“So it’s not about control?” I ask Betsy.
“Not right now. Control will come later. Right now, you need to build a friendship. Think of the elements as your friends. You can’t just… just march into their home and bark orders. You need to introduce yourself; bring a pie.”
What the fuck? “Exactly what sort of pie do I bring to a rock?”
“Lemon,” Betsy responds, not missing a beat. “Earth likes tart things. Now shut up and try again.”
I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling and try to re-focus on the rocks. This time, the stones roll inward, clicking softly together. Then, just as it feels like something is swelling in my chest and breaking free, they rise together, in a perfect tower, one balanced precariously on the other.
“Holy shit! I did it!”
I meet Flint’s grin. “You did. And we’re just getting started.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
By the time the sun is ready to set and Calida is whining for food, Betsy and Flint have led me through a few different exercises — moving rocks, calling a breeze.They had me practice with water, calling a trickle from a stream hidden in the trees. I may have panicked a little, but Flint was there in an instant, absorbing the abundance of power I had called.
“You’re allowed to make mistakes,” he’d murmured,holding my hand a moment longer than was strictly necessary. “That’s the only way to learn.”
I’d swallowed hard, staring at my hands. These weapons of mass destruction (haha!). “Feels like my limit needs to be ‘don’t touch anything ever’.”
He’d laughed and given me a friendly squeeze. “Not even close. Your limits are infinite. You’ll be fine.”
That night, he takes me to the rooftop of the apartment. The stars are clear and bright, the air pleasant and scented with all the flowers from the day. It’s peaceful.
“I want you to think about how you feel, right this moment.” He’s standing just behind me, his voice warm against my ear.
I glance over my shoulder. “How do you know what I’m feeling in this moment isn’t going to be dangerous for both of us? What if I… I don’t know… blow up the entire block?”
“Do you plan on blowing up the block?”
“Well, no. But you also said it isn’t about control so… what?”
“Magick is a lot about intent. As long as you don’tintendto blow everyone up, we should be fine.”
I genuinely can’t tell if he’s teasing me or not.
“How are you feeling right now? In this moment. Don’t think about it.”
I pause to mull it over. The last twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind, and I haven’t had a moment’s peace to stop and think or sort out the array of feelings. I’m Fae. I have magick. I have power. I almost possibly, probably, set the park on fire today. Betsy is Fae. Betsy couldsenseit in me all this time.
It’s a fucking lot, okay?
“You’re overthinking it.” he chides.
“I mean other than the shitstorm of emotions from today? I suppose, at the center of it, I’m… content?”
Flint smiles. Why does it make my insides gooey?
“Perfect. Focus on that and let’s see what happens.”
I’m doubtful, but game. He’ll stop me before anything spirals out of control, right?
I feel the quiet hum of what I’m starting to recognize as power in my fingertips. I don’t know why, but I bring them up, holding them in front of my body.
I hear Flint’s sigh of satisfaction and open my eyes.
My hands are glowing, a shimmering silver light between them.
