by Alicia Fabel
“I’m not the only one who thought that.” He smirked at her.
Something flashed in Annessa’s eyes and her shoulders tensed. Elion’s heart thudded in his throat for a moment until she relaxed and pulled away from him. He clenched his fists against the mat while she rose to her feet.
“Seriously Elion, I don’t want you to miss out on your friends just because of me.”
“Samara told you,” Elion guessed.
“Maybe,” she hedged. “But I want you to come too. So, if you need to do this first, I’ll help.” Annessa waved a hand at the pot.
“Unless you’ve suddenly developed the ability to manipulate time, I’m not sure how you could help.”
Annessa flinched, it was such a small move that Elion barely noticed it, but he felt like an insensitive jerk. “I wasn’t saying that’s a bad thing. You being normal is a good thing.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Annessa assured. “I just thought I might be able to help trouble-shoot. Those who can’t do, teach, right? Of course you’d have to explain the mechanics of how it all works.”
Elion didn’t feel like he could say no at that point. He explained the best way he could, how he had to balance all of the moving parts.
“It sounds like you need an anchor,” Annessa observed. “You say it’s like floating on a river. Well, when you don’t want a boat to float away, you drop anchor.”
“It’s a solid theory, but I don’t have an anchor.”
“Then make one,” she said like it was a simple thing.
Elion didn’t know how to explain to her that it wasn’t.
Meanwhile, Ness continued, “Like Ian makes shields.”
Elion rubbed his tired eyes. The last thing he wanted right then was Ness telling him to be more like Ian. “Except, no matter how many shields Ian throws up, he still overhears what he shouldn’t,” he pointed out.
Annessa bit her lip. “Maybe it just takes time, but eventually it will become second nature.”
“I’ve been trying to hold myself in place all my life,” he said as gently as he could. “If it was going to become second nature, it would’ve happened by now.”
“Is there something that could hold on to you?”
“Like a swim buddy?”
“I was thinking a lifeline, but yeah, a swim buddy might work.”
Ness was just talking out her thoughts now, he knew. It was her way of processing solutions and ideas, so he didn’t comment. He’d missed sitting in a room with her while she basically talked her way through a problem.
“We need to find someone else who is good with timelines. Unless that’s a Legend ability? Axton said that gazers see the future but nothing about time manipulation. And if it is a Gazer Legend thing, no one else from your guild can help, because there’s only one Legend per guild. And the other Legends have different special abilities, so they can’t help with timeline stuff either. That means there’s no one else who can be your swim buddy.” Annessa chewed absently on her bottom lip.
Elion kept his voice calm and even, but her words made him nervous. “What else do you know about Legends?”
Annessa shrugged. “Basically, only what I just said.”
Elion knew she was lying, but he didn’t say it because then he’d have to admit to himself that Annessa was walking a dangerous line. He wasn’t prepared to go there when she was so close to freedom. Not when he had to give daily Annessa reports to his parents.
“You know what, why don’t we go swim,” he suggested. “I’ll figure this out later.”
“You sure?” she asked. Which was funny since she was the one who looked unsure just then.
“Have you changed your mind about inviting me?”
“No,” she protested. “No, I just… I’m glad you decided to come.”
“I’m glad you came to boss me around,” he replied, wondering what she’d almost said.
Elion pushed to his feet, putting him so close to Ness that he could smell the fruity coconut shampoo she used. Annessa didn’t move back. His jaw ached from clenching it. Drawing on all his willpower, he slid his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her. If she reached for him, it would be over, though. Her head was tucked down so he couldn’t see her eyes or decipher what she was thinking. Right when he thought he would break, she stepped back, still not meeting his gaze.
“We’re meeting in ten minutes,” Ness said. “I’ll let them know you’re coming.” With that, she dashed away.
Elion stood in that spot for a while after she was gone. Spending more time around her was a bad idea. He’d been doing a pretty good job of keeping himself in check with her, even during training—minus that one slipup. Which he’d promised himself it wouldn’t happen again. Elion groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face. Obviously, he wasn’t doing so well with that resolve, was he? Two seconds before, he would have given anything for a repeat performance. And then fallen to his knees and begged her to stay. Dammit. Without Annessa’s anger holding him at arm’s length, his restraint was crumbling fast.
So what was he going to do?
First, he was going to retrieve his swim trunks. Then, he was going to break into the pool with Annessa and his friends. Because clearly, he was a masochistic idiot.
21
Annessa pulled herself out of the pool and sat on the deck beside Sam. A gargoi darted through the water beneath their feet. Axton clung to its tail. A mesmer friend of his was a length behind. Supposedly he was riding a current, thanks to some water elementals. Even with the head start, Axton was going definitely going to lose.
“Go Axton,” Sam cheered before turning to Annessa. “What’s going on with you and Elion?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Sam said. “I thought you two had turned over a new leaf and were moving forward, but in the past hour, neither one of you has even looked in the direction of the other.”
Annessa shook her head adamantly. “We were never getting back together. I don’t even like him that way anymore. We’re just trying to be friends again. And friends don’t have to spend every second together.”
Sam's grin had a sly edge that Annessa didn’t like. “I think you doth protest too much.”
“I think you’re a dork,” Annessa retorted.
“And you, my friend, misunderstood my original question.” Sam shifted so she could face Annessa. “See, I thought maybe you two were fighting again, and that’s why you were avoiding each other. But now I know you aren’t angry at each other, you’re crushing on each other! That’s what going on here.”
Annessa opened her mouth to protest, but her cheeks were flaming, so she knew it was pointless. “It’s nothing. Just residual feelings. We’re dealing with so we can move on.”
“Residual my fanny,” Sam scoffed. “The only residual feelings you had when we showed up in Florida were a whole lot of murderous intent. And I want to know what exactly happened to change that.” Sam pumped her eyebrows.
“Nothing happened,” Annessa assured. “And it’s not going to.”
“If you say so. But since I’m your friend, I’m going to give you some free advice.” Sam patted Annessa’s hand. “When you guys finally snap, just don’t go at it in the training center because that’s his mom’s domain. And you don’t want her walking in on something like that.”
“No one is going to snap,” Annessa said firmly. “I’m leaving soon.”
Sam’s smile turned melancholy. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Once you get out of here and finish serving your time or whatever, come find me,” Annessa said.
“You’d want to see me?”
“Of course, I will. You’re my best friend.”
Sam leaned against her. “I’m so sorry I left you.”
“I understand why you did.”
“Samara,” Axton called. “You’re on my team!”
“Team for what?” Annessa asked.
Sam hopped up. “We’re the
reigning chicken champions.”
Annessa laughed. “Go get ’em, Tiger.”
Sam bent over and whispered into Annessa’s ear. “Don’t get too close to Elion while I’m gone. Wouldn’t want you to snap in front of everyone and prove me right.”
“I hate you.”
“I love you too.” Sam jumped into the pool and swam to Axton. He ducked down so she could climb onto his shoulders and Annessa pretended to watch while throwing furtive glances at Elion. Axton’s mesmer friend—Annessa couldn’t remember his name—slid into the spot Sam had vacated.
“Hey, welcome to Legend Academy,” he said.
“Thanks. I’m not staying, though. I’m just here to visit my friends.”
“You don’t mean Elion, do you?”
“Why?” Annessa asked suspiciously.
“I’ve noticed you tend to stay away from him, not that I blame you. The academy royalty can be hard to get along with.”
“Royalty? I wasn’t aware that I owed anyone my fealty.” And this guy obviously didn’t know she was a norm—or at least that she was supposed to be one.
“Then you must have had a nice sheltered childhood,” said the mesmer like he was jealous.
“My aunt raised me away from the politics.” Technically not a lie.
“You’re lucky. My parents have delusions of me becoming a member of the Guild Counsel someday. It won’t happen since I’m not royal—that’s what us peasants call those who were born and raised here at the academy—but I can’t convince them of that.”
“So you and Elion aren’t friends, I take it?” Annessa kept her words light, but inside she went on alert.
“Nah, I like Elion. He’s decent.”
“So what are you studying here?” Annessa asked.
“Business.” He cut a face.
“Your parent’s choice?” she guessed.
“Bingo.”
“What would you study if you could choose?”
“I’m a mesmer,” he said. “I would become a mountain man and live in the woods if I had my choice. Or possibly landscape design.”
“With your business degree, maybe you can start your own landscaping company,” Annessa suggested.
“My parents would crap a brick, but I would love that,” he admitted.
“You would be amazing at it, I’m sure.”
The laughter in the pool increased with a splash. And then Sam called out for Annessa to join them in the competition. Annessa shook her head.
The mesmer beside her was game, though. “Come on,” he urged. “You and me.” He hopped into the water and grabbed Annessa’s hand to tug her in.
“No. I know better than to compete against Sam,” Annessa protested.
“Aww, we can take them,” he said confidently.
“She’s scared of me,” Sam taunted with a laugh.
“Uh, yeah. You almost drowned me when we were kids.” Annessa slipped free and stood up so the Mesmer couldn’t pull her in.
“I promise I’ll go easy on you.” Sam traced an X on her chest.
Annessa started to shake her head again when a burst of air hit her from behind. She was going to fall face first into the pool. The mesmer had obviously enlisted the help of an elemental to get her in the water. And no amount of windmilling was going to save her. She sucked in a lungful of air and then everything stilled.
Nooo.
She couldn’t accidentally slip out of the timeline with Elion watching. He would know. With all her might, she willed herself back into the flow. Almost too late, she saw Elion had abandoned his conversation with Barbie. His fingers were spread wide in her direction. Oh shoot. She hadn’t stopped her fall after all. He had. Instead of pulling herself back into the flow, she quickly let go. He hadn’t realized she was the one to pull herself back into the timeline when Bruce was licking her clean. But he probably would have figured it out this time. Elion strode around the deck and wrapped an arm around her middle before he let the timeline slide back into place. The mesmer blinked at what must have seemed like Elion’s sudden appearance. Annessa’s forward momentum shifted backward, and she knocked into Elion. Her back pressed against his chest.
The mesmer held up both hands in surrender and left to join the water challenge. Elion’s eyes followed him as he went, boring holes into the guy’s skull. And then Annessa caught Sam’s grin and realized she was still pressed flush against Elion, his arm around her middle. The bare skin on her back warmed. Annessa’s lower stomach dropped. So not good. And across the way, Barbie glared.
Annessa scrambled to free herself from Elion. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“He shouldn’t have done that,” Elion countered.
Annessa put a little space between them and folded her arms over her chest. “It’s not like I can’t swim.”
“Still.” Elion’s nose flared. “If he looks at you again, I’m going to push his head under and not let him up.”
“Whoa.” Annessa frowned. “What’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s because some guy tried to push me into a pool.”
“We need to talk.”
“About?”
Elion shook his head. “Not here.”
“Okay,” she drawled.
Elion pulled off the towel draped over his shoulders and handed it to her.
“You mean right now?”
“It can’t wait.”
Annessa accepted the towel and wrapped it around herself. She followed Elion past the lounge chairs and simmering Barbie to the side doors. On her way out, Annessa looked over her shoulder in time to see the mesmer with some girl on his shoulders knock Sam and Axton over. Sam hadn’t seen it coming because she was too busy watching Annessa and Elion. Outside, warm air kissed Annessa’s skin. Flutterfires darted around them.
“What’s up?” she asked.
Elion pulled her out of view of the road and then whipped around. “How long has that been happening?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The glow from the miniature fires dancing on the air cast a glow across Elion’s severe expression. “You don’t think I noticed you nearly pulled yourself back into the timeline flow?”
Annessa winced. “I…” What the heck was she supposed to say? “I didn’t realize you’d stopped my fall. I thought I’d accidentally done it, and I was just trying to fix it before anyone noticed.”
“You’ve pulled yourself out of the timeline before?” He pressed the palms of his hands to the sides of his head as if he was holding it together.
“Not on purpose,” she said pathetically.
“How long has it been happening?”
Annessa bit her lip. “Since right after I got part of your shadow.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Elion let his arms fall to his sides again.
“If it had affected you somehow, I would have.”
“But otherwise, you didn’t want anyone to find out because then you’d have to stay,” he finished.
Annessa didn’t bother responding. He already knew, and there was no use denying it.
“You should have trusted me,” Elion said.
Something tightened in her chest. “I’ve trusted you before, and it didn’t work out so well for me.”
He nodded once. “You’re right.”
Annessa deflated. She’d been gearing up for an argument, but his simple admission knocked the fight from her. She wrapped her arms around herself. “What happens now?”
“How well can you control it?”
“Once I knew how it felt to slip in and out of the timeline, it’s easy to stay where I’m supposed to be.”
“Are you having any other issues?” he probed.
“Like am I suddenly aging? Not unless you see some new wrinkles.”
Elion ran a thumb over her forehead and trailed it down her jaw. Annessa’s breath caught. “No,” he whispered. “And if you were going to have issues with losing hold of your timeline, we would’ve known by now.”
&
nbsp; “So I don’t have to worry about dying of old age next week?”
“I don’t think so.”
Annessa thanked her lucky stars for that, but she knew she wasn’t out of the woods yet.
“Don’t tell anyone,” Elion instructed. “And you can’t slip time—at all, for any reason. Not even after you’re gone. Okay? Because if anyone catches you, they’ll drag you right back here.”
“You’re not going to tell?”
It seemed like that question pained him. “Of course not.”
“Thank you, El.”
Elion swallowed hard and nodded. “We’ll spend the rest of our sessions for the next week making sure you’re really in control. I can teach you a few tricks in case you accidentally start to slip time, so it’s not obvious to people around you.”
“If your mom catches us…”
“I’ll find us somewhere else to practice and reinforce my shields.” he replied. “And I will keep my promise to you. You can start over and have the life you wanted.”
The only thing was, as Elion said it, Annessa knew without a doubt that she didn’t want that anymore. But she didn’t know how to admit it out loud.
“What’s wrong?” Elion tipped his head so he could study her closer. His eyes were pools of midnight.
Annessa realized she was trembling. She took a deep breath and smoothed her expression. “Nothing. I’m okay.”
“You don’t have to be scared. I will keep my promise to you this time.”
“I know. I trust you.”
Light spilled out as the door opened around the corner. Laughter flowed out.
“Elion?” called Marcy.
“Barbie’s worried about you,” Annessa teased.
Elion groaned quietly. Annessa pressed a hand to her mouth to smother a giggle.
22
Three gargoi crawled over each other, each trying to catch the next corn chip Annessa tossed. They snarled and snapped at each other until a chip was consumed and then lined up like the three amigos, eyes pinned on Annessa until she threw another.
“You’re not supposed to feed them,” Quinn informed her.
“They’re not trying to maul me or anything,” Annessa pointed out.