I’d never been good at lying.
When we were kids, Rafe took point on the lies. I was usually just standing by his side, nodding along in agreement. It worked for us, since I was the more responsible of the two of us, adults would look to me for confirmation on whatever he said.
Rafe accusing me of lying was insane. I couldn’t lie to him if I tried.
“What are you even talking about?” I shoved at him again.
You warned her,he hissed into my mind.You knew she was about to teleport.
I froze, because again, I was horrible at lying.
Rafe swore at me before shoving away, leaving me stuck in the shadows, which he knew freaked me the fuck out.
“God, Wyatt, you fucked up so bad.” Rafe said, his hands in his hair. “How?! How did you know?”
Shafer said there were three affinities, I said defensively.
And you immediately thought fuckingteleportation?!Rafe pulled at his hair.Why the hell didn’t you tell me?!
He had a point. As far as either of us knew, there’d never been an affinity for teleporting in the history of ever. Assuming she could teleport was not only outlandish, but just plain silly.
I didn’t know for sure. I just remembered something I’d read in my dad’s office once, and it gave me a hunch.
A hunch. You kept ahunchfrom me.
It wasn’tjusta hunch,I breathed out harshly, then shook my head. How could I explain to him that sometimes I just got a weirdfeelingabout something? It was completely crazy and had no bearing in reality.
Rafe tilted his head at me again.
You can feel it,he accused, because he was a perceptive asshole.You can sense it.
I amnota Sensor,I said firmly, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.
Iwasn’ta Sensor, though. Getting strange feelings about affinities was not what Sensors did.
Except a little voice was bouncing around at the back of my mind, telling me that Sensorsusedto be able to do that. Theyusedto be able to feel an affinity without touching someone. If I were to hone this…ability, it could’ve turned into a full-blown affinity.
We’re not done talking about this,Rafe said.Watch your back. I was going to sucker punch you earlier. I might still do it, but we don’t have time for this right now.
The shadows released me with a purposeful jolt, and I stumbled back into the brick wall of the building. My skullthunkedagainst the brick, and I growled in frustration.
Asshole. He did that on purpose.
Rubbing the back of my head and healing what was quicklybecoming a hematoma, I followed Rafe into the dining hall with a scowl.
Neither of us were prepared for the scene inside. A loud, keening cry came from the far corner of the room, where Skye usually sat with my sister and Mia. The woman responsible had long, dark hair that was left down and disheveled. Her makeup was smeared, two black streaks tracking down her cheeks with her tears.
Lena Iykos, Landon and Lana Iykos’ mother, was barely being held upright by two of her Links. She was the worst kind of inconsolable, blubbering and wailing and drawing a huge crowd, garnering the type of attention that would have Skye running for her life.
Rafe swallowed uneasily from beside me.
I thought Marion wanted you to do the notification,I said.
She did,Rafe groaned.I’m not ready for this.
Before I could reply, there was a shout.
“Prince Rafael!”
