Chapter Thirty-Two #2
I absorb his words, and the pieces snap into place with a jarring click. All this time, I thought Kylo was the reason I had telepathic abilities. But I never needed to touch him to use it.
“What is it?” Carter asks.
“I’ve been using telepathy on my own this whole time.”
How had I not noticed this before?
Silent understanding dawns on both their faces.
“That makes you formidable,” Elijah says. “And dangerous.”
“That’s why you’re struggling,” Carter says. “You have empathy, telepathy, and the ability to siphon.”
“Empaths are uncommon,” Elijah adds. “I’ve traveled the world and only met a handful. They all had one thing in common: a lack of control.”
That explains everything.
Why I’ve been struggling to stay in control.
Why everything feels like too much.
“You’re our wild card,” Carter says.
“Lia,” Elijah cuts in. “Siphons can take power, twist it, strengthen it, or strip it away completely.”
It’s almost too much to take in. “How does that work?”
“I know someone who can teach you. Someone who understands siphoning better than anyone. If we make it through this mission, I’ll put you in contact with him. Until then, focus on what you can control.”
“Thank you for helping,” I tell Elijah.
Relief unwinds through me.
Elijah glances at Carter and shifts the conversation. “My men are ready when you are.”
Carter nods, then turns to me. “I’ll give you a few minutes.”
I head back to our tent, pull my hair into a high ponytail, tighten the laces on my combat boots, and drop onto a nearby log.
Kylo approaches.
“Did you hear our conversation?” I ask.
“I did.”
“Now I understand why my powers are unstable.”
“I suspected you were also a telepath,” he says.
“How?”
“If you were siphoning from me, I’d feel it.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t know for sure. Besides, I trained you as a telepath, didn’t I?”
Yet after all that training, I’m still struggling.
“I should be stronger. With my abilities, anyone else would—”
He rests a hand at the back of my neck. “You’re powerful. I’ve never doubted that.”
“Let’s go!” Carter calls. “Clock’s ticking.”
Kylo glances at me. “You ready?”
“Ready as anyone about to breach a compound can be,” I say with a wry smile.
He huffs a quiet laugh, helping me to my feet.
“Wait. I need something.” I snatch my hoodie.
“Here. Use this.” He digs through his pack and hands me a black sweatshirt.
“What’s wrong with mine?”
“You see this?” He lifts my hoodie, fingers brushing the dangling strings. “These give them leverage. If someone grabs them, you’re done. Arms up,” he adds, pulling the sweatshirt over my head.
I glance around the campsite.
Kylo, Carter, Zayne, and I are the only ones not in uniform.
“Did you wear uniforms before?”
“Zayne does. Carter and I never stay for long.”
He slings an arm around my shoulders, tugging me against his side as we fall into step behind Carter.
“Look who decided to show up. Didn’t know we had all the time in the world to fuck around,” Zayne says, tossing gear into the trunk of the Camaro.
“I thought you were staying back with Carter,” Kylo says, eyeing him.
“Last-minute change of plans,” Elijah answers before Carter can.
I peek at Kylo to gauge his reaction, but his expression is blank.
“There’s only four of us?” I ask.
“For now,” Elijah replies. “Once we’re inside, the others will move in.”
Carter pulls Kylo into a hug, firm hands gripping his shoulders. “See you on the other side, brother.”
“Let’s go kick some Aether Hunter ass,” Zayne announces.
At that, the four of us pile into Elijah’s Camaro and take off. The second the tires hit the road, he slams the gas. The engine roars, and we’re thrown back against our seats as the car rockets down the narrow forest road.
In the back, I clutch Kylo’s arm, my stomach lurching as we swerve around sharp bends, Elijah not even bothering to tap the brakes.
Kylo looks like he’s on a casual joyride. Meanwhile, I’m latched onto him like we’re strapped into a roller coaster from hell.
“How far are we from them?” I ask, unsure if I’m going to make it without vomiting.
“Fifteen minutes,” he says, a laugh slipping out. “Give or take, depending on how many more laws Elijah decides to break.”
“I’m going to park about a mile out,” Elijah says, his attention glued to the road. “We’ll walk the rest. It’s the best way to stay undetected. Carter and the others aren’t far behind.”
The closer we get, the harder it is to ignore the truth.
I’m not ready for the mission, or for whatever waits behind those compound walls.
“Remember to breathe,” Kylo says.
“How are you this calm?”
“I’ve pushed everything aside but the objective. Nerves are normal, Lia. Don’t fight them, channel them. Let that energy work for you.”
“I could use some of your confidence.”
“It isn’t confidence. It’s discipline. Take that fear and use it to find Leo.”
He’s right. Finding Leo is what matters.
After what feels like a near-death experience courtesy of Elijah’s driving, the Camaro jerks to a halt in a ditch. We’re out before the dust clears, grabbing our gear and following him into the woods.
Elijah and Zayne check their magazines and rack their slides, the metallic clicks sharp in the quiet woods. Zayne tosses a handgun to Kylo, who catches it, slides it into his holster, and reaches back for my hand.
“Want a weapon?” Zayne asks me.
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Did Kylo teach you how to shoot?” Zayne’s brows pinch together.
“We didn’t make it past blades,” I admit.
“You didn’t teach her how to shoot?” Zayne asks, incredulous.
“You try balancing multiple abilities with combat basics and tell me what you have time for,” Kylo bites out, his grip on my hand tightening.
“Here.” Zayne places the gun into my palm, showing me the safety, his hands moving too fast for me to follow. He doesn’t wait for me to grip it before sliding it into my belt.
“Make sense?”
“Um, sure?” The gun presses against my side, unfamiliar and wrong.
“You need all the protection you can get,” Zayne mutters, strapping more blades into his belt.
“I thought you said guns were a liability in a crossfire?” I ask Kylo.
“Only if the person doesn’t know what they’re doing,” Kylo replies, his jaw tight. He looks at the gun tucked in my belt. “Don’t use it. Not unless you have to. Keep it on you in case one of us needs it.”