Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)(26)

“Justin wouldn’t do that,” snapped Tessa’s father. Maybe he wasn’t sure about this offer, but he was confident of Justin’s character. He always had been.

Tessa’s mother wasn’t convinced. “I don’t like it. It’s completely unheard of, and I won’t allow it.”

Silence fell. Justin was watching Tessa’s father so, so closely. Justin knows, Tessa thought. He knows he’s got Papa. No other offer would’ve been so tempting unless Justin actually could’ve relocated their entire family. It was her father’s greatest desire. His grandparents had always hoped the mandates would lighten and allow their family to go back. Those mandates had indeed shifted. There were only small fines now for nonoptimal children, and those who followed the old ways were compensated generously. That didn’t change the strict Gemman policy toward immigrants, however. Still, Tessa’s father had clung to the family dream that some miracle might bring them back. Here it was, and there might never be a chance like this again.

“She can go,” he said at last. His face hardened. “But you have to look after her. Swear to me you will.”

Justin held up his hand. “As though she were my own daughter.”

“No!” cried her mother. “Absolutely not. I won’t allow this.”

Tessa’s father put on the fiercest look she’d ever seen from him. “I will allow it.”

Tension hung between them, so thick that Tessa could practically see it.

“Let Tessa decide,” said Justin. He sounded very reasonable and diplomatic.

All eyes turned on her, and Tessa took a step back. She’d kind of liked it when everyone had forgotten about her.

“That’s fair,” her father said, ignoring her gaping mother. “It’s up to you.”

There was a knowing look in Justin’s eyes. She understood now why he’d so gallantly offered the choice to her. He thinks he’s already got me because he always gets what he wants. Well, aside from the exile none of them understood.

“Go ahead,” he told her. “You’re going to piss off someone no matter what you decide. Might as well do what you want.”

“I don’t know if I want to go to the RUNA,” she said haltingly.

Justin’s smile faltered, but she’d spoken the truth. She was just as fascinated by that glittering, mythical country as the rest of her family, but completely relocating to a society so unlike her own was terrifying. Maybe she didn’t always like the way hers worked, but she knew it. It was comfortable. It was safe. Kind of.

Then she thought about the reader, that beautiful and miraculous device. What would it be like to be surrounded by things like that? What would it be like to go wherever she wanted? What would it be like to make her own decisions? Of course, that was presuming Justin’s sister would let her. Tessa wasn’t entirely sure how strict she would be.

“But I don’t know if I want to stay here either.” Her mother made some kind of strangled noise, and Tessa took a deep breath. “So…I’ll go.”

Justin smacked his hands together and whooped with joy. “You won’t regret it. None of you will. This is going to change your life.”

Tessa nodded weakly, unsure of what she’d just agreed to. Judging from her mother’s glare and red face, she suspected her parents would be continuing this conversation in private later. Her father would win out, of course. That was the way it was around here; the men governed the household. But not in the RUNA, she thought.

Her father, face jubilant, looked Justin over and beckoned him forward. “Come in and dry off. Get something to eat—and some water. You can spend the night, and I’ll have my driver take you back to Cristobal’s in the morning.”

That was too much for Tessa’s mother, and she stormed out of the room in a rage. Tessa quietly followed the men into the kitchen, mostly because no one seemed to notice she was still there. Her father walked on, but she daringly caught hold of Justin’s sleeve. He glanced down at her and grinned, still dashing even when wet and intoxicated.

“You made the right choice,” he told her. “As soon as you’re there, you’ll never want to come back.”

“But why would you do it? Whatever happened, I know you must have put up a fight to get me in. Why? Why would you do this for me?”

A little of that pride faded, and she saw a faraway look in his eyes. “Because your dad took me in when no one else would. And when he did, I was so sure of myself—and so desperate—that I swore I’d get back home someday. I promised him I’d get him back too—all of you. He took a big chance on me and would’ve done it without any payback. But I owed him. I still owe him. I couldn’t deliver all of what I promised, but I can get you in. That has to be enough for now.”

Tessa had never known any of this. “But why me instead of one of the others?”

That upbeat attitude was back. “Because you deserve it and can make the most of it. You’re smart—smarter than even you realize. You notice things no one else does, and I only know one other person that observant.”

“You?” Tessa guessed. Dashing, yes, and also confident to the point of arrogance.

“Exactly. See? That’s what I’m talking about. Keep watching the world, and you’ll go far. You couldn’t do that here, and I hate to see waste.”