Adam by Jacquelyn Frank Read Free Book Online Page A

hold of his arm, “lying to your mother is unacceptable. Second, lying to an empath is futile. Surely you have learned that as my son.”
    She took the sting out of the rebuke by drawing a line of flour down the side of his cheek.
    “Mama!” he protested, swiping at his face. But he stopped trying to escape her. With his head hung, he shrugged one of his narrow shoulders. “It’s just ... I know I am nothing but a big disappointment to both of you. To everyone. I’m a powerless nothing when I ought to have been something special. He hates that I’m not all magnificent and special like he is.”
    “Sweet Destiny, Seth, nothing could be further from the truth! What is it that you think we are expecting from you? You are only fourteen years old! You have a good four to six years yet before we expect to be on the lookout for your power!”
    “That’s bull. You all look at Leah and wonder why I’m not as strong and special as she is.” The boy’s eyes teared up as he withdrew physically from her, wrapping his arms protectively around himself. “She did massive things when she was just two years old. Noah was really young when his power first showed. Jacob was what? Nine? Eight? All of the most powerful Demons on the planet had so much power in them it couldn’t wait to be born. And then there’s me. A big, fat ... nothing.”
    “The biggest mistake you can ever make is to compare yourself to others.”
    Seth started at the sound of his father’s voice behind him. Shame rushed over him. How could he have forgotten? Speaking to his mother was like speaking to his father at the same time, their connection was so strong, their thoughts so intermingled. But he had seen his mother distance herself from his father psychically before. Stupid of him to think she would have done so now to give him a private moment with her. He turned quickly to face the astral projection of his father, his whole body bristling defensively as he tried to erect some kind of mental protection.
    “Whatever,” Seth said with a shrug. His eyes were cast downward, studying the rug on the floor.
    “Seth,” his father said, the tone of his voice far gentler than he was used to hearing from his sire. It was enough to encourage him to lift his eyes. “I have great faith that you will be an extraordinary Demon one day, I do not deny that. But if you were healthy and happy, that would be more than enough for me. Your happiness is everything to me.”
    Seth had never heard his father speak to him like that before. He looked at him with doubt, wondering if he was using some kind of reverse psychology on him.
    “Or,” his mother interrupted his thoughts gently, “maybe he loves you just the way you are.”
    Seth had so convinced himself otherwise that he really found the thought hard to believe. Legna could sense that, and she could sense her husband’s dismay as well. It was an idea that would have to be addressed slowly and over a long period of time. But now that they were aware of what was at the root of their son’s troubles, they could perhaps go about rectifying the problem.
    “Gideon, your son had a question for you,” she said, smoothly changing the topic of conversation. Seth was very relieved at the segue. He really hoped Leah appreciated his sticking his neck out for her. Manipulating either of his parents was no easy trick.
    He shifted his shoulders and tried to appear casual.
    “Actually, it was something Leah was asking about. Let me go get her and we’ll come find you. It’s kind of a history thing.”
    “History is crucial to understanding the present and forming a better future. I am glad you are taking an interest,” Gideon said. Then he nodded permission to his son, sending the adolescent hurrying to find his playmate.
     
     
    “Why would you ask about Enforcers aligned before your father?” Gideon asked some time later. It wasn’t as though he was especially curious; he was simply gathering information.
    “Uh ...