“You don’t need the power. Just relax and let it go. Focus on the flowers.” I gesture to the glass of flowers I freshened for her yesterday, a mix of wildflowers. “Focus on the scent — breathing it in, letting it go.”
I try to guide her through breathing and grounding, but her emotions continue to swell and spiral. It’s not working. I move away from the door, stepping into her line of sight and blocking her view of the flowers.
“Love,” I say, gently, “look at me.”
Molten eyes find mine. My heart lurches.
I’ve missed that gaze so much.
I extend my hand to her. “Give it to me. Don’t lock itinside. Just… breathe it out. Push it through me, like a storm. I can take it.”
Her breath is ragged, hitching. “I’ll hurt you.”
I shake my head. “You won’t. But even if you do, let me be hurt. I’d rather bleed with you.”
I stand and wait, arm still extended. The choice has to be hers.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Idon’t understand what the fuck is happening right now. One minute I’m just brushing my damn teeth and the next, a surge of something fills my chest and water starts filling the bathtub. Now I feel like I have lightning in my veins. Flint tries to walk me through grounding and breathing but my thoughts and emotions are far too out of control for my usual coping skills to work. There’s just fear and anger, swinging wildly back and forth. I can’t get a handle on it.
He offers me his hand. Is he out of his fucking mind?!
I’m supposed to behappyabout this? That I have magick?
Look — on any other day, this would be pretty fucking epic. Right now, though? My mirror is shattered, my bathtub is filling, and my guy is… for Gods’ sake. Flint is just… steady. Unwavering. Offering me his hand like a lifeline in this storm.
“Give it to me. Don’t lock it inside. Just… breathe it out. Push it through me, like a storm. I can take it.”
Heis, in fact, out of hisfuckingmind.
The air in my lungs feels backed up. My throat feels scorched. “I’ll hurt you.”
He shakes his head. “You won’t. But even if you do, let me be hurt. I’d rather bleed with you.”
In literally any other moment, that sentence would turn me into a puddle but, right now, I have bigger worries on my hands.
“Trust me.”
I do.
Damn it.
I reach out, pressing my palm against his. He laces his fingers with mine and for a moment, nothing happens. Then a switch flicks and Flint’s eyes begin to glow, more brightly than before. The release hits like a terrifying wave. Silver light seems to burst from my skin, a pulse that lights the bathroom in stark relief. I cry out, collapsing against Flint, as more fragmented images flood my mind.
His body is rigid, locked tight, but he stays upright, arms wrapping around me and somehow managing to keep us both on our feet. “That’s it,” he whispers. “Keep breathing, love. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
The storm inside me seems to slowly uncoil. It feels reluctant, as though the power or whatever it is doesn’t want to push from me and into him. Like it’s meant to bemine.
When the last wave of energy pulses from my body, I sag hard against Flint. Every muscle is trembling and I feel like I’ve just ran a marathon. Maybe. This is what I think I would feel like if I actuallyrananywhere.
Flint’s eyes continue to glow, their sapphire color star bright.
He kisses my temple, voice rough. “You’re finding it. Piece by piece. Don’t be afraid of what’s yours.”
The bathroom smells of ozone. The air feels heavy with what must be the residue of power. At least it’s quiet now.
Needing a distraction, I look at the mirror. Through the cracks, I can see my eyes have returned to normal.
