chapter Ten
AFTER MY MOM DISCOVERED through the cleaners’ rumor mill that the Narcos would be attending the Academy, she freaked. She’d stormed around the house, packing bags, and declared we were leaving that night.
After an hour of pleading, I’d finally persuaded her to stop long enough to hear my news, promising her I’d figured out a way to summon my Charge. She was disbelieving, asking me to prove it. But I admitted that I needed an open, secluded area in which to practice. Skeptically, she agreed. Even though she was scared, she wanted to believe it was possible.
She set a deadline for one week. I had one week before the new academic year started, and that’s the time she allotted me to learn to conceal my power. After that, if I couldn’t summon my Charge, we’d leave Haven Falls.
I scanned my room the next morning and quickly packed a bag with my communicator and a change of clothes. I flew down the stairs, kissed my mom’s forehead, and headed out to wait for Reese.
We decided the best place to practice would be the falls. The triplets and I hadn’t gone there since we were kids, so I didn’t fear running into them. And the second fall was located far enough into the woods that no one else would see us. I was clawing out of my skin with anticipation—wanting to learn everything I could about my power. Not only that, Reese had promised when I mastered at least one power, he’d spar with me. I’d wanted to knock his head in ever since that first night. Of course, now I also wanted to kiss it afterward.
Reese hid his levibike behind the brush near the trail. If anyone stopped by the falls and saw a funky lightshow, he didn’t want his bike traced back to him.
“And I thought I was paranoid,” I said as he layered another branch over his bike.
He raised his eyebrows. “Not taking any chances.” He packed the last branch on, then wandered up beside me, taking my hand and moving us onto the trail. “Besides, I figured you’d be ashamed if you were seen with a Narco.” He smirked.
I laced my fingers through his. “I’m not ashamed.” I glanced down, sidestepping a boulder. “It’s just too hard to justify to anyone. It would only cause more complications. And we don’t need that kind of attention.” I glared at him.
“Agreed,” he said. “But it’ll be torture staying away from you at the Academy.”
My face flushed. How could he be so confident about us? I knew that I liked him, but he talked as if he’d known me forever. Although, I understood he’d probably felt as alone as I did his whole life. Finally having someone to take that away—we fit together like missing pieces of a puzzle. I squeezed his hand, relishing the feel of its warmth.
Reese glanced around as we neared the second fall. “We need to climb.” He pointed toward the top. “It’s flat ground up there, and we’ll be able to see far around us.”
“Okay. How do we do that? I’m not the best climber.”
Reese gave me a wickedly hot grin. Latching my arms around his neck, he scooped me onto his back, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Then he secured me to him with a leather strap.
“Don’t let go.” He reached into his leather jacket and pulled out a thin brass tube.
“What are you doing?” I stared at the device. It had a tiny three-prong hook at its head.
Reese aimed the brass tube at the fall and turned a small gear. The hook shot out, bringing a clear cord with it, and circled around a rock jutting from the side of the fall. He clipped the tube onto his black leather belt.
“It’s my grappler,” he explained. “Ready?”
I tightened my hold. “Where did you learn how to scale cliffs?”
Reese turned the gear on the device, and we began lifting up as he reached for the first crevice in which to place his hand. “You don’t grow up around airships and not pick up a few tricks,” he said with a grunt, and he began climbing. The pneumatic gears in the brass tube grinded as they helped pull our weight.
When we reached the top, Reese loosened the strap and clung to the side, allowing me to climb over and pull myself up. I stood hands to hips, viewing the woods. “Wow, you were right. We can pretty much see everything from up here.”
Reese yanked the tube, reeling the cord in with a loud zip. “But no one can see us.” He winked.
The river trickled over boulders and rocks, echoing a haunted melody against the trees. Reese led us to a clear spot near the bank, and we sat down cross-legged on the pine straw.
“Remove your eye lenses,” he said, opening a small, black box. “You can put them in here for now.”
I hesitantly dipped my head forward, stretching an eyelid open. I’d never shown anyone other than my mom my real eyes. “What’s the first thing I should learn?” I asked, pinching the lens between my finger and thumb before dropping it into the water-filled box. I listened to the river’s song as I removed my other eye lens. It was peaceful. I looked up to see why Reese still hadn’t answered my question.
He stared at me, searching my eyes with his head inclined. “You’re beautiful,” he said, and my face heated. Then he cleared his throat. Taking my hands in his, he positioned himself in front of me. “Meditation.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Seriously? I thought we’d jump straight into Charge. I need to be able to use it before I go to the Academy.”
“That’s what we’re doing.” He placed my hands on my knees, turning my palms up. “You have to feel each power inside you—be able to separate them. And that takes concentration at first. Meditation helps clear your mind, center you, so you can find them.”
“I honestly didn’t take you for the meditating type.” My lips twitched into small smile. “Narcos are supposed to be all hot tempered, not yoga masters.”
“Stereotype. We are pretty hot, though.” He grinned. “Now focus. Close your eyes. Hear the river and clear your thoughts.”
I felt ridiculous, but I did as he asked. Reese released my hands, and I sat still, listening to the river’s trickle. I had no idea what I was supposed to be feeling or what was supposed to happen. Nervous energy crept into me.
After about ten minutes of sitting in silence, I couldn’t take anymore. “Ugh, this is pointless.” I jumped to my feet. “I don’t have time for this. I have to learn how to use Charge now. In less than a week, I’ll be at the Academy and expected to…Oh, I have no idea, but they’ll definitely want me to do something with it.” I huffed. “Or worse, I’ll be—” I bit back my rant. I didn’t want to think about—or admit—that I could be gone. I’d never see Reese or my friends again.
I stared out over the river, scuffing my boot against the bank. Then Reese’s arms wrapped around me from behind. He rested his chin on my shoulder.
“I know how you feel.” His breath caressed my ear. “When I was told I was coming here, I didn’t have much time to get it together. I didn’t even know if I could.” He turned me around to face him. “But you can do this.”
“You’re not supposed to be all calm support-o guy.”
“Yes, I am.” He smiled.
Taking my hands in his, he brought them before me. He pressed his palms to mine, linking our hands together between us. His head dipped lower, and he brushed his lips gently against mine. A shock jolted beneath my hands, and something hummed, tickling my palms. I cracked an eye open. His hands glowed blue. But mine were illuminated blue, also.
He drew back, and I stared at our joined hands. As the light spread up his forearm, it reached down mine, and sparks crackled between our palms. I looked into his bright blue eyes.
“What color are my eyes?” I asked, my voice shaking.
He beamed at me. “Blue.” Reese broke the connection and grasped my face, pulling me to him. He kissed me hungrily. And I gave in as he lowered me to the bank.
Pine needles pressed into my back as he hovered above me, running his fiery hands along my arms. I felt my Shythe power building, and I stroked his chest, sending waves of Charge over his skin. He groaned against my lips.
He lifted his head, his eyes burning red. “I had no idea Shythe power could be this fun.” He buried his head between my shoulder and neck, roaming his warm lips over my skin.
Shivers wracked my body. Although I knew Reese wouldn’t harm me, as his lips moved over my Kythan ink, my body tensed. Jace had been so adamant during training about protecting our power source. My first instinct was to pull away, but I fought it, allowing myself to relax in his arms.
He rose up and stared down at my ink. “Show me. Shift. I’ve been going crazy wondering what you look like in Kythan form.”
My stomach dropped. “I can’t.” I pushed away and sat up.
Reese’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean? You haven’t shifted yet?” He moved closer, and ran his hand along my arm.
“No,” I said, averting my eyes. “I mean, I did. But that’s when that crazy power took over. I don’t want to try again until I know I can control it.” I blew out a long breath. “Maybe after I get control over both powers I can do it without going all white.”
“I understand.” He ducked his head so he could look eye-to-eye with me. “Hey. It’s all right. It freaked me out, too. Go at your own pace.”
A smile crept across my lips. “What happened to the wild antagonistic guy I met last week?” I asked.
“Oh, him? He’s just my counterpart. He only comes out when guys like Jace want to get scrappy.”
“Right.” I eyed him. “You should give Jace a chance. He’s not all bad. He just takes things way serious.” I took his hand in mine. “We were all scared when we heard that the Narcolym were moving into Haven Falls. Jace was doing his best to protect the people he cares about.”
Reese pressed his lips together. “And he cares about you.”
“Well, yeah.” I shrugged. “We all grew up together. He’s one of my best friends. He’s always looked after me like a brother, just like he does Lana.”
“Yeah, I totally see the big brother act.” Reese huffed. “I promise to take it down a notch with him.”
“Thanks.” I glanced at the sun. “What time is it?”
He fished his communicator from his pocket. “Six. What time do you have to be back?”
“Like, an hour ago. My mom’s going to kill me.” I hopped to my feet and turned toward the river. “Guess I need to test this out first, though.” I shook my arms, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I tried to focus on what I’d been feeling when Reese held me. The power he’d sent between us.
Concentrating, I pulled forth my Charge, commanding it. And it obeyed. My hands ignited, glowing blue. I aimed at the river, my palm flat against the air, and released a bolt into the water. “Whoa.” I snapped my head toward Reese, whose eyebrows shot up.
“Damn.” He sidled up beside me. “Aim at that tree.” He pointed across the river. “See how far your range is.”
I did as he asked, zeroing in on the tree. I felt the power surge, building. I panicked. Not wanting to lose control, I pulled back my power shakily. I held my hand up and a current sparked, zipping across the river and blasting the tree. I could see a faint black mark etched into the bark.
Reese pulled me into his arms. “You’re amazing.” His eyes traced my face. “Now you get to show your mom what you can do.” He smiled. “Maybe she’ll relax and I can actually take you out some place nice.”
My heart soared, and then sank. “True. She’ll be ecstatic, but where can we go and not be seen by your friends or mine?”
Reese laughed. “I’m not worried about mine. And I thought you said yours are about to hit the change.”
I nodded. “Okay. Right. We can probably get away with it.”
“Dez, if we’re together, your friends will eventually find out.” He clasped my hand and led me in the opposite direction from where we’d come. “But, I understand. It’s too much right now. Let them settle into the change and the Peace Act first.”
“Where are we going?”
“I think we can get down this way without having to use the grappler.” He pointed. “It’ll take a few minutes longer to walk around, though.”
He was right, it took a little longer to get back to the trail, but the fall leveled out and we were able to walk the incline toward his levibike. Reese dropped me off in the same spot, just down the road from my house. I couldn’t take the chance my mom would see him. I gave him a quick kiss with the promise of meeting him the next day.
As I walked down my street, my insides danced with excitement. Everything was going to be all right. I’d learned how to use my Charge. My mom could relax now. I’d go to the Academy with my friends, and eventually, when everyone accepted that the Narcos were here to help and not fight, I could tell them about me and Reese.
Everything was coming together perfectly.
As I skipped up to my walkway, thinking about the afternoon I’d spent with Reese, I glanced up and my chest tightened, threatening to crush me.
Jace sat on my porch, hands between his knees—a serious expression on his face. “What’s going on, Dez?”