge. Go back to studying and finish your thesis, go herd alpacas somewhere, whatever you want. You’ve sacrificed plenty for your people, Evelyn.”

“I napped for my people. It wasn’t that big of a deal.” Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest and threw her head back against the recliner.