Origin Exposed: Descended of Dragons, Book 2 by Jen Crane Page A

somewhere.”
    His uncompromising glare told me he didn’t believe that for one minute. “And how did he know to go looking for you? Tell me again. I’ve forgotten.”
    Ewan Bristol forgot nothing. I eyed him. Stood up straighter. “Dean Miles saw me in a vision. She told him what she’d seen, gave him a name. She foresaw that Gresham and I would become…involved.”
    He grunted and his nostrils flared. “And how fortuitous that her vision became reality.”
    “Don’t go there again, Ewan,” I said. “We’ve already been through this. Mine and Gresham’s relationship is none of your business. Don’t say something out of jealousy you’ll regret.”
    “Jealousy?” Ewan balked, his bold eyes on fire with emotion. “It’s not jealousy that I feel about it, Stella. It’s anger. It’s profound outrage that he took something that belongs to me. And righteous indignation that you gave it away.”
    I was stunned silent at the truth behind his words. He meant it. Flutters of forbidden pleasure scrambled up my spine and filled me with a sick satisfaction. It was a visceral response to his bold claim. Damn him.
    “It doesn’t matter now, Ewan,” I said. “It’s over. I—”
    “Damn right it’s over,” he cut me off. I cut him an eye.
    “I need to decide what to do next,” I said. “I don’t feel like I can trust Gresham anymore. He’s kept too many secrets from me. Too many secrets about me.”
    “I think so too, Stella,” said Timbra. “We can all at least agree that his motives may not have been pure. Sure, he may have meant well, and…I could be wrong, but I don’t think he set out to hurt you. The fact remains, though, that he works for Shaw. And if Shaw knows about you, I expect it’ll be no time before he finds you.”
    Boone’s wholesome face was covered with a deliberative mask. “Wait a minute,” he said slowly. “Did I miss the part when we talked about your mother? If this Gabrio Shaw was your father, how did he meet your mother in another world?”
    I couldn’t form words. My throat closed in fear and my pulse raced as I searched for a way out of the line of questioning. I didn’t want to lie to my friends. I didn’t. But I couldn’t reveal my mother’s identity. It was bad enough Gresham and Lochlain knew. And Gresham had proved highly untrustworthy. I hoped it wouldn’t result in disaster for me.
    It was Timbra who came to my rescue. “Stella’s mother always refused to discuss her father,” she said. “Stella doesn’t know anything about their relationship.”
    Boone shook his head in sympathy. “And with your father dead, you may never know. I’m sorry.”

Chapter 12
    “ S tella , girl, stop gnawing your cuticles. It’ll be all right. We’ll figure this out.”
    Timbra eyes were filled with empathy as she watched me fidget in my chair during our Wednesday morning Intro to Craft class. For once the stand-in professor, Dean Miles, was the least of my concerns. She never missed an opportunity to humiliate me or make me feel inadequate in some way. Honestly, I would’ve welcomed the distraction.
    My smile at Timbra’s ever-forward way of navigating life was weak, but that wasn’t her fault. I was feeling significantly less positive about the situation.
    “I just don’t know what to do next,” I said.
    “Too bad you can’t divine some kind of plan or see the future through a spell or something,” she mused.
    “Timbra, that’s it!” I yelped.
    “What’s it?” She blinked her over-long eyelashes.
    “Obviously, I need help. And this place is crawling with clairvoyants, oracles, and seers of all kinds. I don’t know what to do, but surely someone could help me see the right path. Right?”
    “Sure, I guess. Who do you think could help?”
    “Hell, I don’t know. I’m new here. Don’t you know anyone?”
    “I’m afraid my family’s not very magical. We excel more in the political arena. But I did hear our Elements professor saying she dabbled in