by Trisha Wolfe
“Answer my question,” I said. “What are the Narcos doing here?”
Reese swayed us back and forth. “We’re trying to live peacefully among your race. The Treaty Act only put an end to the war. This new contract will ensure the Kythan survival.”
I squinted, confused. “And what’s your role in all this? You’re not a Council member. And today you were picking a fight with Jace.” I shrugged. “Your claim of wanting to live peacefully feels false for some reason.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Jace, huh?” He laughed. “Yeah, that guy needs some serious anger management.” I opened my mouth to retort, but he continued. “I guess I could back off a little. He just rubbed me the wrong way.”
“You had me pinned against a wall. How was he supposed to rub you?”
His eyes flared, illuminating, as he smiled at me. “You’re so damn serious.” He cocked his head. “It’s cute.” Then his eyes trailed over my neck. “I see your neck healed up. That was Jace’s work, right?”
I huffed and turned to leave, but he clasped my waist. “Sorry…sorry.” He pulled me back to him, continuing our dance. “Last night you shocked me. I was startled. My anger got the better of me for a moment, and then”—he smiled—“you got so mad. It was hot. Kind of turned me on.”
Was he serious? Our kind didn’t mix. The trial repopulation test was the only time, to my knowledge, that our two races had ever mingled. The thought of a Narco and Shythe getting together was simply unheard of. More than that, it was blasphemy in Haven Falls.
Then something he’d said interrupted my thoughts. Shocked? “Wait.” I shook my head. “What do you mean by shocked? Like my attitude shocked you?”
He raised both eyebrows. “No, like you physically shocked me. It hurt like hell. So yeah, I was a little pissed.” My mouth dropped open as he continued. “But, I figured out later that since you haven’t gone through the change yet, you probably didn’t even realize you did it. Or am I wrong?”
I shook my head, pondering. I stopped dancing and stared down at my hands. How the…? “I’ve never heard of power coming before the change,” I said absently.
Reese resumed our dance, swaying me in his arms. “The Shythe Council really keeps you in the dark, huh? Look, its normal.” He half-shrugged. “I accidentally melted my communicator before I shifted.”
“Huh,” I scoffed. Then something else occurred to me. I shocked him! That could mean I was going to have Shythe Charge. I smiled. “Hey, I have to go.” I turned, ready to get out of there—excited to go tell my mom.
“Wait.” Reese moved in front of me. “Dez, right? So when do you shift for the first time?”
I was growing impatient. “Um…the day after tomorrow.”
“Wow, are you nervous?” He took my hand, and I looked down as blazing red heat engulfed it.
“No. Not really. Just want to get it over with.” Jace and Lana had to be wondering where I was by now. And I really wanted to tell my mom the good news. “Look, why are you even talking to me? I get the whole brotherly love thing, but—”
“I like you.” He flashed me a bright smile, his red eyes beaming. “I want to get to know you. Is that so wrong?”
My heart hammered against my chest. “And you believe that we’re all going to get along after centuries of war and murder?” I asked, staring into his eyes.
He cupped my face. “Guess it couldn’t hurt to try.” Then he ran his warm thumb along my jaw. “I think you’ll find that we’re more alike than you think.” He inched forward, dipping his head toward mine.
I jerked my head back. “What are you doing?”
“I just told you. I like you.” He squinted. “Are all Shythe girls as dense as the guys?”
I glared at him with what I hoped were flaming blue eyes of death. “You know what, even if this experiment works, you Narcos have a lot to learn,” I said with mock laughter. “I’m not that easy.”
Reese quirked an eyebrow, and a slow smile spread across his lips. “I told you, I like a challenge.” He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me stunned.
I almost called out after him—to tell him he was the jerk with the problem, not me—when something over at the bar caught my attention.
I peered through the crowd. Jace stood face-to-face with the blond Narco. The Narco was being held back by his buddy, and Nick was doing his best to restrain Jace. Shoving through the throng of bodies, I found Lana and attempted to pull her with me off the dance floor, but I lost her in my hurry to get to Jace.
“That will never happen! You’re crazy if you think—” Jace broke off, noticing the clubbers around him. He ground his teeth, his jaw clenched tight. He was holding back from saying something he might regret in front of the humans.
The blond Narco stopped pulling against his friend. “Outside,” he said simply to Jace.
Jace’s eyes became wild. I pushed through the gathered bodies toward him. “What are you doing?” I pulled his head down to look at me. His eyes scanned my face, barely seeing me. “You know you can’t fight him. Let’s just leave.”
He stepped back, juddering out of my hold. “You didn’t hear what he said.” Then he leaned in close to me. “We can’t allow them to think they’re going to control us, Dez. We have to stand up to them. Even if the Council won’t.”
I glanced over and saw Reese watching us. I was half Narco, but raised Shythe. After talking with him, I was more confused than ever over how I truly felt about the two races coming together. But I couldn’t allow Jace to get into a fight—or worse, killed—over his beliefs.
“Jace,” I said, forcing him to look into my eyes. “Calm down. I’m getting Lana and you’re coming with me.” I paused. “Actually, Nick, you take Jace outside. I’ll get Lana.”
Nick saluted me. “Yes, ma’am.” He clapped Jace on his shoulder, giving it a shake. “Come on, man. These guys are a waste.”
Relieved to see the blond Narco backing away with his friend, heading toward the side exit, and Jace going out the front door with Nick, I turned to find where I’d lost Lana in the crowd. I scanned the dancing bodies, and a pair of glowing red eyes, staring right at me, caught my attention. Crap.
I wheeled around and headed for the door, thinking Lana might already be outside. She normally bolted when things got too dramatic. I was almost there when Reese stepped in front of me. “Leaving? But we were having fun.” His voice sounded playful, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. For the first time, I actually felt fear.
“Just let me leave. I don’t want to do this in front of a crowd.” I met his gaze, and his lips pressed into a hard line.
“Yeah, I guess it was stupid to think the Council might be right for a change.” His eyes flared. “And here I thought we could possibly be friends. But I guess the Shythe will always be too hotheaded for that.”
“Us hotheaded?” I gaped. “Look at how your friends are acting. If friendship is what you want, you should’ve made an honest attempt instead of trying to bully us around…bastard.” I sidestepped him, but he grabbed my arm. “Get off!”
“Hey.” He let go, hands raised in defense. “So, what you’re saying is, if I want, not wanted. As in present tense? That I still have a chance?”
“Are you crazy? Look at what happens when we’re in the same room. The Councils are mad. Both ours and yours. This phony truce is going to be the demise of us all.”
He stared into my eyes—his red glow so intense I felt hypnotized. And for a moment, his human guise shifted, and I saw his true form. Damn, he was hot. But still a Narco…and still a jerk. I shook my head, shaking off the illusion. But when I looked back up, his eyes were no longer glowing red. Two mirrored beams of what I saw every day stared at me.
His lips spread into a wickedly hot smile, and he winked a glowing violet eye at me before blinking and returning them to red.
Chapter Seven
OUTSIDE, LANA STOOD IN front of Jace, her arms outstretched, as if she was the only thing holding him back
from bolting into the club. “Where have you been?” she asked me as I walked up.
“Was looking for you,” I said. Which wasn’t a lie. But there was no way I was telling them what had happened with Reese. I didn’t even know what had happened. My mind reeled. Had he really just flashed purple eyes?
Lana was still blocking Jace. She gave me a weary expression. “It was everything I could do to convince him you were all right and would be right out.” She released a heavy breath. “I knew if he went back in there all poo would hit the fan.”
“Thanks. Yeah, I was fine.” I gave Jace an apologetic smile. “Come on, let’s go. This place is had. Think I’m over birthdays for one year.”
Jace stepped in front of me. “Are you all right?”
“Everything’s cool.” I smiled wanly. “I think we did a good job of diverting. What do you think?”
“Best damn job ever.” His lips twisted into a grin. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Tucking my bustle beneath me, I sat sidesaddle and wrapped my arms around his waist. He cranked the levibike. Then handed me his goggles. “It’s pretty nasty with bugs tonight,” he said.
“Thanks.” I slipped the goggles over my head, absently adjusting them, my mind still lost back in the club.
We were all quiet as we zoomed down the roadways. I was relieved Lana wasn’t in a talkative mood. I didn’t have the energy to talk over the levibikes, faking nonchalance. As Nick turned down their road, I waved to them, and Jace and I kept on toward my unit. I only lived five minutes from them, but the ride felt longer as my thoughts spun. I couldn’t piece anything together.
Jace hovered up to my walkway and killed the engine. The silence was startling. He turned around, facing me. “Hey,” he said, bringing me out of my trance.
“Oh,” I said, glancing at my unit. “We’re here.” I pulled the goggles off and handed them to Jace, then jumped off the levibike.
Jace caught my hand. “Dez,” he said lightly, and I turned toward him. “I know Sylvia’s going to have you on lockdown through the change, probably starting tomorrow. So I wanted to give you something before you go.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” Knowing Jace, it was probably a new weapon.
He reached into his pocket and brought out a small, black box. I accepted it, hesitantly running my fingers over the velvet case before lifting the lid. Inside was a silver bracelet, and as I removed it from the box and held it up, a bright blue gemstone dangled from the delicate chain.
“Jace…”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I just wanted to get you something. You know, for the change.”
“It’s beautiful.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you.”
He tentatively hugged me back. “It matches your eyes. I know it’s cheesy, because we all have blue eyes, but yours are actually a shade darker. Like topaz. And…ah, hell.”
I drew back, forcing the lump in my throat down as I stared at the gem. It did match my eyes. My blue lens-covered eyes. “I don’t think it’s cheesy.”
“You don’t?” He arched an eyebrow.
I shook my head. “No. It’s really pretty.” I smiled.
He glanced at the cobbled street. “When things calm down around here, after you complete the change and are feeling better…” He paused, looking up and staring intently at me. “I was thinking—”
“Training?” I broke in, beating him to it. I knew Jace was dying to test my power in a sparring match.
His eyes fell. “Yeah. That’s what I was going to say.”
“Sure.” I was confident now that I’d actually be able to show him my power after what Reese had told me. “You know I’m up for it.”
“All right,” he said. “Good luck. I’ll tell Lana you’ll contact her on the communicator. She’ll be going crazy until she hears from you.”
“Thanks again for my present.” I clutched the case. “I’ll talk to you guys soon.”
He started his levibike and glanced at me, giving me a small smile. I waved, watching him take off down the roadway.
I was thankful he’d assumed my mom wouldn’t let me out tomorrow. I hadn’t thought of it, but he was probably right. She’d want me close, just in case the change started early. And I needed some time to myself to think about everything that had happened. About what I’d discovered at the club…
My power. And Reese’s.
Waiting for my change to begin the next day was maddening. My mom prepared a birthday breakfast of my favorites—pancakes and hash browns—and we celebrated early, as I’d be shifting soon. We were quiet while we ate, both of us knowing that the change might start at any moment.
I’d told her about my power making an appearance, conveniently leaving out the part where I’d shocked Reese. She was worried enough over the Narcos being in Haven, and I didn’t want her upset over me talking or dancing with one. Although, soon enough she’d find out they were attending the Academy. One fight at a time, I told myself.
By that afternoon, I was going stir crazy. I’d cleaned my room twice, reorganized my closet, and started packing for the Academy. When I couldn’t take the claustrophobia anymore, I decided I had to get out of the house. She was reluctant, but I’d assured her I wouldn’t be long and I’d stick close to home. I still technically had a whole day before the change.
I rode the autowalk, glancing into store windows, my mind unfocused. Reese’s violet eyes clouded my thoughts. As I neared a coffee shop, a sharp spasm panged my side. I crumpled and grabbed my stomach, falling onto the moving sidewalk. The searing pain spread through my stomach, coursing the length of my body, and I rolled onto the walkway.
I crawled to the edge of the building and attempted to claw my way to my feet. But I couldn’t grasp the stone wall. Reaching for my communicator, I found my back pocket empty. Crap.
Giving up, ready to die right there on the side of the roadway, I felt a hand clasp my arm.
“Dez?” Reese’s voice echoed in my ears. “Hold on. I’ll get you out of here.”
He knelt next to me and scooped me into his arms. Everything around me darkened. I couldn’t focus, but I felt the motion of him carrying me. My voice croaked out, trying to make words. “Am…what…”
“The change is starting,” he said in a soft, faraway voice. “Don’t panic.”
He placed me in front of him on what I assumed was a hover-bike. Wrapping one arm securely around me, he cradled me to his chest, and the vehicle lurched into motion. Waves of sound bounced off my eardrums, muffled, like the inside of a sea shell as I faded in and out of consciousness.
When the motion stopped, Reese shook me. “Hey, I’m going to lay you down here.” He set me on something cold and hard. Cement. “Dez…” He shook me again. “Dez…”
I pried my eyes open. He stared down at me, his hair falling loosely around his red eyes. “Yeah,” I moaned.
“This is your house, right?”
I forced my eyes to look at the door and read the number. I nodded. How did he know where I lived?
“Okay,” he said. “Listen. I have something important to tell you. When you’re better, contact me.” He slipped something into my back pocket, and his smooth, warm lips pressed to my forehead. He kept them there a moment before he stood and rang the bell, then disappeared out of sight.
The door opened, and I saw my mom’s panicked face right before I blacked out.
The next time my eyes opened, my bedroom ceiling swirled above me. My body felt like a limp, dissolving Jell-O mold. I stretched my fingers and toes. Every muscle in my body ached.
Mom sat down beside me on the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?” she asked, placing a wet cloth across my forehead.
“Better…I guess.” I blinked hard, clearing my vision. “How long was I out?”
She pressed the back of her hand against my cheek. “Today’s Sunday.”
I strained my eyes, opening them as wide as I could. “Sunday? I’ve been out for two days?”
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“A day and a half, actually.” She brushed my hair away from my face. “I was worried. Normally there’s pain, screaming, fever…but I’ve never heard of someone sleeping through the whole thing.”
I tried to sit up, and she helped me prop myself against the wrought iron headboard. “You mean it’s over? It’s done?” I shook my head, but regretted it when a violent throbbing assaulted me. “Ow.”
“Just take it easy.”
“Wait. So did you see me shift? Am I Shythe?” Her face was a mask. “Mom? What happened?”
She nodded her head lightly. “Yes, Destiny. You shifted. But I think you should wait till you’re feeling better before you try it on your own.”
Screw that. My whole life I’d anticipated and feared this moment. I had to know what color my eyes were—what power I had. Hell, I had to watch myself shift into my Kythan form.
And, oh!
“My ink—my Kythan mark? Is it there?” I blurted, running my fingers over my neck. It still felt the same. I expected to feel raised skin, like on humans, after they’d gotten a tattoo. But it was smooth.
She blew out a long breath. “Destiny…”
“What?” I asked. Her eyes were dark. “Tell me. What is it?”
“Your eyes are still the same.” She looked away. “You do have the Egyptian ink. But I’m not sure of your power.”
I threw my legs over the side of my bed, waving away her protests. I stayed there for a moment until I felt strong enough to walk. Slowly, I took a step forward toward my dressing mirror.
I studied my reflection. A black, swirled design, with the mark of the Kythan was centered on the left side of my lower neck, just above my collarbone. The ink wasn’t large, but anyone could see it at a glance. For added secrecy, most Kythan hid it when they shifted into human form. But I wanted to keep mine visible.
My heart plummeted to my stomach as I stared into my familiar violet eyes. Frustrated, I leaned in closer to the mirror. Whatever Reese was, his eyes were red. He’d shifted them from red to purple and back without the use of eye lenses. Unless he was some kind of magician.