And slowly—because I had no choice—I began to remove my gloves.
Dr Marr’s smile sharpened. He pushed the tray toward me and pressed the intercom button.
“Cancel that last, thank you, Matthew. I have things under control.”
The tension in my chest twisted.
On the screens, the tech stepped back.
Ash lowered his head, dazed, unaware of how close he’d come to being used against me.
I turned to the vials.
Each one was labelled: Air. Water. Earth. Fire. Shadow. Spirit.
I could feel them—the power in them—even through the glass. It prickled along my skin, tugging at the edge of something deep inside me.
Dr Marr leaned in, eyes glittering as he inspected the tray.
Finally, he selected a vial and held it up between us.
“Let’s start with fire.”
Chapter 30
Seph, aged 16
Kieran was leaving.
He told me so of course. I knew Sable would be leaving after him. Her new job would start at the end of the month and then she would be gone too.
But Kieran.
My Kieran.
No, not mine.
My best friend.
How would I live without him?
My life was darkness. It was pain. Most days were a struggle to just keep smiling.
I tried to. I did.
I knew my place. I knew my purpose.
Father told me every day.
But Kieran was my light. My hope.
My person.
At night, when I was alone or sad, he would sing to me. And I would feel safe. I would feel cared for.
But if he was gone, I would be alone. Truly alone.
He had come to my room in the night to tell me.
