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“Wow,” I heard Aella say in awe. “We have a beautiful princess, you guys!”

“And powerful.” That was River.

On instinct, I absorbed the energy waves around me. The sounds, the movement, and even the faint light coming from the lodge fed my Kinetic power.

Once I felt sated, I lowered my head and looked at the others. They stared at me in awe. “The king is a fucking idiot for creating two weapons that will be responsible for his death.” Onyx’s amber eyes gleamed with hope and determination.

A smile crept up the sides of my cheek, relishing no longer feeling powerless.

Aella wanted to see my ability in action next. We shared the same element, but Kinetic powers were foreign to them aside from Onyx and Chrome’s.

So, I showed them while also stretching my magic’s legs for the first time in several days. I would mold the energy waves into tiny balls of compact energy and release it straight up into the air, causing little blue, electrical explosions.

Aella was fascinated. Onyx was accustomed to our range of abilities. River, however, watched with a studious air. She stood with her lips tight and her arms crossed, as if she were breaking it down in ways her brain could understand best.

“Maybe we should head back now,” I said reluctantly, feeling wholly free for the first time.

Everyone nodded, and we all soon trekked our way to the lodge.

Once we reached the staircase, we decided to part ways and turn in for the night.

“It was great hanging with you tonight, Gray. Thanks for sharing your Kinetic form with us,” Aella said, gripping my hands in her dainty ebony ones laced in gold. She offered a kind smile, softening those baby-blue-and-milky-white eyes.

I dipped my head and returned a one-sided smile. “Thank you for accepting me. I’m so grateful.”

Onyx opened his mouth to say something, but I felt it before I heard it. I felt the sound waves slamming into me from a distance. Energy waves that told me someone was pounding the ground in a full sprint toward us.

I stiffened and snapped my attention in the direction it came from. “Wait,” I said, holding up a blue-lit hand. “Someone’s coming.”

They all frowned, not understanding why I seemed bothered by this. “Okay? There’s a bunch of people here, Gray…” Onyx said.

“No,” I said. “Something’s wrong.”

About that time, the front doors of the lodge slammed open, ushering in Blaize. “River!”

River stiffened. She moved with perfect posture to meet him. “What is it?”

Blaize, whose black top knot fell loose around his face, was breathless. His fiery eyes burned with fear. “There’s someone here,” he said between breaths. “A Kinetic.”

We all glanced between each other in question. River and Aella flitted their unearthly eyes back and forth between Onyx and me. We were all thinking the same thing; maybe Blaize saw my power display outside, probably from a distance, and freaked.

“No,” Blaize said, shaking his head hard enough to knock the bun lower on his head. “Notthem,” he said, glancing between Onyx and me. “Another one.”

“There’s no way,” Onyx said, shaking his head. “I checked the wards earlier. They were firmly intact.” He closed his eyes. After several silent beats he opened them with a shrug. “Still are.”

I mentally kicked myself for numbing my awareness with alcohol. We all had. Onyx more than the rest.

Fear gripped my chest like a vice grip. I knew they’d find me. How could I be so fucking stupid to think my father wouldn’t track me down? Now, he knew where the Elementals’ main Hollow was hidden.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Did you see them?” I asked Blaize.

Blaize shook his head again. “No, they were shrouded in darkness, but not before I saw the glow of currents. And they weren’t any of theirs.” He motioned a hand at Onyx and me.

“Have you informed Orion? Chrome?” River asked. She should be the one with the fire element as fierce as her gaze bored into Blaize, threatening to incinerate him on the spot.

“No, I came straight in, and you guys are the first I ran across,” he rushed out in his defense.