Page 34 of Balance

This passivity was driving me nuts, and not having answers bothered me more than anything.

I wrapped my fuzzy pink robe around me and pulled out my cell. There was the usual check-in from Julian, and Titus’s daily kawaii gif. Besides that, still nothing from Miles.

Not that I was honestly expecting anything.

There was no time to dwell on that, though. I had something else to do.

Me:Sorry to bother you, but can I ask for a favor?

His response was almost instantaneous.

Brayden:Of course! What do you need?

I bit my lip, leaning against the doorway as I considered my words. Blunt was probably best.

Me:Are there any books on my past lives?

This time there was no response—instead my screen lit up and Brayden’s name flashed across my screen. My hand shook and I almost dropped my phone. It’d been awkward enough to text him, but now we were on phone call terms?

Whatever happened to the written word? There was no need to chat.

But it wasn’t like I could ignore him.

I put the phone to my ear, stifling my groan, and slipped back into my room. “Hello?”

Brayden cut right to the chase. “There’s a lot. What kind of books?”

I bit my lip and twisted my hand around my finger. Since I didn’t even know what I was looking for yet, this might actually complicate my search.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “The beginning?”

“You mean Mu’s private records?” Brayden asked, and paper rustled in the background. “That doesn’t narrow it down much—he liked to talk. What are you trying to find?”

“I don’t know…”

“Okay…” Brayden paused for only a moment, then the eagerness returned to his voice. “Let’s talk it through. What made you decide to ask about your past lives?”

I pressed my cheek to the door and closed my eyes. “Dr. Kohler told me that everyone studied about us. It makes me feel weird, especially since I don’t know anything about Mu.” Brayden made a sound of understanding, but I wasn’t done. “She told me that Miles… Tu, goes and comes, and that leaving isn’t out-of-character for him. I’m having a hard time believing it.”

“So you want information on your personalities?” he asked.

“I guess?” I tugged at my hair. “I mean, I don’t know. What else is there?”

“Court history, politics, the ability classes, the reincarnation cycle, family trees.” The answers rapidly rolled off his tongue. “That’s only what’s public. Then you have private archives. They’re usually reserved for official use: your officers, councilmembers sometimes, and yourselves. There’s also letters that get passed between generations, and the prophecies—”

“That one.” I didn’t even feel bad for interrupting.The man was showing no signs of slowing down. Who knew how long this list could go on.

“Prophecies?” Brayden clarified.

“Yes.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.

“Okay. So which ones.”

I groaned, pressing my forehead to the door. “How many are there?”

“Over five hundred.”

What the heck? How was anyone supposed to learn all this?