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That choice—to protect him—had been mine.

What if these abilities—these powerful, terrifying abilities—are something only I can choose?

My father has tried to steal them, but he can’t. He can’t cut, scrape, or carve them out of me. No matter how many pints of blood he steals, they’re still there. Inside of me. Simmering and sparking with heat, ready to be unleashed.

Because they’re not his.

They’re mine.

I’ve spent my life in a cage. And fear… that’s really just another cage, isn’t it?

One of my own making.

My chest tightens at the realization.

I’m not afraid of my power. It’s the thousands of unanswered questions I have, with nowhere to go for answers. There’s only one way to find the answers I need, and if I never find the courage to try, then I’m going to spend the rest of my life living in yet another cage.

I squeeze my eyes shut. My teeth bite down, sinking into my lower lip, as I concentrate on the flame inside my chest. My Mother taught me how to breathe life into it, how to stoke it higher and higher until it became a roaring flame that no one could touch except for me.

She gave me a gift. Something stronger than my father. Stronger, even, than my Mates.

And it’s mine.

I open my eyes. The first thing I see is Branwen, wearing a beaming smile that’s so full of pride it makes my lower lip tremble. She looks at me like she knew what my decision would be even before I did.

With a jolt, I realize… she probably did.

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. My lips tip into a watery smile, and I give her a single, decisive nod.

“Alright. I’ll try.”

Branwen’s smile grows, and she nods, eyes bright with excitement.

“Fuck yes you will.”

My laughter is so loud it echoes off the cavern walls. I return her grin with my own, letting the weight of my decision and the accompanying feeling of empowerment surge through my veins, making me feel alive.

With a clap, Branwen straightens, ready to get to work.

“Alright,” she says, voice full of determination. “Let’s blow shit up.”

My eyes almost bug out of my head.

“For the love of the gods, don’t say that out loud. I’d really like to not bring this cave down on our heads before we figure out a way out of here.”

Her laughter is giddy, and for a second I wonder what the heck else she’s seen and if I even want to know.

I decide quickly that I don’t. Better I go into this with the naive hope that I won’t kill us.

Shaking my hands out to get rid of the excess adrenaline, I straighten my spine, flip my braid over my shoulder, and out of my way.

“So… uhm… how do I start?”

Branwen shrugs. “How am I supposed to know? Why don’t you start with… I don't know… asking it nicely.”

My lips part, but she talks over me.

“Not with your words, obviously. With your thoughts. You said it feels like a little flame inside your chest, right?”