He hauled me up just as Jimmy and his friends came skidding to a stop at the bottom of the hill.
“Well, look at that,” Jimmy sneered. “The freak made a friend with the criminal. How cute.”
Kieran stepped forward. His grin was sharp. He lifted his hands and lightning shimmered between his fingers — alive, dancing like a friend.
Jimmy took a step back. His power was water, but it was weak. Even I could tell. Kieran’s smile went feral, the sort of grin a wolf wears before it shows its teeth. Jimmy’s friends faltered, nervous.
“We don’t want trouble with you, Hawthorne. Just hand over the freak,” Adam White said. “And we’ll be gone.”
Kieran glanced at me from the corner of his eye; something dangerous glinted in his gaze. “I think we may have a big fucking problem, actually. Because I don’t like you.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Hawthorne!” Jimmy barked, though his lips trembled. “My dad’ll have your head if you so much astouchme.”
“I don’t see Daddy anywhere, Jameson. Do you, Quinn?” Kieran replied, and his voice was calm as ice.
It took me a moment to realise he was asking me. “No,” I said, small.
“You know what I hate, Jameson?” Kieran asked them.
“What?” Jimmy snapped.
“Bullies. I can’t fucking stand them.”
He jerked his hands. Lightning crackled and danced over his knuckles. Jimmy went white. Adam tugged at his sleeve. “Come on. The bitch isn’t worth it,” he muttered.
Jimmy stared at me as if the whole thing were my fault. “This isn’t over, Hawthorne,” he spat. “And you — I’ll see you soon, don’t you worry.”
Kieran’s voice dropped low, slow as a promise. “Go near her again, and I will kill you.”
For a second the hill held its breath. Then Jimmy forced a grin and backed away, the boys following, each one glancing over his shoulder until they disappeared into the trees.
When they were gone, Kieran let out a breath that was almost a laugh. He looked at me, something unreadable in his face. “You okay?” he asked again.
I nodded, though my hands still shook. The lightning between his fingers had gone, but the echo of it thrummed under my skin.
“He’ll wait until you aren’t around,” I said quietly. “He does that.”
“Well,” Kieran said, tilting his head with a small grin, “I guess you and I might have to become friends then—so I can keep you safe.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m used to being on my own.” I brushed dirt from my clothes. “I know I’m a freak. People tell me that every day.”
“They shouldn’t,” Kieran said softly. “Don’t ever let anyone make you feel small, baby Quinn.”
“Seph.”
“Quinn,” he corrected gently. “Own your name. It’s yours, no matter what they say.”
He started to walk away. I didn’t want him to.
“Kieran?”
He turned, one eyebrow raised. “Yeah?”
“Thank you,” I said at last. “For saving me.”
He grinned—bright, dangerous, and warm all at once. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 1
