by Aleah Raynes
When he lifted his lashes and stared at me, the world seemed to fall away around us.
“Guys? We’re going swimming, remember?” Cal’s voice brought Kent and me out of our trance. Or whatever it was.
Kent stepped away and avoided eye contact with me. “I remembered I have something to take care. I’ll catch y’all later.”
With my mouth open, I stared at Kent’s back as he walked into the apartment building. Glancing at Cal, I asked, “What did I do?”
Cal prowled to me, pulling me into a hug. “It’s not you. Well, maybe it is. But not in a bad way.” He threaded his hand through his hair, still holding me by the waist with the other. “We all are fighting an impossible attraction to you. We want to protect you, be near you, touch you…”
He trailed off, but I didn’t need him to explain anymore. They were my kidetos and my soulmates. Even I felt it. However, everything was so new to me. I didn’t want to rush into anything. They seemed to know that. Yet, I was making it difficult for them. They were guys, after all.
I cupped his cheeks with my hands. “I…I don’t want to make things difficult. I could stay with my dad.”
“No.” He hugged me tighter. “You’re fine with us. Now that we’ve spent almost twenty-four hours together, it’ll be hard to let you leave.”
Sliding my hands down to his chest then wrapping them around his waist, I pressed my cheek to his chest. The need for comforting surrounded me and I wasn’t sure if it was mine or his.
After a long moment, he pulled out of the hug. “Walk with me to the river. We don’t have to swim today.”
A ghost of smile formed on his handsome face. How could I say no to that? “Yes. A walk sounds nice.”
He took my hand and led me down a trail into the forest. When we left the pavement, my heels sank into the ground. Ugh.
“Wait.” I stopped and was about to remove the shoes until I remembered Dalton had said I could just conjure things on. Just like I did with my clothes that morning, I willed my runners to replace my heels. The sudden height difference in the shoes threw me off balance, but Cal gripped my elbow. I let out a nervous laugh. “I didn’t think that through.”
“Maybe one shoe at a time.”
“Maybe.” I rolled my eyes and started walking again, leaving him to catch up.
He was at my side within a few steps, taking my hand again. I suppressed a sigh. But I did walk closer to him. I caught the small smile of his before he asked, “How is it growing up around humans?”
I shrugged. “Different. I could hide among them. Well, until my powers showed up. With my people, I don’t have to hide. At the same time, I don’t want the attention.”
“What do you mean, attention?”
I frowned before replying. “You know what I’m talking about. Everyone watches me. They stare like I’m either some kind of villain or a hero.”
He fell silent for a moment. “Oh, that. Ignore them.”
I planned to. “What is it like growing up with a brother like Sawyer?”
We came to a tree trunk that had fallen on the trail. Cal placed his hands on my hips and lifted me up to climb over it. I should have changed clothes. As soon as the thought entered my mind my dress pants changed to jeans. Cal jumped down from the trunk and looked at the jeans. “Good call.” He chuckled.
“This was an accident. Like I said earlier, sometimes I can just think of something and it appears.”
He laughed. “Well, don’t think about being naked while in front of a large group of people.”
I shoved him, making him stumble a few steps and laugh harder. “Why would I do that?”
He held up his hands. “Just saying.”
I moved closer and hip bumped him. “Answer my question.”
“Oh, Sawyer.” Cal shrugged. “What about him? He’s overprotective and an ass at times.”
“I don’t know. I do see him as intense and protective. He also has a soft side. He’d do anything for his team.” I kicked a pine cone as we walked.
“You are pretty good. Sawyer never lets anyone see his soft side. In fact, he’d deny ever having one.” He picked up a rock and tossed it into the forest. “What do you see in me?”
That was easy. “You are patient, caring, and also protective.” I paused wondering if I should tell him anymore. I needed to be honest. “I also sense fear.”
His steps faltered, then he quickly changed the subject. “I hear the river.” He took my hand and tugged me to the end of the trail.
The river was pretty wide, almost the size of a lake. There was a thick rope hanging from one of the trees and a pier a few yards from it. Cal dragged me to the end of the dock where we sat. “Isn’t this pretty? The water is soothing.”
“Yes, it is.” I relaxed and leaned against him. I wanted to ask more questions, to get to know him, his secrets. Yet, he wasn’t comfortable with me knowing he held onto fear. I wouldn’t push him.
We sat in silence for a long while. It was a nice kind of silence, like we’d known each all our lives. Finally, Cal spoke over the sound of the water. “My parents were killed when I six. We were on vacation at their boathouse. Mom was in the bedroom. She’d just taken me out of the shower when shouting sounded from the deck. Mom shoved my clothes at me and then herded me to a small cubby under the bed. Then she left. They all…left.”
Oh, no. My lip trembled as sadness filled my heart. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and cupped his head. “I’m so sorry.”
Cal laid his head on my shoulder and turned into my neck. “I don’t even know how long I stayed in there. Aaron and Sawyer found me.” He paused and I waited, sensing he wasn’t finished. “I’m afraid of being alone and of the dark.”
I rubbed circles on his back. “I don’t like the dark either. No real reason. Just prefer to have a night light.”
Cal chuckled, then laughed as he lifted his head and wiped his eyes. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“Maybe, but it’s true. I only slept without a light last night because I was with you and Sawyer.” My cheeks heated as the words left my mouth.
“Now that I think of it, the bathroom light was on. I thought Sawyer had turned it on. He does that when I fall asleep before the sun sets.”
Sitting up straight, I smiled at him. “See, soft spot.”
“Yeah, but Sawyer can still be an ass.” Cal stood and offered his hand. “Are you ready to go back?”
Nodding, I placed my hand in his. He tugged me to a stand while lacing his fingers with mine. His honey-tone gaze captivated me. A curl fell across his forehead and I wanted to brush it aside.
Suddenly, he stiffened and tugged me closer to him. The air filled with the charge of danger nearby. I wasn’t sure what, but tingles raced over my flesh. “What is it?”
Cal pulled out his cell and hit a single button before sliding it back in his pocket. “I’m not sure. It could be any number of Lucia’s minions. My first guess would be the thistia.”
Just then, a creature I’d never seen before dropped from the trees above us. He had the body of a human with reddish skin. His nose was slightly elongated like a dog. Black eyes stared at me as the beast snarled and slowly inched closer. Cal stepped in front me and held his hands out, palms up.
The creature snarled, darting his gaze from Cal to me. My heart hammered as fear burned through my veins. “What does it want?’
“My guess is you,” Cal grunted, keeping his eyes on the thistia.
That didn’t help tamp down my fear.
A moment later, Kent tackled the beast to the ground. Cal pushed me toward the trail. “Run while it’s distracted.”
No. I didn’t want to leave them. What if there were more? I reached for his hand. As soon as our hands touched a vision slammed into me.
The creature was dragging Cal into the woods. Kent was lying on the ground in pain. Pain I felt. His breathing was constricted. My own lungs burned and I gasped for air. The psychometry was pulling me too far
into the vision.
Cal released my hand, then he was suddenly in my mind. Just like he was when he taught me to create my shields. He was there at my side. “It’s not your pain. You aren’t the one hurt or struggling to breathe. Focus, Ry. Focus on what the vision is trying to tell you.”
“What?” The vision was trying to tell me something? I took a deep breath, forcing the pain away. It wasn’t real because this hadn’t happened yet. The creature was taking Cal away, but why?
Then I saw it. The second thistia, hiding in the shadows. He could camouflage himself. I wondered if the guys knew they had abilities.
I snapped myself out of the vision, which was a first for me, and stared into Cal’s concerned gaze. “Did you see the vision?”
“Not all of it. What did you see?”
Tears filled my eyes. “Kent will be hurt badly. When you save him, the creature will drag you off. Because there is another one hiding about ten feet to our left, in the shadows.”
There was no way to change the outcome. I started to shake. Cal framed my face in his hands. “Go to the apartment. I’ll be there soon.”
I shook my head. Just then Kent screamed and my chest tightened, sorrow gripped me. No!
Cal moved into action. He thrust his hands out and a blast of ice flowed from his hands, hitting the thistia in the chest. Within seconds, the beast was frozen solid.
Without a second thought, I rushed to Kent and dropped to my knees beside him. His breaths were shallow and his gaze unfocused. Oh, no. We couldn’t stop it from happening. What did that mean? I was so used to pushing my powers away, hiding them, I never tried to figure out the meaning behind them.
I brushed his hair from his forehead and cupped his cheek. A dab of blood ran from his nose. Tears stung my eyes. Hopelessness squeezed my heart. “Shh. Breathe slowly. I know it hurts.”
Kent closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. I gripped his hand and he squeezed mine.
A low growl cut through the forest, snapped my attention straight ahead. Another larger, uglier thistia charged Kent and me. Fear burned my insides and shook me to the core.
“Rylee!”
Reed? I didn’t dare turn to look. I had to focus on the beast coming at us and had to somehow stop it. Reed sounded too far away and Cal was battling one of his own. That left me to defend not only myself but Kent. My kidetos and my new friend.
But what could I do? None of my powers were for defense. God help us, I wish I had Reed’s psychovector. As soon as the thought formed in my mind a force field formed around Kent and me, providing a barrier between us and the creature.
What?
Reed raced by us and barreled into the beast. Almost as soon as he touched the thistia the creature screamed out in pain, then dropped dead on the ground. My mouth fell open as I stared at Reed. When he turned to me, I saw the silver dagger in his hand. Where did that come from?
Cal cursed loudly. Glancing at him, my heart sank. I jumped to my feet. “Cal!”
The creature dragging Cal suddenly stopped and released him. But Cal grabbed his wrist and tugged. Ice formed on the spot where Cal had a hold of him and traveled up his arm, spreading under the thistia was a solid chunk of ice.
Reed rushed to my side, using his magic to lower the force field around us. “Are you okay? How did you raise a shield?”
“I’m okay…” Wait. I stared into Reed’s baby blues and frowned. “You didn’t create the field?”
He shook his head. Had I done it? “I thought it would be nice to have your power, then the field formed.”
He drew me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. “It doesn’t matter right now. We need to get Kent inside.”
Nodding, I stepped aside so Cal and Reed could lift Kent without jarring him too much. I hung back nervously, then followed them to the apartment. All the while, hoping Kent would be okay. And that I never, ever saw another thistia again.
Chapter 9
Sawyer met us at the apartment door and held it open. Before I could follow the guys into Kent’s room, Sawyer stopped me with his hand on my shoulder. There was worry and fear in his chocolate brown depths. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Just worried about Kent.”
It was a long time before Sawyer released my shoulders. I wasn’t sure he believed me, but I didn’t care. Kent’s wellbeing was all that mattered. “Kent needs a doctor. It’s painful for him to breathe.”
Sawyer raised a brow then asked, “Vision?”
I nodded and he sighed while grabbing my hand and linking our fingers. He tugged me to Kent’s room. Reed and Cal had laid Kent on the bed. He was shirtless now.
I released Sawyer’s hand and sat on the bed next to Kent. Sawyer glanced at me, then motioned to the other side. “Can you sit on that side?”
I glanced at the others, not understanding why he’d ask me that and not call for a medic or healer. After a moment, Sawyer sighed and held out his hand. “Ry, please. I’m a healer.”
Oh! I rushed to the other side of bed, where there was room for me to lie beside Kent.
“Don’t touch him,” Sawyer snapped. He was angry, but I sensed that it wasn’t at me so I ignored his tone.
Cal’s voice entered my mind. “Sawyer hates an audience. Don’t be upset at him.”
“I’m not upset with him. He’s mad at the thistias and whoever sent them.”
Sawyer snapped his fingers. “Reed, Cal, out.”
The guys left without a word, but they sent me worried glances as they left. I waved them off. I could handle Sawyer.
“What was Cal saying about me?”
A smile tugged at my lips. “He said you don’t like an audience and not to be mad at you for snapping.”
Sawyer released a sigh and hovered his hands over Kent’s chest and abdomen. “The guys distract me. It’s our connection as a kidetos team. They either annoy me by pacing or their emotions run too high.” He placed his hands on Kent, one over his heart and the other at the bottom of his ribs.
A soft glow lit under his hands. Several moments passed before Kent gasped and arched his back. I sat up, desperately wanting to touch him to see if he was all right. What seemed like minutes later, Kent opened his eyes and held my stare. He reached up and caressed my cheek. “Sorry.”
Shaking my head, I gripped his hand and held it to my cheek. “No. You didn’t do anything to be sorry for.”
A weak smile formed before he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. At first, I panicked. “What happened?”
Sawyer stood. “He’s asleep. Come help me cook dinner and talk about your new ability.”
Was it that late already? I’d lost track of time with everything that happened that day. “What new ability?”
A chuckle escaped him. “We’ll talk about it out there.”
I took his hand and allowed him to lead me to the kitchen. Sitting around the island was Cal, Reed, and Dalton. My eyes landed on Dalton, surprised to see him, but relieved at the same time.
Sawyer lifted me by the waist and placed me on the counter. I turned sideways so I could see everyone while Sawyer started the meeting. “Cal, explain what you meant about Rylee’s new powers.”
Cal frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was rambling off shit, Reed.”
Reed rolled his eyes. “When I got there, Kent was already down and Rylee was with him. She snapped her gaze up and that was when I noticed the thistia head straight for them. I screamed her name and a moment later a force field surrounded them.”
Sawyer glanced at me, his brows drawn together. “So you can create force fields?”
I shrugged. But Reed continued. “She created it, but I’m not sure it is a new power. I’m guessing, but what if her conjuring did it?”
I glanced at Reed. It was something I hadn’t thought of. “Every time I’ve wished for something, it appeared. How would wishing I had your power make me have it?”
Dalton spoke up. “Not have it, but use it.”
Everyone t
urned to stare at Dalton. Sawyer snapped his fingers. “Of course. The summoning power must be growing.”
I waved my hand in the air. “Wait. I’ve never conjured a power before.”
“It would make sense that your powers would grow now.” Sawyer continued his thought. He wasn’t talking to anyone in particular.
Cal bobbed his head up and down. “Yes. Our bond would make it possible. Especially since she’s here now.”
“Wait.” I glared at each of them. “I’m not bound to you. Wouldn’t that involve a ritual of some kind?”
The guys fell silent. The uneasiness in the pit on my stomach grew. What other secrets had my father and brother kept from me? “Spill. Now.”
I crossed my arms and was two seconds from throwing a fit. Childish? Yes, but I didn’t care. I had a right to know what the hell was going on.
Sawyer took my hands in his, drawing my attention to him. His chocolate depths calmed me while his words raised my anger a little more. “Archangel Michael performed the ritual when we were children and you were a newborn. Right before your parents were ordered to hide you.”
No, no. That wasn’t right. But it was. The pull toward the guys should have alerted me that something like this was done. But I dismissed it as fate. Then there was how comfortable and safe I felt around them.
I could read their emotions more so than my normal empathy does for others.
“I need to speak to my dad. This is crazy.”
Suddenly the air shifted in the similar way it did when I conjured something. From the corner of my eye, I saw my dad. “What the hell?”
Dad stared at me as if to say the same thing. “How did I get here?”
I hopped off the counter and advanced toward him, then stopped and glanced at Sawyer. “How?”
Sawyer sighed. “Like we guessed, your conjuring power seems to be growing.”
“I don’t want to summon people. When I said I needed to talk to him I meant on the phone.” My cell appeared on the counter. I threw my hands up in the air. “Now it’s out of control. I’m not talking the rest of the night.”
Dad glanced from me to the guys. “Someone explain.”
