She smiled faintly. “And if these gifts were given to you, it’s probably because the goddess herself knew I would’ve broken under their weight… or worse, abused them.”
A small, shaky breath left my lips. “Sage…”
She lifted a hand gently, as if to stop me. “It’s okay. I mean it. I understand now.”
There was a long pause. I studied her face, half expecting to find bitterness hiding somewhere beneath her calmness. But there was none—just quiet acceptance.
Then, softly, she added, “Now you can save lives with your gifts. You already saved Alexander’s. But at what cost?”
The question hit me like a chill. My eyes darted to hers in surprise. “How did you—?”
She gave a little shrug. “I heard Edna talking to Mother last night. She said for every life you save, there’s a price attached.”
I sw
