Smolder Chapter 20

Her grandfather had presented her with the truth; now it was her turn to do the same. Kira stared at the folder, her fingers brushing the edges as her mind churned. Could she trust him with her secrets? He had given her something important that might help her understand herself better. Didn’t that mean he deserved the same in return?
“Daniel,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet his. He had started to stand, but her voice stopped him mid-motion. He settled back into the chair, his brows lifting slightly.
“Yes, Jade?”
She hesitated, her heart thudding in her chest. “There’s something you should know about me. Something no one else in this town knows, except Aiden.”
His expression didn’t change, but she caught the flicker of curiosity in his eyes. “Go on.”
She drew a deep breath, her hands tightening around the folder. “I can heal people. Not just surface wounds or scrapes. I can reach inside someone, fix what’s broken, even bring them back if they’re close enough to the edge.”
He leaned back in his chair, his lips pressing into a thin line. His gaze turned inward, as though he were sorting through decades of knowledge and experience to make sense of her words. “You can heal? That’s… remarkable.”
“It’s more than that,” she continued, her voice gaining strength as she pushed through her nerves. “It’s not just something I can do it’s something I can’t stop myself from doing. When people are hurt around me, it’s like instinct takes over. My power moves before I can even think about it. I can feel their injuries as if they were mine.”
His brows furrowed. He folded his hands on the table, his knuckles pale from the pressure. “And this healing it’s tied to your fire?”
She nodded. “Yes. It’s like they’re two sides of the same coin. The fire destroys, but it also restores. They feed into each other. When I lose control, like today, it’s the fire that takes over. But the healing it’s always there, pulling me back before I go too far.”
He was silent for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. “No one on the Council has mentioned this. You’re sure Aiden knows?”
“He does,” she said. “He’s seen it in action. I healed him once, and I’ve saved others. But… I’ve kept it quiet. Healing isn’t something Vindicators can do. It’s not part of their power. I didn’t want to give anyone another reason to see me as different.”
Her grandfather’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “You don’t have to worry about that. Being different is a given for someone like you. But what you’ve just told me, Jade it’s extraordinary. It’s also dangerous.”
She stiffened at his words. “Dangerous? Why?”
His gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. “Because power like that doesn’t come without cost. The ability to heal is a gift, yes, but it’s also a responsibility. It ties you to those you save in ways you may not fully understand. And if it’s as instinctual as you say, it means you’re vulnerable to being manipulated. Someone could use your compassion against you.”
She swallowed hard. She hadn’t thought of it that way before. She had always viewed her healing as something pure, something good. But her grandfather’s words struck a chord. If someone knew about her ability and had the right leverage…
“I’ve already seen how easily you can lose control of your fire,” he continued, his voice gentle but insistent. “What happens if you lose control of this? If healing becomes something you can’t stop, no matter the consequences?
She looked away, her thoughts spinning. He was right of course. She had felt herself that sense of being swept away by her power. But she had always trusted her healing to guide her, to pull her back. The idea that it could become just as dangerous as her fire was terrifying.
“That’s why I gave you the folder,” he said, breaking the silence. “The knowledge in those pages might help you understand what you are and you’re capable of. It might even help you control it.”
Her gaze dropped to the folder again. Her fingers tightened around it. “I’ll read it,” she promised. “But I have to ask why now? Why tell me all of this now, after everything that’s happened?”
His expression grew solemn. “Because what I saw today, Jade, wasn’t just power. It was raw, unchecked energy. It reminded me of stories about others like you, Seraphina who burned too brightly and too fast. I don’t want that to happen to you. I don’t want to lose you.”
His words hit her like a blow. She hadn’t expected that level of honesty, that depth of care from a man she had barely known until now. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.
Finally, she managed a small smile. “Thank you, Daniel. For trusting me with this.”
He reached across the table, placing his hand over hers. “And thank you for trusting me. You’re part of this family, Jade. No matter how different or powerful you are, you’re one of us. Don’t forget that. Is there something else you want to discuss?” he asked, easing back into his chair. His expression was carefully neutral, but Jade could see the tension in the lines of his face, the slight furrow of his brow.
She hesitated, gripping the edge of the table as she searched for the right words. “My mother. Amber.”
His head snapped up, his gaze locking onto hers. She saw the flicker of pain in his eyes, the kind that only comes from years of unresolved grief. “I think she might be alive,” she said, her voice steady but soft. “And I’m leaving tonight to go find her.”
He stared at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh, his forehead dropping into his hands. “Jade, I used to think that all the time. Every time we got word of a new lead, I hoped. I searched. But your mother is gone.”
She leaned forward, her voice urgent. “A demon told me she was still alive, held prisoner somewhere.”
His head lifted sharply, his eyes narrowing in confusion. “A demon told you?”
She could see the disbelief written all over his face, but there was something else there too ... something like hope, buried beneath the weight of his skepticism.
“It’s a long story,” she admitted, her shoulders sagging. She wasn’t ready to explain everything yet, not Benjamin, not the events of the past year. That would come later. “But I have to try. I can’t ignore it. I don’t want to lie to you or sneak out, so I’m telling you now: I’m leaving. And I want the Conclave to know why.”
She reached for a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “But I’ll be back. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “Jade…” He paused, clearly trying to find the right words. “A demon told you? Do you realize how dangerous that is? Demons don’t—”
“—Tell the truth, I know,” she interrupted. “But I can’t ignore it, Daniel. What if there’s even a chance? I have to try.”
He opened his mouth to argue but stopped short when he saw the determination in her expression. He leaned back, shaking his head. “Stubborn, just like your mother,” he murmured, almost as if speaking to himself.
Her lips quirked into a smirk. “Like my grandfather too, I think.”
His lips twitched, the hint of a reluctant smile ghosting across his face. She reached out and squeezed his hand, feeling the strength of his grip before slipping her fingers free.
“Be careful,” he said, his voice low but weighted with emotion.
She nodded as she stood, lingering for a moment at the doorway. She looked back to see him still seated at the table, staring into his tea with a faraway look. He seemed lost in thought, perhaps back in the memories of his daughter, of the hope he’d once carried. Tonight was a step forward for their relationship she could feel it but also knew it would take time. This was just the beginning.
Outside, the afternoon sun warmed her skin, though the breeze had picked up, tugging gently at her hair. She clutched the folder tightly against her chest, her thoughts racing. Around her, the quiet of the town was interrupted only by the faint hum of voices from the town square, where she imagined that they were still gathered, waiting for Aiden and the search party to return with news.
Her gaze shifted toward the gate in the distance. The wall would stay active for days, she knew. The town wouldn’t take any chances, not after today. Sneaking Benjamin inside was impossible. He wouldn’t survive a second against the searing light. The only option was to meet him beyond the wall.
She pulled out her phone, typing quickly. “Meet me by the gate in an hour.” She hit send and tucked the phone back into her pocket, her resolve hardening.
Her path led her toward Aiden’s house. The familiar route felt strange now, knowing she wouldn’t be staying. The weight of her decision settled over her like a cloak, heavy but necessary.
In her room, she quickly gathered her things, her movements efficient and purposeful. She didn’t need much—just the essentials, the folder her grandfather had given her, and the fire within her that burned brighter with every step closer to her decision.
She sent one final text to Benjamin: “I’m on my way.”