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He’d woken up just like this, staring into his twin brother’s panicked eyes.
“My bike broke,” he mumbled now.
“Not this time.” Gabriel smiled, but there was still a shadow of worry behind it.
Of course he’d share the exact same memory at the exact same moment.
“How do you feel?” said Gabriel.
“Oh. Stellar.”
“No—I mean, can you walk?”
Nick thought about it. “Not yet.”
Gabriel sighed, but he didn’t let him go.
“Tyler?” said Nick.
“He ran,” said Gabriel. His voice grew dark. “As soon as you collapsed. If you think you can stay upright, I’m going to find him and kill him.”
Nick struggled to find his hands, and he grabbed Gabriel’s wrist. “No—no.” He paused, trying to make his addled brain sort out the evening’s events. But one thing was clear—they’d come here with the intent to out Tyler’s abilities. Nick remembered the power in the air, the way his fear had manifested itself in damaging winds that attacked Tyler until fire consumed him.
He’d been the bully tonight. Not Tyler.
It should have been satisfying. It wasn’t.
“Our fault,” he said.
Gabriel shook his head. “My fault.” He paused. “I should have helped you.”
Now Nick remembered. His thoughts were straightening out, finding true clarity. “You let him burn! You called lightning!
You let him—”
“I didn’t call that lightning, Nick. He did.” Gabriel looked away. “I should have helped you before it got to that point.”
Nick shoved his hands away. “Yeah, thanks. Thanks for making me play bait, and forgetting to snap the trap.”
“An hour ago you got all shitty because I wanted to defend you! What the hell do you want from me, Nick? What?”
I want you to know what I want.
Nick put a hand against the ground and pushed himself to his feet. He wavered for a second, but Gabriel didn’t grab him.
He looked down at himself. Pieces of leaves clung to his jeans, and his jacket was smudged with bits of soot where Tyler had grabbed him, but really, he didn’t look any the worse for wear.
The air was happy he was awake. He felt better with every breath, as if he inhaled pure power.
He started walking toward the car.
After a moment, Gabriel jogged to catch up with him.
“Give me the keys,” he said. “You’re in no shape to drive.”
Nick wanted to protest, but his twin was probably right. He pulled them out of his pocket and handed them over. He didn’t look at Gabriel when they climbed in to the car.
This whole evening hadn’t solved anything. So Tyler was a full Elemental. So what? When the next round of Guides came to town, they could add him to the list. When Tyler came after him again, he could mess with Nick all that much more effectively.
