But I can still feel the echo of fire in my veins. The look in Sienna’s eyes. My own hands. Her screams. “Sleep, Raea,” he says softly, his lips against my ear. “I’ll still be here when you wake up.” His grip tightens ever so slightly. “Always.” And I do. Eventually, the pull of sleep drags me under.
But my dreams are anything but peaceful.
A battlefield stretches before me—charred hills and rivers of blood. At its center, a girl stands draped in black. Shadow curls around her like smoke. When it parts, I see her face.
Mine.
Hair dulled to silver ash. Black war paint slashed across my eyes. And a smirk. Not kind. Not soft. Predatory. Certain. Powerful.
Iamthe monster.
I wake up feeling warm and safe. When I clear my eyes, I find Ryker asleep beside me on his stomach, an arm draped over my waist. Yesterday, I was too wound up to speak, but he took care of me. Without needing to be told, he just knew what I needed. It has to be the Bond between us. It’s the only explanation.
He sighs, his eyes flickering open before settling on me. “Hi,” he rasps. He pushes up, revealing his bare chest. “How are you feeling?”
Nervous butterflies take flight inside of me. “Okay,” I respond, a little breathless. He nods, turning on his side and pulling me closer until our bodies are flush.
“Are you hungry?” He brushes my hair from my face. “You missed dinner.”
I shake my head, suddenly aware that I’m in nothing but his shirt, and morning Ryker might just be my favorite sight.
I gulp. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Just a little burn. Trysten told the healers you had your Prism in your hand, and it was overheating.”
I nod and close my eyes, taking a steadying breath before opening them again. “And the recordings?”
“Rhoan took care of them. Cassia messaged you and wants to talk. Kuron called your parents and relayed that you were attacked, but it was handled quickly. Everyone’s okay. You’re okay.”
I shake my head. “I lost control.”
He tips my chin up until our eyes meet again. “Then we find control.”
I roll out of his arms and sit up, brushing back my hair, feeling scared and lost and so damn confused. My chest squeezes. “We’ve been trying,” I say, defeated. “The only reason I lost control yesterday is because she embarrassed the hell out of me, telling everyone that I’m still a virgin because you don’t want me.” I groan, burying my face in my hands. “I know it’s not true?—”
“It’s not.”
“But it still got to me.” I turn to look at him, pulling my knees to my chest. “I let her get to me. I felt it, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.”
He sits up, the blanket falling away as he scoots closer. “There’s something we’re missing. We’ll figure it out. Until then…” He swipes a hand through his hair.
“Until then, what? You can’t protect me or, I guess, protect everyone else from me.”
“Don’t,” he says sternly. “Don’t go down that path.”
My body hums with energy as if the magic is summoned again with my emotions. I gasp, feeling my panic consume me as I jump from the bed, shaking my arms out and blowing out a breath.Calm. Stay calm.I inhale and exhale, counting to three. I hear Ryker come to me, but I keep my focus inward, searching.
I search for that well of power, and when I find it, I nearly sob. It’s full, overflowing, in fact. Pure white heat pours from it, flooding my system. “Get control,” he commands.
“I can’t,” I sob, watching the molten heat pour into me. His hands grip me, shaking me. Instead of the cooling sensation, he just grunts.My eyes spring open. He’s not using his power to counteract mine. “Stop!” I shriek.
He just holds on, grunting through the pain. “Get control of it.” Panic becomes a tangible thing. Internally, I beg myself to stop. “Raea,” he pants, “this hurts. Please.”
I gulp and breathe through my nose.Get control.
Just like on Sgya, I clear my mind, settling myself. I hear the elder’s words in my head. It’sa part of me, not gifted to me.It’s a part of me, which means I can decide. Sweat is beading on his face.
“Please,” I plead, “Let go.”
