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“Give that back!” he snapped at me.

“I'm sorry, I...” I tried to apologize and stood up.

“Don't touch my things, okay?!”

I flinched, but he didn't notice as he turned away from me and energetically slipped the rings onto his fingers.

I wanted to continue apologizing, but instead I bit my tongue until I tasted metal.

More tears welled up in my eyes, and I didn't know if it was the hormones or the fact that I felt overwhelmed.

I had invaded his privacy, but none of it felt private. It was as if I had found something intimate, something that had to do with me. Something that forced more tears into my eyes, but I couldn't show them to him, to the man who deserved all my honesty.

The cold in my fingers spread rapidly to my hands until sharp ice crystals formed on the tabletop next to me.

Hastily, I pulled my hand away.

Quentin spun around, but I couldn't let him see me like this, so I too spun around and hurried to the locker.

I threw it open, ignoring the ice climbing up the metal door, grabbed my backpack with trembling hands, and slammed the door shut.

“Julie...” Quentin said, and I knew I had confused him.

The pain in my chest doubled, along with the pressure that forced even more tears into my eyes.

With my head down, I darted through the lab, avoiding Quentin so he wouldn't see my tears.

“Julie.”

“See you Friday,” I managed to say with all my strength, then disappeared into the hallway.

My body was a Molotov cocktail of emotions, and I decided to take the stairs to avoid freezing the entire elevator.

I left a trail of ice beneath every step I took, which crackled as it followed me down the stairs and spread up the walls.

My control was out of reach, my cursed element untamed in my chest, controlled by all my confused emotions.

I didn't know what I was feeling, why I was feeling it, only that I was feeling it. Too much. Too strongly.

Chapter 42

Emely

Swept

Jay Varton

Towers of dark gray clouds covered the sky and low-flying black ravens shot through the streets as I steered my dark matte green Jeep through the busy downtown area.

My stomach cramped with nervousness because I wasn't driving to the Belly Shop, nor was I going to Lola's Diner to meet Cody, Hunter, and Nash. No, it was the damn DeLoughrey law firm.

I tried to concentrate on the road, on the Blairville Daily reporters doing their weekly resident satisfaction survey and almost jumping in front of the cars.

My gaze drifted to the hospital where Nash was currently doing his internship, and I hoped he would somehow manage.

He and Father had a better relationship. Always had.

I bit my tongue and swallowed the lump in my throat before turning my gaze to the venerable brick building on my left.