Page 113 of Stormbreaker

“Yes. Until it changes. Until it becomes . . . bliss.”

I smile, knowing what he means. “I crave it sometimes. Even though it hurts.”

“I do, too.”

Slowly, I slide my hand into his. His warm fingers close around mine. The wind is cold and the air is crisp, but I’m suddenly several degrees warmer. He licks his lips, and I’m again thinking about what it would be like to kiss him.

Maybe he’s thinking it, too, because he leans in as my heart pounds in my throat.

A blast has us both snapping apart as a burst of Spark hits the ground about thirty feet away. A plasma arc swells from the earth, crackling with amethyst energy. We both watch as it slowly dissipates, and the clouds flash and burn through the dark, endless sky.

More Spark hits the earth, and then I sense the moment I’m about to be hit. A pulsing stroke breaks from the clouds, hurtling toward us. It hits me, and I squeeze Rook’s hand as I brace myself for the impact.

But it’s different. There’s no bone-ripping agony. Instead, there is only the euphoria. That endless cotton-candy feeling when I’m hovering above the world, waves of golden light melting through my limbs.

My lips part as I gasp, and I watch Rook from the corner of my eye. He’s in shock. I can tell he’s feeling the same. That this is different. We’re holding hands, and it doesn’t hurt. What does it mean?

It might be the most perfect moment of my life.

Slowly, he turns to look at me as we’re engulfed inside the swell of the plasma arc. I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t think I could put it into words if I tried.

The arc reaches its pinnacle, cracking with energy, before it winks out.

Rook’s body shimmers with a net of sparks, glowing in his hair, on his clothes, even on the tips of his eyelashes. We’re still holding hands, clinging like we’ll fall through the earth if either one of us lets go.

A moment later, we’re left in relative darkness.

The sky continues to flash, but the storm is already moving away.

“What just happened?” I whisper.

41

A buzz of anticipation hums in the air on the morning of the pledging ceremony. At least for everyone else. I’m carrying around a leaden weight, dragging me through poisoned water. I still haven’t heard anything from my parents, but my father will be here.

It’s part of the swearing in, where the scion welcomes you into your House. Today, I’ll meet Surreal Beaufort face-to-face, and I can’t even begin to imagine how she’ll react to my presence.

We’ve been given the day off from classes, but I can’t relax in my room. First off, I’m not welcome by two of three of my roommates, and of course, I can’t stop thinking about my mother.

I put on my workout gear and text her again, asking about their plans for tonight, but I’m met with the same stony wall of silence. I scroll up our lengthy, one-sided conversation as a single tear slips down my cheek.

I swipe it away and head for the gym, finding it mostly empty, save for Henry in the corner.

“Hi,” I say as I make my way over. He looks up.

“Poet, how are you?”

“Okay.”

I sink down on the bench across from him. We haven’t had much time to talk over the last few months. We’re always surrounded by people, and all the things I want to say are too intimate with an audience. “I hope this isn’t too personal, but can I ask how you’ve been since . . .”

He lifts his dark brows. “Since Raine?”

I sigh. “Yes?”

He sets the weight he’s holding by his feet and clasps his hands. “I was pretty broken up for a long time, but I’m healing. I don’t know if the hurt ever disappears, and I miss him every day, but I feel almost normal again.”

I give him a half smile. “I’m happy to hear that. Are you dating?”