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He doesn’t reply, which is an answer in itself.

I stare at him, unable to speak.I’m shaking, and it has nothing to do with being cold.I thought a nuclear explosion was the worst he could do with his power.But if he’s able to affect the sun itself, then it’s not just nuclear fission he’s capable of but also nuclear fusion.With hismind, he’s somehow able to change the burning power of a star that’s millions of miles away.

How is such a thing possible?

No wonder people think he’s the prince in the prophecy.I can’t blame them.

His power is beyond belief, beyond comprehension.

It’s absolutely terrifying.

And Iamterrified… but at the same time, the vulnerability that stirs in our bond makes my chest clench with compassion.Aruan didn’t ask for this.He’s not doing these terrible things on purpose.I’ve gotten to know him well enough by now to be certain of that.Something must’ve set off his reaction.

Reaching out, I take his hand.“What happened?”

Finally, the mask drops.Anger contorts his features.“I know who sent you to Earth, and I think I know why you got so sick when you arrived there.”

My heart starts pounding as I stare at him.“That’s what made you so upset?”

Calculation crosses over his face.“Donotsay that was because of you.”

Despite my best effort to hide my perturbation, I can’t help how breathless my reply sounds.“I wasn’t going to say that.”

He pins me with a look, cutting me open and seeing right through me.“But that’s what you’re thinking.”

I’m thinking a lot of things, starting with, surprisingly, that I care.Aruan’s pain is like white-hot coals smoldering in my stomach.All I want is to take it away.I don’t even know when it happened.I only know I don’t want him to suffer.And yes, I’m thinking that it’s my fault.If not for me, he wouldn’t lose control of his power like that.

The disasters he set off today because someone banished me send more shivers down my spine.If I stay, it’s a risk.But if I leave, it will be just as perilous, if not more so.

My ribcage constricts, squeezing the air from my lungs as the impossible situation stares me in the face.

“It’s not your fault, Elsie.”A muscle ticks in his jaw.“I’ll get a better handle on my control.It won’t happen again.”

That’s not something he can guarantee, and I don’t want him to make promises he may break, but we’re getting sidetracked.“Was it your mother?Is that what she wanted to talk to you about?”

The set of his mouth hardens.“She wanted to talk about your power, which poses a risk if you don’t use it responsibly, but I wanted answers.”

“She admitted it,” I say with a tremulous exhale.

He rubs his thumb over my knuckles.“She thinks your body was put back together wrongly when she sent you through the portal, seeing that you were only a baby.”

“That’swhy I was dying?”

His eyebrows snap together, drawing deep lines over his forehead.“We believe so.Coming back to Zerra reversed the process.”

I look down at my body.“Which explains why my old scars are gone and why my heart isn’t failing any longer.”

As incredible as it sounds, it does make sense.

My mind starts working a mile a minute, digesting what this means about these parallel worlds.If that’s the case, it would explain how traveling through a portal is possible.The atoms making up our bodies are deconstructed on one side and reassembled on the other side of the time and space that’ve been bent.

This is incredible.

I’m so caught up in the mind-boggling discovery that I almost forget why we’re having this conversation.The dark expression with which Aruan continues to stare at me gives me pause.

“I’m not dying, am I?”I ask quickly.

He lets go of my hand and cups my cheek.“No, Elsie.You’re not dying.If anything, you’re getting stronger.What you did with your power today was proof alone.”