Page 83 of Daughter of Garnet

I fiddle with the chain of my necklace. Would it be easier to show her? I can't shift here, but maybe…

I take the necklace off.

"My ceremony didn't go off without a hitch."

She shifts awkwardly in her chair. "What does that mean?"

"I mean, I touched all the stones like everyone else, and I didn't shift, but one of the Gods did speak to me."

"A God spoke to you? Which one?"

I love that Viv is so devout that she doesn't doubt that they can communicate with us. "Ilota."

The color drains from her face. "Ilota? Are you sure?"

"It happened after I touched the garnet."

I can see the gears turning behind her eyes as she assesses me. "You're an Omega, then?"

"What gave it away?"

She gestures in a way to encompass my whole body. "I don't know how I missed it. It feels so obvious now." My chest is tight. Her face is unreadable. I can't tell if she's upset with me or not. After a moment, she nods. "Okay. What do you need from me?"

"That's it? You're not mad at me?"

"The Gods wouldn't do this without reason. I've never heard of anyone who was able to hold back the shift and pass as a Beta."

I hold up the necklace. "Ilota kept the shift from happening, and then my mother gave me this. It's hidden my Omega nature from everyone."

The necklace.

Holy shit.

So much has been tied to this necklace. Why am I just now realizing that this means my mother knew? She had to have known what this necklace was, and that's why she gave it to me. She knows what I am.

I need to go home and talk to her.

"What's your form? Do you know?"

"A dragon."

Her mouth falls open. "A dragon? Oh my Gods, that's so cool. I am officially jealous."

"No need to be. According to Ilota, if the Archon finds out I'm dead. I don't think Ilota wanted to stop Blessing Omegas. I think she had no choice."

Viv blanches and runs her fingers through her thick hair. "Why would the Archon want to kill you? He should be thrilled that Ilota Blessed you!"

"I don't have the full picture, but it centers around the Archon. Cliff says things are weird in Pyxis, that they only have one church. Ilota says she needs me to fix the realm, but I feel like I'm missing pieces of the puzzle."

"Then let's figure it out." Vivian digs through my desk. "Wait. What is this?"

She holds out a piece of paper to me with familiar handwriting. I take it and read what's scrawled on the surface.

Come to the chapel for tonight's service.

My smile must be goofy, because Viv snatches it from me and reads it. "Why are you smiling like you got a love note?"

"I guess I should catch you up on everything."