I was starting to heat up, and was surrounded by all of the flammable things. Alex’s white couch, the soft blue rug beneath my boots. My body backed up on its own, inching toward the door. I thought I was doing well.
Don’t overheat.
Another explosion, and my temperature spiked again. I’d dropped my guard, started believing I could be something else. A different kind of person, a different kind of Hero, the kind that Joon would have wanted to be around Alex.
Don’t catch on fire.
One short burst of anxiety, and the lies I’d started to tell myself started crumbling down.
How could you think you’re safe?
Alex flung open her door and took long strides my way. Her cheeks were pink, and although her windows started to light up with orange hues, she still held a smile. I couldn’t help but scan her up and down, though. From her eyes, to the new horns thatwere already glowing a bright blue, all the way down her black suit that clung to her small frame. My heart clenched, and fear washed in.
“Alright, let’s rock and roll,” she grinned, as if we weren’t heading into unknown chaos. “It’s been a while, but I won’t hold you back, I promise.”
There was a tilt in her voice, but it wasn’t shaky. She was testing me, prodding, making sure that I wouldn’t lock her inside to keep her from whatever was in store for us. Part of me wanted to, and I hated that part now.
“I know you won’t,” my voice was hoarse as I reached for the doorknob, almost unwilling to open it.
“Hey,” she put her hand over mine before jolting back with a hiss. “You’re hot. Are you okay?”
Her eyes were filled with concern, and my stomach swelled with dread.
Stay away.
The beeping picked up, and the metal of the doorknob started to glow red.
Keep your distance.
Alex kept her hand up, as if she wanted to touch me again, but couldn’t. Her suit didn’t have gloves—it didn’t cover the scar.
Don’t let her get burned.
We’d gotten too close, I dropped my guard. Just because I didn’t set the place on fire this time, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t happen. I wasn’t in control; I wasn’t getting better, or changing. I was in a cool-off period. Nothing more, nothing less.
Another explosion, and Alex snapped her head to the side, watching the windows. I leaned down, taking the opportunity to get close without touching her. Citrus filled my breath, and I hated how much I loved that scent. I’d breathed it in at the hospital, let it calm my nerves, let it drop my guard. That wasa luxury that I couldn’t afford; not when it came to Alex, or the promise I made.
Stop kidding yourself, Leo. You don’t belong here, not with her, not after everything you’ve done.
“Alex,” I murmured in her ear, and I wanted to run my fingers along the bumps that appeared on her skin. “I…I’m sorry. What just happened, I won’t do that again.”
Alex looked as if I’d slapped her.
TWENTY
LEO
“About damn timeyou both showed up!” Reed was shouting at us before we could even assess what was happening.
Everything was spinning, and it wasn’t from the alcohol. My system had burned that off as soon as my temperature started to rise. I’d almost crossed a line—a hard line that had been drawn for a very long time. If Reed hadn’t called, I was sure I would have acted on it, those fucking thoughts that always crept in when Alex was around. Cooking together, being vulnerable…that kind of life wasn’t meant for me.
She leaned into it; she didn’t push me away when I wanted to pull her in. That was the dangerous part. I hadn’t realized what was happening—but Joon had been right. I let myself be vulnerable with her, and the moment I did, Alex got to fixing. The way she comforted me, how she brought me into her home without a second thought. Alex was letting me in, and the moment I lost control, her guard wouldn’t be up this time. She wouldn’t see me as a threat, or be prepared to run from my flames.
I’m a fucking idiot.
“A little bit of focus would be fucking awesome, right now!” Reed shouted again, and I snapped back into reality.
Everything was on fire, and for once, it wasn’t my fault. The buildings were already blown up when we arrived. Heroes scattered around us, and it looked like the VIA had deployed everyone in the vicinity. Helicopters flew overhead — news stations and Black Hawks — swirling together with their bright lights that only added more confusion to the scene.
