My jaw clenches as I tilt my head forward and channel every last drop I have inside me. All emotions. Even the happy ones that I cling to daily for my own sanity.
I block everything else out and empty my mind. The sensation of an unknown fate crashes through me. My body tingles like pins and needles. All over. A burning tightness casts over my eyes. Blood rushes to my head as I don’t remove my gaze from the necklace.
The way he cried, begged, and held onto life. I’m gonna make him do that over and over until he’s nothing but a bloody mess.
The necklace twitches a fraction, and Lula gasps. I hold on to the moment. I don’t dare break the momentum.
“You can do it,” Lula says encouragingly. “I know what I saw before.”
Caleb, please. Don’t do this. I love you!
I grind my teeth together as Evan’s desperate plea echoes around my head.
I, Caleb Vella, reject you, Evan Wolfe, as my mate.
No, Caleb. Please don’t.
Evan’s tears leak down his face, imprinted into my memory forever.
Come back. Promise you’ll come back.
I promise.
My eyes flare, and I tilt my head a centimetre before it catapults into the wall. The pendant clangs against the floor as they both cry out in shock and disbelief.
I allow my shoulders to droop, drained and empty. My breath comes out in short pants. The tips of my fingers tingle, and I stare at them.
Powers I’ve always had but never had the emotions to access because I pushed them away when it came to my father, never wanting him to get in my head or use my feelings to manipulate me.
All I’ve done is suppress them even more.
“You did it.” Lula scurries towards me. “I knew you could do it.”
Fi’s mouth hangs open. “Wha–” she pauses. “What just happened?”
I don’t want to be like my father, but it’s the only thing I’ll accept.
Because now, he’s met his fucking match.
60
CALEB
“Lula, he’s exhausted,” Fi says, clearly concerned. “Let him rest.”
I glance over at her and shake my head, which only increases the pounding through my body. “I’m fine.”
We’ve been practising over the past few weeks. At first, I couldn’t channel my emotions at all and grew easily frustrated, but after some persistence and talking myself out of my negative mindset, we finally started to see progress.
When the guards are around, we keep quiet, but as soon as they’re gone, we get to work. It’s the only thing keeping me going, especially not knowing what he’s done to Evan. I pray every night because I don’t know what else to do.
I saw Ryker take his sacrifice for the first time a few weeks ago; now, I’ve seen three. The hollow screams are straight out of my nightmares.
It only made me more determined to keep going, and Lula is the perfect companion. She doesn’t let me give up and encourages me when I’m close to my limit.
For a thirteen-year-old, she’s emotionally intelligent, and definitely sassy when she wants to be. Never did I think I’d have a child boss me around, but it works, so I’m not complaining.
Using my powers hurts like a bitch. My head constantly feels like it’s about to combust, and my brain will squirt out through my ears. Some days, the pain is nearly unbearable, but it doesn’t stop me—even when Fi expresses her worries. The longer we wait around and ponder, the more people will die.
