“You do. My soul is tethered to the vitality and safety of yours. So when I tell you that I will die so that you can live, they aren’t just words to make you feel better, baby,” Slate said, the old nickname slipping out for the second time in a twelve-hour period. “The answer to your second question is one you might have a hard time believing.”
I frowned, trying to sift through the possibilities. “Well, we know it wouldn’t be my father…”
Slate laughed. “Hardly.”
“Then—”
“Angels.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “Angels?”
Slate dipped his chin. “Yep.”
“Angels” was not on my bingo card of options. “I have so many more questions. I hope you know that,” I mumbled, my braintwisting and turning at a speed my fatigue physically couldn’t keep up with.
Slate chuckled before he rolled over on his side. “If you didn’t, I’d be wondering if you were okay.”
I huffed a laugh, glad he understood, but not surprised. “Be prepared for more questions when I wake.”
“I’ll have my answers crisp and ready to report.” With a delicate touch, he swept a strand of fallen hair off the corner of my eye, offering me a clear view of him. His short hair looked uncharacteristically messy, but it suited him. He’d always been so handsome. So well-maintained, confident, yet humble. The soft lines around his warm eyes melted my heart every time.
“Rest now, Gray. You’re safe. As is everyone else.” He grew blurrier and blurrier by the second, and my lids closed on their own accord, allowing me to fall into dreamless sleep before the sun even disappeared beneath the horizon.
I awoke gasping for air.Where the beginning of my sleep had started off dreamless, it quickly morphed into vivid nightmares that transformed from one violent scene to the next, each one ending in the death of all Elementals by Chrome’s hands. A thin sheen of sweat drenched my skin. I couldn’t tell if it was due to the humidity or my nightmares. Either way, I shivered when a breeze slithered down the collar of my shirt.
“It’s okay. Everyone’s safe, Gray.” Slate’s low murmur made me jump at the sudden sound.
I closed my eyes, hands firmly pressed to the soft blanket beneath me as I focused on easing my raging heart, grounding myself back to this reality and not the dreamworld.
“Breathe. Ground yourself to my voice, Princess.” Slate’s voice did just that, despite the fact that I’d seen his death in the dreams.Chrome had towered above him before draining his soul. Apathy sat in his stare as he watched his closest friend die.
“I can’t lose you again, Slate,” I gasped as I pressed my forehead between my knees.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He sounded so sure. How could he be?
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Not again,” I met him with, lifting my head to meet his eyes in the starlit darkness.
Slate’s mouth slackened at the same time as his eyes softened. “I won’t. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere again.”
“Not by choice. But what if Chrome kills you?” My heart shattered at the thought, at the haunting image of Chrome easily snuffing Slate’s life just when he’d come back…
“He won’t.”
“No offense, Slate,” I said softly. “But he’s a lot more powerful than you.”
Slate smirked. “If that’s what you think, then you misunderstand the entire Guardian Bond, Gray. How am I supposed to protect you if your Twin Soul can easily take me out? That doesn’t make much sense now, does it?”
I scrunched my eyebrows. “But you’re a Kinetic, and your ability isn’t offensive…”
Slate’s crooked grin spread, and a laugh swiftly followed. “Oh, baby. I’m notjusta Kinetic. I’m part-Angel, too.” He held his palm outstretched, and a few seconds later, a silvery light, the same one he’d displayed earlier in front of River, began to glow.
I stared in a mix of shock and confusion. “How?”
“It doesn’t matter. But I’m not weak, Gray. Never have been. I have to hide my abilities, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” He closed his palm into a fist, snuffing out the silver light.
The inside of my cheek began to ache from where I chewed it. “What can you do then?”
“Now isn’t the time for show and tell, but I’m sure you’ll see some of my abilities sooner rather than later.” Relief washed throughhis eyes. I couldn’t imagine the weight of such a long-held secret. His shoulders relaxed. “What do you need from me? What can I do to help?”
