“And yet, you’re so good at it.” He chuckles as I flip him off, catching up to Bellamy.
I watch them walk away, my stomach flipping the moment they’re out of sight. Digging deep, I force the needy, pathetic feeling rising up in me down hard.
I’ve been looking out for myself for twenty-five years. I know better than to depend onanyone.
And yet… I can’t help but realize that having the guys around helps soothe a part of me I didn’t realize desperately needed it. That in itself freaks me out.
Things have gotten seriousreallyfast; and that scares the hell out of me. Even after how many times they assured me that I hold all of the power… it sure doesn’t feel like it.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I close my eyes, trying to concentrate and get back to figuring out how the hell my powers work so they’re actually useful instead of a liability. If mimics radiate safety, logically, that means I’m searching for whatever feels like… the opposite. Maybe notdangerous, per se, but a different frequency.
Straining my senses, I pick up on little flickers interspersed amongst the obstacle course on the opposite side of the training ground, and a few sporadic ones up in the stands. Not clear enough that I can latch onto them; spotty, one bar signals at best. But it’s a start, at least. My attention is pulled to the leftas two signals flare to life, growing stronger. When I mentally brush against one, it instantly caresses me back; cool, dark, and soothing.
Arson.
The other lights up when I tentatively reach out. The image of a gold strand giving off sparks of light, bright and bubbly like sipping champagne, comes to mind, more of a feeling than an actual visual. With only a small flicker of hesitation, it rushes me like a dam breaking, and the sudden flood of energy has my eyes flying open. Glittery sparks dance along my fingertips as Myles smiles softly.
I twist my hand in front of me in awe, studying the feeling with breathless wonder. “Why’s it feel so much different than the last time I borrowed your power?”
His ears redden as Myles fidgets with his glasses, clearing his throat. “That was before we cemented the bond. The power boost people have mentioned is no joke.”
Jesus, it’s no wonder he blew a hole through the wards with this kind of power at his fingertips.
As soon as the thought crosses my mind, the energy flares brighter and grows uncomfortably warm.
Myles hastily thrusts a phone in my hand. “Hurry, direct it into this!” The only problem is that I’m realizing that the last time I used his abilities, I made a fan explode. Now? That explosion will pack amuchbigger punch.
“Breathe, Ev, focus your intent,” Myles encourages, the corners of his eyes crinkled in worry. “Make it, I don’t know, blast duck sounds every time someone texts!”
“Why would you say blast!?” The more I panic, the hotter the phone gets.
I go to throw it, but Myles clasps his hands around mine. “No! As soon as you let go, the energy will rush out without having a direction. And right now? That very well might take outthis entire cavern and everyone in it. You can do this, I believe in you. Justfocus.”
Focus on accidentally blowing up innocent bystanders? Proving that Bellamy made a mistake getting mixed up with the four of us? First we blew up the mimic’s shield, then their arena. Fuck, these people are going to poison our food, and I can’t say I’d really blame them.
Just as the first crack appears, a woman sprints over and snatches it out of my hand. Chucking it with all her might, a faint shadow appears that the phone sails through before disappearing completely. Shaking out her arm with a hiss, she turns to me with wide blue-green eyes. “Fates, girl, are youtryingto kill yourself?”
My heart is racing too hard to speak. She carries on, unbothered at my lack of response, and hitches her thumb over her shoulder at Arson. “Thank the Fates you haven't bonded this one yet.” Facing him, she frowns. “Wait, whydidn'tyou step in?”
Arson shrugs. “I was ready to grab them.”
She raises an eyebrow. “So you were just going to let everyone here blow up instead of chucking that bomb elsewhere?”
“Yeah, that pretty much sums it up,” he shamelessly confirms.
She snorts. “I’d expect nothing less from a demon.”
“No, you should expect much,muchworse.” A small smile curves the corner of Arson’s mouth. “And be happy that I don’t care enough about you to care if you live or die. Or you’d already be dead.”
The woman grins, turning back to me. “Okay, I get it now. This morning I overheard someone saying Bellamy was bonded by a group of unhinged mysts, but they left out that it was part of their appeal. Sorry I didn’t come meet you sooner; gossip takes a little longer to reach my neck of the tunnels. I’m Kiara.”
Violet hair hangs a few inches past her shoulders, the color so rich it practically shimmers in the light. Bright blue-green eyes make her look like something out of an anime come to life.Even the streaks of ash across her blue tunic do nothing to detract from how gorgeous she is, making her seem more down to earth and approachable.
Snapping out of my stunned stupor, a blush creeps up my neck when I realize I’ve been staring way too long to be polite and extend a hand. “Ever.”
Darting a swift glance over her shoulder, she steps closer and reaches inside the leather pouch at her hip before shaking my hand, discreetly passing something over. My fingers curl around the object automatically, heart skipping a beat in recognition.
She offers a wink and uses her body as cover while I slip the knife that’d been stolen from me into my own hip satchel. I’ll add it back to my boot where it belongs when there aren’t so many eyes on us, but if nothing else, it makes me instantly like this woman.
