POV: Maya

We sat on the bathroom floor surrounded by broken glass, and my mother told me a story that shattered everything I thought I knew about my life.

"The Luminary thing... that wasn't exactly true," Mom said quietly, not meeting my eyes. "I'm sorry. I panicked. The real truth is so much worse."

My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling in her lap. "Your father's name is, was Dr. Daniel Carter. He was a neuroscientist working for a private military contractor. Brilliant, ambitious, and completely convinced he could unlock the hidden potential of the human mind."

"I don't understand. What does...