My fingers are kind of numb from squeezing so hard.
He presses his lips to the globe and chuckles as he gazes at it. “You did great, little burden. I’ll meet you all at the house. I’m gonna go rub one out before we leave to meet Daddy dearest.”
I slap my hands through the water. It hits nothing but air and the laugh he left behind.
“Gross, little psycho.”
Not really…I’d like to join him.
“As much as I agree his announcement was uncalled for, it’s probably best we allow him to do whatever is necessary to calm himself before we do come face-to-face with our father.”
Gods, that’s a mood-dampening reminder.
We exit the hot spring, and I lay my forehead to Seismet’s as he approaches me.
“Do you two think we hid the power enough they won’t know?”
“There’s no doubt in my mind. The entire herd was pushing out their power and the hot spring is tremendously strong on its own. There isn’t any trace that it’s been used. You have nothing to fear.”
A relieved breath falls out of me, and I nod against his coarse fur as I pull away.
“Thank you all so much. And I couldn’t have done this without you, V.”
“Nonsense. The five of you would’ve figured it out eventually. There’s nothing the five of you can’t accomplish.”
I smirk as I peer over at the three of them surrounding Verlet.
“I believe that.”
“Go on then. And keep your head about you, Thayla.”
“You up to starshooting home?” Kyzen asks as he approaches me and laces our fingers together.
I glance one last time at V and Seismet, and they both bow their heads.
“Yeah, I am.”
He smiles down at me, then lays a kiss to my lips. “Beat you there.”
In less than a breath, he’s gone, and I huff, rolling my eyes as he’s already there and I’m still standing here.
“Go ahead. We’re waiting,” Creed grumbles and I flip him my middle finger as I wrap my power around me.
It flows twice as fast as it usually does and that shocks me still for a moment. It races back to its spot at my hesitation, and I blink at them.
“I didn’t realize it was going to spread so fast.”
Creed shrugs, so I move my attention to Amick, who willexplain.
“It’s amplified right now, but it’s going to move more quickly and readily at your command from here on because there’s more. Breathe and mentally prepare for that increased speed.”
Well, okay then.
I call my power back to my surface and spread it around my body. The speed still takes me by surprise, but I was more ready for it this time.
My eyes drift shut and my head tilts back as warmth surrounds me.
When I peel my lids open, my ceiling is my new view and a clap sounds around me.
