ADALYN Father didn’t look well when he returned home. His cheeks were red and his eyes were frantic as they darted around. As his hands twitched at his sides, I realized that wherever he’d come from, he was in a terrible mood. Whenever he was angry or agitated, his hand twitched, along with his right eye. As he paced around the room, I saw his eye tick, and I knew that whatever had happened, it wasn’t good. “What happened, Father?” I asked as I timidly approached. “You’re an idiot and a fool, Adalyn!” Father shouted as his nostrils flared. His sudden outburst startled me and I took a step back. “What do you-” I started to say, but before the words could leave my mouth, Mother appeared and swooped in between us. “Oliver, dear, what’s going on?” Mother said gently, and she rubbed Father’s shoulder. As she tried to soothe him, I took the opportunity to create some distance between us. After the incident in the palace laboratory, I’d remained in the House of Moses. My parents had to
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