25. Wesley

I'm not much of an eavesdropper. I try not to be, especially since the most shocking news I ever hear is through eavesdropping. It still rings true.

Grandma had been sober for the last fifteen hours. She sat by Oscar's bedside, until her eyes were drooping and her feet went slack. I moved her into her bed and Chae took over.

Grandma was kind of obsessive like that, as though Oscar was more than just a patient. When she woke up, she immediately moved back to Oscar's side.

It's not my fault I overheard, I'm Elite too. Even humans can hear through thin walls.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Shhh. I don't blame you."

"I need to finish my bind. Others will come, grandma."

If he called her grandma as well, we were direct cousins. Who exactly was he? Why had I heard nothing about him?

"If you need to kill the elder, I won't stop you," her voice wavered.

"Gram, he's your brother."

"I know, I have a condition."

"What is it?"

"You have to stay with me, stay with the bloodline. Don't leave."

"Okay."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Was I supposed to stand by as well? What was I supposed to say? To do?