The Year of the Tiger (Book 3 of The Almair Series) (Completed)

Chapter 60

We spent the next three hours in the house, searching for clues and any information that would help me with what would happen in the future. We found many journals that Master Yin had over the years with some information in some code that I couldn't figure out.

After searching the house, I treated the group to food from the best burger place in our town, and we discussed what we had found and what information I could try to find on my own.

"We should check the dojo," Mal said, munching on a fry. He wagged it at me before he popped the whole thing into his mouth. "Maybe there is some stuff that we are missing there." He leaned back in his seat and studied me. "We don't have to do it today, but I think that we should do it soon."

I nodded, agreeing with Mal because I had thought of the same thing. "That might be a good idea. He might have set a code somewhere in there, even though I have no idea where he would have placed it."

"His desk and files, probably," Mal said. He stuffed a handful of fries into his mouth, and his sister looked at him disgusted. "I wonder if he hath amh information about us," he said, his mouth full of food.

Ava stared at her brother in disgust, wrinkling her nose and narrowing her eyes. "How did you get a girlfriend?" she asked. "You are disgusting."

"Unfortunately, it is something that we are used to," I replied, amused. I leaned back in my seat and watched both siblings glare at each other. "I mean, have you met Nick and Mike? They are the worst ones talking with their mouths full of food."

"Ya, and they don't have girlfriends," Ava said, looking at me. She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "So, that is a wrong example."

I stayed silent and looked at my plate, pursing my lips. Of course, they did not have a girlfriend yet, but I had a feeling that something else was at play, especially with Nick.

"What says you?" Mal asked, looking at me. He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. Worry filled his eyes, and I had a feeling that he didn't like me becoming silent. "You had gotten quieter when we talked about Nick and Mike."

I shrugged my shoulder and took a bite of food so that I didn't have to talk. I needed to talk to Nick first before I said anything because I had a feeling that no one knew, not even Mike.

My mate looked at me and then looked at Mal. "I think she doesn't want to talk about it and change the subject," he said. "But, I think that they aren't ready for the whole dating scene, unlike Julie, which is why they haven't found anyone yet."

Mal huffed and nodded, not liking the answer but accepting it. "Fine," he grumbled, and I bit back a snort. "What should we talk about besides the relationship status of your siblings." He rolled his eyes and scowled, and I couldn't help but snort again.

"I still want to know about that picture," Ava said, taking a bite of her food. She waited to continue until she was done with it before she cleared her throat. "At least the meaning of us all together. I mean, why did he set up that group for us when we were younger?"

I shrugged. "Maybe he knew that something was interesting about us all." I took a bite of food and did the same thing, waiting until I finished eating it before I spoke again. "I mean, he knew about me for one, and he did give me private lessons for whatever reason."

"I think he was trying to help you become a better... you know." Mal shrugged and grimaced. "There hadn't been someone like you in a long time, and he wanted to make sure that you were prepared for whatever was to come."

"Besides," Tygra added, "there had been many unexplained circumstances that happened to you that could have been because of them." She gave me a pointed look when I opened my mouth, and I closed it before slowly nodding.

"True," I replied. "However, are we sure that it was because of them and not because of something else? I mean, why would they do something when I was a defenseless child?"

"You were not a defenseless child, and you know that, Martha," Tygra said. "You were one of the strongest fighters that came out of the dojo."

I shrugged. "But I have a feeling that they were the cause of me hurting my leg," I replied. "Why would they do that when I was younger?"

"I think that they knew," Mal said, and the others nodded in agreement. "I think that they knew you were the one since the moment you were born."

"How?"

Mal shrugged and grimaced while he thought about my question. "Don't know," he replied. He took a bite of his food and waited until after he swallowed it before he continued, "I think you should ask Matthew or your parents if they had known. They might or might not answer you."

I pursed my lips and looked away, not meeting the gazes of the people gathered. "That's what I'm afraid of," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper, and I had no idea if they heard me or not.

Yes, I did accept their decision to withhold that information from me when I was younger. Yes, I did accept their decision to keep withholding information from me now, even though I hated it with a huge passion. But that didn't stop me from being afraid as to what information they would tell me or not.

A part of knew that it was for my safety for that information to be withheld, but did it have to be everything? Did it have to be the stuff that wouldn't harm me, or was there something else involved?

I sighed and moved a hand through my hair, and cleared my throat. I licked my lips and looked at the gathered people, all of them looking at me and not eating their food because they were worried. "That is what I am afraid of," I repeated. "That they won't answer how they knew I was supposed to be the one."