“Now, I want you to imagine… no, not imagine.I want you tocreatea block or shield or whatever feelsmost natural to you to stop the light from touching your skin. Ifthat doesn’t feel right, try creating one to block others fromseeing this.”
Kaylia waved a hand at the golden glowemanating from her before tracing one of the scale-like, silveretchings.
“Create a shield around you that will keepyour fingers protected, and as it expands, your fingers will benormal again. But you have to work to make it a reality.”
Lexi shot her an irritated look. “Do youthink I’m not trying? Do you think Ienjoybeing locked inmy house while worrying that everyone I love could die if anyonesees me? Do you think this isfunfor me? I’m exhausted,frustrated, sore, and done with all of it, but I’m still here.”
“I know you’re trying,” Kaylia replied in aplacating tone that set Lexi’s teeth on edge. “But it’s time to trysomething new.”
For a moment, Lexi was certain Cole wouldnever get the chance to kill Kaylia as her fangs throbbed, and shealmost punched the crone in her beautiful face. Then, she took adeep, steadying breath and reminded herself that Kaylia was onlytrying to help… even if she wasinfuriatingat times.
She still wasn’t sure if Kaylia actuallyliked her or was just here because she intended to bring down theLord, but there were times when she liked this woman. Right now wasnot one of them.
“Please, try,” Kaylia urged. “And start withsomething small, like your fingertips.”
Lexi pulled her shoulders back and sat alittle straighter. So what if everything else she’d tried hadfailed? This might be the thing that worked.
She tried not to let her past disappointmentsget the best of her. If she gave in to them, she would neversucceed. Still, they wiggled at the back of her mind like wormsrising from the earth on a rainy day.
Staring at her hand, she worked to create ashield to keep the sun from touching her, but it didn’t feel right.She loved the sun and its warmth; she couldn’t bear not feeling itagainst her skin as she basked in its warmth.
Her forehead furrowed as she tried to picturethe shield the other way Kaylia described it as something to keepothers from seeing her markings and the glow. She started with herfingernails.
The shield grew bigger and stronger in hermind until she could almost see it. It was like having a fine coatof wax around her fingers, one that kept the glow confined, but shecould still feel the warmth of the sun against her skin there.
And then, for the briefest of seconds, theglow vanished and her fingertips were normal once more.
She emitted a strangled cry as she jerked herhand toward her. When she did, the shield crumpled and the glowreturned.
“Did you see that?” She looked excitedly atKaylia before whipping her head in Cole’s direction. “Did yousee that?”
“It was something,” Kaylia said.
It was more thansomething!To her, itwaseverything!
Cole smiled as he came a little closer. “Isaw,” he assured her. “You’re doing it.”
“You have much further to go,” Kayliasaid.
The look Cole shot the crone caused Lexi’sbreath to suck in. When she turned back to Kaylia, her attentionremained on Lexi, but the slight tensing of her jaw revealed heruneasiness of Cole.
Lexi hadn’t seen anything out of control withCole since Malakai arrived at her door, but she sensed the darknessand power simmering beneath his surface, waiting to break free.
She’d tried talking to him again about theShadow Reaver, but he was rushing to get to the Gloaming. Sincethen, they’d barely had any time alone to discuss it.
After this, they would return to the manor,and he would go to the Gloaming and spend the rest of the eveningthere, getting things back under control while she worked withBrokk and her dad on more fighting lessons. She’d already spent theearly morning working on them with Cole, but she had to getbetter.
One of the reasons she was so desperate tocontrol her glowing ability was so she could return to the Gloamingwith him. She disliked being separated from him and being unable tomove around freely.
Over time, she might learn what else shecould do. She’d come to accept that she might never know about allof her abilities, but she was determined to become strong enough tohelp bring down the Lord.
“Now, let’s do it again, but we’ll work oncovering more of your hand this time,” Kaylia said.
Turning to face the crone again, Lexi liftedher hand before her and concentrated on building another shieldaround her whole finger this time.
CHAPTER 21
That evening, Cole left Lexi and Kaylia underthe watch of Varo, Sahira, and Del as he returned to the Gloamingwith Brokk. He had no idea where Orin had gone off to, but hisbrother was usually there when he left. However, Orin wouldprobably turn up soon; he always did.
