Dr. Fagan nodded. “I felt that, and I’m glad you admitted it. But you didn’t. What stopped you?” he asked.
“I remembered you saying everyone here was a Water Elemental. If the boy was an Elemental, even if he’d been real, he wouldn’t have been in danger.”
Dr. Fagan smiled at me and winked. “Honestly, I could’ve sent you back to the school that day. You proved you could rationalize when you were afraid. That’s all any of us can hope for, son. We all wield significant power. Our rational brains are often all that stands between us and becoming monsters.”
I thought about what he said, and it made sense. “Is that why you all live up here? So you’re not worried about hurting innocent people?” I asked.
Dr. Fagan’s smile faded, and he turned back toward the fire. “You’re a very astute young man. I think all of us fear we’ll hurt the less powerful. At least, those of us who choose to be decent people. It’s easier when you can live in a world where you can’t destroy others. Well…not without them doing significant damage to you in return.”
We sat silently then, both of us staring into the fire.
“I asked you on the first day how long it would take you to incinerate the school and everyone in it. Do you understand now why that question was so important?”
I nodded. “I still don’t know the answer. But based on when I found my powers the first time and the time it took until I had all the kids outside the building, I'd guess it was less than ten minutes. I had never used my powers before and didn’t know what I was doing. Now, if I had to guess, I’d say less than a minute.”
Dr. Fagan didn’t respond. He just stared into the fire. “Then, for your sake and the rest of the world’s, let’s hope you continue to control your own mind.”
Chapter twenty-one
Lysander
I’dspokentoKadenevery night except one since he’d been gone. Yeah, I knew I was behaving like a lovesick teenager.But Iamstill a teenager! So, I’m entitled.
Kaden struck all the right chords in me. Being with him felt right somehow. More than right, it was epic.
It was Saturday morning when he returned to campus. He’d texted, telling me he was on his way back. It was a lot sooner than he’d anticipated. I was in his dorm room when he came in, and I didn’t wait for him to put his bag down before I was on top of him.
He chuckled when I knocked him onto his bed. “Damn,” I said as I began undressing him. “I’ve missed you so freaking bad!”
“Really?” he asked, surprised.
I stopped mid-button and looked at him. “Of course, we were just starting this thing, and then you disappeared for a week. You know I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” he said shyly.
“You okay with this?” I asked, gesturing toward the button on his shirt that I was still holding.
He smiled and nodded. “I’m more than ready, Lysander. I need you.”
“Good,” I said, my smile matching his. “Now get undressed.”
That night as I lay in his arms, listening to him breathing. I thought of how surprised he’d been when I told him I’d missed him. That must be part of his traumatic past. I wondered if maybe I needed to learn more about what PTSD did to people. Clearly, Kaden had it, and why wouldn’t he? I mean, he went through worse things than I could even imagine.
He stirred under me and whispered, “I can hear you thinking.”
I chuckled. “You can’t hear my thoughts. That’s not one of your powers.”
“No, but I can tell you’re thinking hard. You do this weird thing with your nose when you’re thinking about stuff.”
“No I don’t!” I said, and playfully slapped his chest with my hand.
“You do, and it’s cute. Wanna talk about it?”
“No, well, I know you’ve been through a lot, and I’ve been raised in pretty much the best way someone can be. I wonder if maybe I’m not being supportive enough.”
Kaden snorted. “You’re the first person who ever cared, period. I think you’re doing a lot.”
I leaned up on my elbow. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
