I raised my eyebrows as Rafe hopped up onto another picnic table opposite of me. He looked at me for a moment while he worked his jaw. Finally he propped his elbows on his knees.
“Who in your family shares this affinity?” he asked.
“No one,” I replied easily. “The Brandts are all fire affinates.”
“All of them?” Skye asked.
“Lucille isn’t,” Rafe said. “Right?”
“Well, Harper has some, but she never uses it. The last time she tried, she set fire to some drapes.” I explained. “My mother–”
I wasn’t prepared for how my voice shook from simply referring to her. I’d had my moments of panic here and there, but this was new.
Skye took a step forward like she was going to comfort me, but I only shook my head. I didn’t want to look weak in front of Rafe, no matter how understanding he seemed.
“My mother’s affinity is hard to explain. It’s sort of telepathic?”
Rafe watched me carefully. Chances were he already completely understood her affinity, since it was considered powerful. She’d always bragged about how she had to register with the government when she was only twelve. That was one of the reasons she considered my fire affinity to be disappointing. It hadn’t fully awakened until I was almost seventeen.
“What is it, Aiden?” Skye asked.
“She fucks with your brain,” I said quietly. “She makes you think you’re feeling pain.”
Skye’s eyes widened, and she looked to Rafe in outrage, like he was somehow responsible. He blinked, looking surprised by her reaction.
“It’s psychological,” he explained. “It doesn’t actually cause pain, it just makes you think it does.”
“That’s not horrific enough for you?” Skye asked, her eyes wide while she shook her head in disbelief.
“No, love,” Rafe said gently. “It just means it doesn’t leave any physical scars or ailments. The damage is mental.”
I swallowed thickly, looking away from the horrorstricken expression on Skye’s face.
I mean,come on. She squeezed people to death and she was horrified by this?
“Angel,” she whispered. She was suddenly in front of me, and I wasn’t sure if she’d teleported or if I’d just zoned out. She cupped my cheeks, tilting my head to face her. “She did that to you?”
I shrugged, because the answer was obvious, and I didn’t trust my voice.
“Fuck, she’s evil,” Skye whispered. “Aiden, please…”
I shook my head. I knew where this was going.
“I haven’t made a decision,” I croaked. “Please don’t do anything until I’m ready.”
“I would never,” Skye promised at the same moment Rafe asked, “Do what?”
“I’m going to kill Lucille,” Skye announced. “Aiden just has to come around to the idea first.”
“Well, that’s going to be a problem,” the Prince said smoothly before sidling up next to Skye.
I blinked, shrinking slightly under their combined attention.Jesus, it was hot out here.
“Why?” Skye asked sharply, keeping her hands on me while sending him a glare.
“BecauseI’mgoing to kill Lucille,” Rafe replied, then looked thoughtful. “Maybe we should kill her together.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, then took a shaky breath as Skye pulled me to her chest.
