by Grace White
Published by Delesty Books
Copyright © 2018 Grace White
First eBook Edition.
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
Edited by Andrea M. Long
Cover designed by Lianne Cotton
Images: Licensed from Shutterstock and Adobe Stock
The Gaia Chronicles
CURSED
COVETED
CAGED (coming June ’18)
The Lilituria Prophecy
AWAKEN
ALLURE
ASCENSION
The Complex Series
ALORA’S CHOICE
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He watched her through his mind’s eye. She was different: her mortal form fragile and unassuming. Nothing like the formidable and unforgiving Goddess he knew her to be. And yet, she was the same. Gaia’s energy lit up her aura like one of those annoying neon signs of the city.
He’d waited so long for this time—too long—and now it was here. The fiery lick of vengeance coursed through his veins. But he couldn’t rush. No. He needed to bide his time; to plot and plan and ensure every last detail was fine tuned. He needed Gaia—or Terra, her given mortal name—to unlock the true extent of her powers and then, only then, would he reveal himself.
Because oh, how the victory would be so much sweeter.
He focused his attention back on the image of her walking through campus. Someone else came into view and he snarled. It was one of them—her Chosen. He’d known they would show up wherever Gaia materialized; bound to her spirit, to the divine call of duty. So it had been a surprise when they arrived at Atchison before her. He thought they would seek her out, guard her from afar as she navigated her new human life. Although she probably stipulated they didn’t. Gaia had always enjoyed her self-sacrificing sanctimonious bullshit.
Bullshit.
He shuddered at how easy the word formed on his tongue. He was becoming one of them. With their disgusting habits and useless ways. He didn’t care about them—it wasn’t about that—but he had so many annoying infiltrating thoughts, and feelings… by the gods, the feelings. That had been an interesting adjustment. He thrived on the dark depraved emotions of those around him. Greed. Jealousy. Deception. Pain. And as he’d quickly learned, there was no better place to be than surrounded by these young humans with their raging hormones and unbridled emotions.
But he’d underestimated one thing: the lingering humanity of his host’s body. Unlike Gaia, who sacrificed her memories to fall from Elysia, he’d found a way to cast out his energy and bind it with his host, making them one. It gave him a strong advantage. From inception, he’d been aware of who he was and where he came from—unlike Terra who had only been barely aware of the power residing inside her. But she was blind no longer.
And it was time.
It was almost time.
“Show me again,” I say to Cael as the feather floats down until it’s nestled in the palm of his hand.
“Terra, we’ve been doing this for almost an hour.” His voice is stern, but the amused curve of his mouth betrays his true feelings.
“Yes, and I want to keep going until I can do it.”
“There’s no rush. You’re still—”
“What?” I plant my hands on my hips, frustrated with my lack of progress. “I’m still what?”
His fingers curl around the feather as he stalks toward me with a grin plastered on his face. “Cute,” he says. “You’re really, really cute.” He stops in front of me and tickles the feather over the end of my nose and I screw my face up, narrowing my eyes right at him.
“Don’t tease me.”
“Terra,” his voice lowers. “I’m not—”
His bedroom door flies open and I jump back. Endo breezes in, ending the moment I think we were about to share. “How’s it going?”
“It’s not.” I drop down on the bed and let out a heavy sigh, restless energy coursing through me.
“It’s early days, you probably need to—”
“Don’t go there, man, she’s feeling—”
“Right here, I’m right here.” I run my hands down my jeans and stand up. “I think I’m going to head back to my dorm.”
Endo pouts. “But I just got here.”
I glance between them. “You can keep each other company. I have to study, and I want to ask Amalia some stuff.”
“Terra,” Endo warns but Cael shoots him a look that makes him swallow the words. I don’t want to go there. Not right now. Not after the revelations of last week.
I’ve been trying to keep things normal, to ignore the giant bright pink elephant in the room. But it’s hard—because I’m the elephant.
Me.
In all my Gaia-ness glory.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I grab my backpack off the floor and leave them to it. Endo wanted to lecture me on the importance of lying low; it was right there written all over his face, and in the warning note of his voice. But I need to process. And the four of them—well, three, seeing as Sol has reverted to his brooding silent self ever since kissing me—have been trying to give me space to deal. But their version of ‘space’ means handling me with kid-gloves and treading on eggshells whenever we were together.
Leaving Allender dorm, I cut across the lawn and snake around the back to Earhart. Cael showed me the shortcut two days ago after my head finally accepted what my heart already knew: they were telling me the truth. He and Endo gave me their version of a tour of campus. It involved visiting each of their dorms. Mapping the easiest routes in and out. I’d already been in Ross’ room, so that was fine. But I had to visit Cael’s room in Allender and Endo’s room in Canfield-Fisher. I didn’t get the tour of Sol’s—who also stays in Allender—which was fine by me. I’m not so sure I’m ready to be around him yet. With or without the other guys.
“Terra, there you are.” Amalia is hovering outside our dorm.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I ask.
“Waiting for you.” She smiles, and I frown.
“You were?”
“Well yes and no. I just got back from Canfield-Fisher and felt you nearby so thought I’d wait. Where have you been?”
“I, hmm, the library.”
Something flashes in her eyes but if she’s suspicious she doesn’t let on. “Studying on a Sunday? You put the rest of us to shame.”
I shrug as we walk inside. “I figured I’d get a head start on my paper.”
“Do you want to hang out? I think some of the girls are watching a movie in Mischa’s room.”
“Actually.” My lip curves in mischief. “I was hoping you could help me?”
Ten minutes later, I find myself in Amalia’s room but from the startled expression on her face, I’m beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea.
“You want to what?” she chokes out.
“I want to see what else I can do.”
“Terra, I’m not—”
“Come on. You wanted me to explore my power. Well, now I’m ready.”
“But...” Amalia sucks in a sharp breath before shaking her head. “Okay, fine. But we start small.”
Excitement zings through me. Cael has been reluctant to teach me. Endo too. And I know Ross would prefer I didn’t rush into experimentin
g with my powers. But ever since Sol kissed me, I feel it.
Her.
Gaia.
Her memories aren’t quite there yet; like blurry images on the horizon just out of focus. But I feel her energy running through my veins. Of course, I can’t tell Amalia the truth. She sensed my power when we first met—apparently a lot of people did—but I can’t reveal my true identity.
Not that I think anyone would believe me if I did.
It’s hard enough to swallow myself.
“What did you have in mind?” She grabs a pillow off her bed and takes it to her carpet where she sits crossed legged.
“Well, I know I can control fire. I want to see if I can control the other elements.” It would make sense since I’m so in tune with the world around me. Not to mention the connection I share with the guys.
“Terra, I don’t know.” Amalia’s gaze narrows as she studies me. “We should probably wait until we’re with the others. Harry is more—”
“I don’t want to wait, and I don’t want to test my powers in front of them all.” I’m surprised by the curt edge to my voice and force a smile, adding, “You know… in case I can’t do anything.”
She sighs. “Okay, but nothing too crazy. Come over here.” Patting the space in front of her, Amalia waits for me to grab a pillow and join her.
“So you saw the flame trick. We all mastered that one. It took some of us longer than others. That’s how this thing works. We all have different strengths. A natural affinity for one or more element.” Her gaze darts away for a second but it's long enough for me to question her.
“What is it?”
“You’re different. You know that, right?”
“I…” the words lodge in my throat because I want to tell her just how different. Swallowing hard, I manage to croak. “I know. I feel it. And yes, I was resistant at first—scared even—but now I’m ready to learn more.”
Amalia nods. “Okay, put out your hand.”
I lift my arm and extend my hand, and she plucks something off the desk behind her, placing it in my palm. “I want you to focus on the feather. Visualize it floating. Imagine the air around it, under it. Be the air, Terra.”
Her words grow distant as I push all my energy toward the feather. I’ve watched Cael perform this trick over and over but never once did I manage to get the damn thing to move. Now, it’s different. Now I feel the gentle vibrations underneath my skin, the energy darting through my veins. I push it away from my core out toward my arms, down into my wrists, picturing the feather rising into the air.
“That’s it,” Amalia gasps. “Whatever you’re thinking, whatever you’re feeling, hold on to it and will the feather into the air.”
But her words are lost on me. I no longer need her to guide me. I feel the energy, the power, as I feel each breath I take. The feather drifts up off my skin with perfect eloquence.
“Amazing.” Awe lingers in my friend’s voice.
The show isn’t over though. Now I feel the thread between me and the feather, I want to push myself. Test just how far I can go. I tilt my face up as it moves higher, being pulled by some invisible force.
“Okay, Terra, that’s eno—holy crap.”
The feather loop-de-loops in the space above us: large, sweeping circles, and I know I’m smiling. Amalia ducks as the soft projectile shoots toward her, gliding back up before her eyes.
“You shouldn’t be able to do this, not yet.”
But I can.
I am.
And there’s something so freeing, so right about the whole thing. My smile is no longer just a smile. It’s a grin. A face-splitting, soul-soothing grin. My focused gaze tracks the feather as it slices and glides through the air with perfect precision. I twist my upper body searching for obstacles, something to really test my concentration. When I see it, I can’t hide my excitement. It zings across my skin like an electrical current.
Suspending the feather mid-air, I turn my attention to the glass of water on Amalia’s nightstand.
“Terra, what are you—”
“Ssh,” I snap.
I will the liquid up into the air. Imagining it moving, drop by drop. At first, nothing happens. My eyes narrow more, every ounce of my concentration—except for the thread still set on holding the feather in place—focuses on the glass. A single drop separates from the mass, hanging in the air above.
Then another.
Until slowly, droplets bind to form a stream of water with no beginning or end.
“That is—”
I raise a finger silencing her, knowing I’m only one distraction away from losing it. My pulse pounds against my skull, matching the crash of my heart inside my chest. Beads of sweat form on my forehead, roll down the back of my neck. But I’m not done. Freeing some of my focus from the feather, I float it over to the space above the glass. And in a long breath, expel all my energy.
Round and round, the water arcs around the feather in a fluid sweeping motion.
“I did it,” I breathe as my body begins to tremble, heat licking my skin. “Amalia?” I croak over the burning sensation in my throat.
“Stop it now, Terra,” her voice is thick with concern. “You need to—”
I fall back, vaguely aware of her calling my name, of the splash of water, until darkness claims me.
“Wh-what happened?” I try to sit up but flop back down, rubbing my head. Everything feels fuzzy and my stomach roils.
“Terra? Thank God!” Amalia rushes to my side and I realize I’m no longer in her room. It’s my room. But how?
As if she can hear my thoughts, she says, “I called your friend, Ross.”
“You did? But—”
“You don’t remember?”
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to conjure up the memories. I’d been with Cael and Endo. Amalia was waiting for me outside the dorm. We came to her room and—
“I made the feather float.” My eyes widen and meet her concerned gaze.
“You pushed yourself too hard,” she scolds but I’m too busy remembering how it felt to make it float, to control the water in her glass.
“I’m fine,” I say dismissively, shuffling up the headboard until I’m sitting.
“You look fine.” Her eyes roll. “What was that, Terra? I said we needed to go slow.”
“Sorry.”
“Hmm.” The air cools between us and I wait for her to chastise me further. But it never comes. Instead, she fetches me a glass of water and says, “I have to go. There’s a dorm rep meeting and I can’t miss it. Will you be okay?”
I nod.
“Get some rest. Your energy is depleted. You’re strong, Terra,” she adds. “No doubting that. But you’re new to all of this. It takes time. And practice. Lots and lots of practice. Promise me you won’t do any of that stuff without me?”
“I promise.”
At least, not until I feel stronger. But she doesn’t need to know that.
“I’ll check in on you later.” She moves to the door but then I remember what she said.
“Ross was here?”
“I had to call someone, and he helped you before. I made him leave via the emergency stairwell before any of the girls started to ask questions.”
“Oh, okay.”
I clutch the covers and pull them around me, watching her slip out into the hall. The door clicks shut, and I know I should lock it after her, but exhaustion lingers in my muscles. Amalia’s not wrong, I feel like I ran a marathon, my body like lead as I finally drag myself out of bed.
Satisfied the door is locked, I locate my cell phone and check for messages but there’s nothing. I half-expected to see a message from Ross telling—
“Telling you to be more careful.”
I spin around. “How did you get in here?” He’s standing by the window, so I know how he got inside but I didn’t hear him.
“I didn’t appear out of thin air, if that’s what you’re thinking.” A small smile tugs at his mouth.
“So
you can’t teleport?”
He laughs, but it’s strained. “Not exactly, no.”
“But you can hear what I’m thinking?”
“Not really. But I can sense your thoughts.”
“But Sol can?” He’d heard me the day I confronted them.
“He can read minds, yes.”
“And Cael?”
“He’s telepathic.”
“The same as Sol?” I’m confused.
“No. Cael possesses a higher telepathic ability. He can read your thoughts and affect them. With Sol it’s different. He can perceive your thoughts but it’s a one-way signal.”
“Right,” I sigh, and Ross moves closer until he’s right in front of me. “So with Cael he’s literally in my head and Sol can only see through the window?”
“Something like that.” His eyes pierce through me. “How are you feeling?”
“Confused.”
“Terra, that’s not what I mean.” His gaze darkens.
“I know, I’m just… none of this is easy to process.” I stare up him, lost in the flashes of blue and silver. He’s disappointed with me. I don’t know how I know, but I do, and my stomach sinks.
“Terra, I’m not disappointed,” he whispers, his breath dancing over my face. “I’m worried. I thought we agreed to take things slow?”
“No, you all agreed.”
“Terra, that’s not how—”
“I’m strong. I can feel it. Her power in my veins. My blood. I’ve tried and tried with Cael and nothing. I couldn’t even make the feather move. But today, with Amalia, it was different.”
“Different how?” he interrupts, rubbing his stubbled jaw.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
With a heavy sigh, I move to the bed and sit down. Ross follows, taking the desk chair opposite.
“With Cael, it was like I kept coming up against a wall. In my mind, I mean. Is that even possible? Shouldn’t I be able to access my powers all the time? With Amalia, I just focused and bam, it worked.” I smile to myself and Ross notices.