Chapter 37
Volik
Iwill my heartbeat to stay steady as I walk away from my mate, pressing my palm to my chest.
I do not want her to know how this makes me feel.
She’s done nothing wrong.
I rub my hand in a circle, like it might stop the ache behind my ribs.
Later, we will talk. But for now, I will do as she asks.
My fingers close around the fuzzy leopard-print blanket draped over the back of the couch, and I shake it out, then wrap it around my waist like a towel.
Turning away from her locked front door, I cross the living room to the sliding door that I left open all night.
I should have shut it. But I did not want to waste a single moment with my Nix.
The metal gives a light groan as I step out onto the balcony. And I keep one hand on the blanket as I slide the door closed behind me.
The morning is cool. The typical gray.
Quiet.
Early.
Most people are still in bed.
I look up.
The ledge of the roof is not far above me.
With my back to the railing, still holding my blanket, I use the tiniest amount of effort and jump up.
When my bare feet settle on the roof, I turn to face the direction of my house.
The university’s campus is to the left, the three locations forming a squat triangle. But going directly home from here… it’s not that far. Just a couple miles. And mostly forest.
No reason I cannot test out some of this new power swirling in my center.
There are many names for it. Depends who you ask. Depends what century they were born in. But in my family, we call it gravito.
No one knows the source of the power, why some have it stronger than others, but gravito is like having your own gravitational pull. Acts as though you are your own planet.
But instead of it being a steady, constant pull. It’s a roiling tangle of pure energy inside our chests. We can use it to push things away. Pull things to us. To… jump.
My mother’s bloodline was known for being especially talented at controlling it. And my brother mastered it young. He could make multiple turns without ever stopping or touching the ground.
I am proficient. But now that I have a mate to protect, I will get better.
In order to jump, we need to channel all the gravito within ourselves and focus it forward. Or backward. Or up. It’s dangerous to go farther than you can see. But if you are good enough, you can keep changing the focal point, constantly yanking yourself forward through open space.
Going long distances uses a lot of energy.
It can be draining.
I take a step forward.
But that is the thing about me now.
I take another step.
I have so much energy.
And… I might be a little better than proficient.
I run the final two steps. My foot pushes off the ledge of the roof.
And then I throw my gravito forward, taking myself with it.
Over the street. And trees.
Over the city. And roads.
I jump.
And I am fast.
Faster than I was.
I hold my hand out and throw the gravito farther.
My body slingshots straight forward.
And I go faster.
The energy comes from me and creates a sort of bubble around me. Wind still breaks through the sphere of power, but not so much that it blinds me.
I shove out another burst.
My speed increases.
Trees blur beneath me.
Then I see the clearing for my house. Up ahead.
I am going to pass it.
The energy inside me pulses. Reminding me it’s capable. Ready.
I speed toward my property.
I watch.
Time it.
I am two seconds away.
One.
I release the forward gravito.
I free-fall for a tenth of a second.
Then I direct the gravito down.
The shift is dramatic.
Harsh.
But I keep my feet under me as I slam to earth.
The ground vibrates as I create an indent in my lawn.
A bird shrieks at me as it flies past.
And I feel…
I stand up straight.
Fill my lungs.
And smile.
Because I feel fucking great.
Strong.
I stride toward my front door.
I feel unstoppable.