“I haven’t displayed any powers, just an ability to glow and… and… to look like a dragon,” Lexi said.
When no one spoke, she listened to the grandfather clock in the other room as it ticked away the seconds.
“You looked like a dragon?” her dad finally asked.
“Yes. I mean, I didn’t turn into one or anything like that. I just… changed.”
“You look fine to me,” Orin said.
“She was in the sunlight when it happened,” Cole said.
“Did anyone else see this?” her dad asked with a sharp edge to his voice.
“No,” Lexi said.
“Howdid you look like a dragon?” Orin asked.
Lexi glanced at Cole, who was studying the windows. “Do you want to show them?” he asked her.
“Might as well because I’m not sure how to explain it,” she replied.
“Someone go and make sure no one is outside,” Cole commanded.
Brokk walked over to the window and pulled the curtain back to peer outside before settling it back across the glass. “I’ll be back,” he said.
Before anyone could reply, he left the room. A couple of seconds later, the front door opened and closed. While he was gone, Cole filled Varo in on some of the details of her history. By the time Brokk returned, Varo knew most of it.
“There’s no one out there,” Brokk said.
Cole stayed by Lexi’s side as she walked over to stand next to the window.
“Stay mostly out of the sun,” Cole said. “They’ll see enough to understand without you having to expose yourself too much. We can’t take the chance of someone arriving and seeing something they shouldn’t. We’ll do this fast.”
Lexi waited while he pulled back a small section of the curtain. When the sun’s rays filtered into the room, they illuminated the dust particles dancing in the air.
For far too many heartbeats, she could only stand there and watch those particles as she worked up the courage to do this again. She wasn’t frightened about seeing the glow again, but once she did, she would have to part from the sun once more.
She’d always relished being outside; it was where she was happiest. As a child, she spent hours playing under the willow tree in the yard, floating in a canoe on the lake, fishing, sitting on the shore reading a book, or riding horses.
As an adult, she didn’t have as much time for all those lazy moments, but she still snuck away to enjoy them when she could.
But now, that light stirred a bone-deep excitement inside her; she almost lunged toward the rays spilling across the floor. Somehow, she managed to keep herself restrained, but she gulped before stretching her fingers toward the sun.
And then, they came into contact with the light.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Like a sponge absorbing water,she felt those rays penetrate her skin and creep into her muscles before slipping into her veins. As they coiled deeper into her, a rush of power filled her.
She had no idea what to do with that power or what she was capable of doing with it, but sherelishedit. The radiant glow started emanating from her fingers again as the silver scale-like marks broke out across the back of her hand.
That was all she exposed to the sun, but it was enough, as the others inhaled sharply. When she lifted her head to look at them, Sahira gasped, and her father’s eyes widened.
“Holy shit,” Orin breathed.
Lexi pulled her hand away from the rays, and Cole let the curtain fall back into place. The minute her connection with the sun broke, a sense of loss descended over her.
However, she still felt that light pulsing through her body. With every beat of her heart, it awakened something she’d never known was there. Something she didn’t know how to control, but something that felt as right as it did unnerving.
