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“Allie! We need you to stay here, okay?”

“No.” I shook my head. I wanted to go up on the deck. I wanted to look at the water, get away from all of the voices, but I knew they’d only follow me.

“Yes.” Jon’s voice was gentle, but firm. “Stay here, okay? Please, Al. Please.”

He sounded nearly in tears.

I tried to pull away a third time, but he yanked me closer, away from the door.

I didn’t think that time.

I slammed out with my light, letting it explode out of me.

It happened so fast… I didn’t open my eyes until it already left my fingers.

I saw all of it, though. It unfolded in slow motion in my mind. The sound cut out, leaving my mind to track everything I saw in minute detail.

Jon stumbled backwards.

His arms moved as if underwater, his hands grasping open air as he slid across the metal floor. A slow-motiondéjà vucame to me as I watched him fly through the air. I pictured glasses falling, bouncing and shattering in a diner in San Francisco, his back hitting a table… a younger Jon, with different eyes, longer hair, more meat on his body, a rounder, softer face.

No glasses fell this time. Jon didn’t crash into a table.

He wore different clothes, his shoulders were broader, he no longer had two of his fingers, and his eyes shone with a light I could see even as he moved away from me. He let out a low grunt as his back hit into the wall by the espresso maker.

He fell to his knees, gasping.

And suddenly, the room was really really quiet.

I blinked my eyes, fighting to see through the light in my irises.

When I finally could, Wreg stood between me and my brother, his black eyes wide, his whole body trembling, shaking with adrenaline and fight. He held up one hand towards me, putting the entirety of his muscular bulk between me and Jon.

Tears filled Wreg’s eyes as I watched.

Behind him, Jon pulled himself to his feet, leaning against the wall. His arm wrapped around his chest, and I saw fear in his face.

Fear shone in his eyes as he stared at me, fighting for breath.

I felt pain on him, physical pain, although he fought to control it.

“Esteemed Sister.” Wreg’s voice was loud, holding light, enough light to confuse me. He raised his hand higher. “Please!Pleasedo not hurt my mate. He wants only to help you. Both of us do. Please… if you must hurt someone, hurt me! He is already wounded, sister… please do not harm him! Please!”

“Wreg, get thefuckaway from her!” Jon said loudly, his voice holding fear. He continued to fight to catch his breath. “Get away from her!Now,goddamn it! NOW.”

I stared at Wreg. Blinking, I looked at Jon behind him.

Some part of me couldn’t put the two things together.

I couldn’t make sense of what Wreg said, or what was wrong. Whatever caused that fear on his face, I knew I’d done it. Whatever made that pain and fear come off Jon’s light, I knew I’d done that, too. Now Wreg’s body and light exuded pain as well.

He stood between me and my brother, protecting Jon from me.

I fought with my mind, trying to make it work, even as a denser anger slid through me. I could feel them converging, coming for me like a rabid animal. They’d lock me up now. They’d hit me with a dart, throw me in a cage.

Maybe they were right to do it.

I thought about Revik downstairs, in his own kind of cage.