I barked out a laugh. “I think I would know if my mom wasn't human. She was a lot of things that weren't exactly cool, you know? But she was definitely human.”
“And the last time I checked, Healynas wasn't interested in impregnating humans,” Garret added.
“True. He was too busy manipulating the Witches and forcing pregnancy on them instead,” I said. The idea made me shiver, but then I had already seen so much violence and mindless manipulation.
“But he stopped. Just like he stopped creating Dragons and Lyrous and Sylphs. He was too busy destroying us, beating us back,” Parris said. There was a growl at the edge of his words, and the hand that was still on my shoulder tightened.
The Omega in me responded, leaping to life like a flame. Craving the chance to soothe him. That was my job, what I was made for.
But if we were ever going to make it through this forest, I had to stay on topic. We couldn't stop every five minutes for a fuck fest, no matter how tempting the idea was.
“What are you saying? That he found a light fae to impregnate rather than a witch?” Garret’s mouth twisted in a disbelieving smirk, but he looked to Elliot for answers.
He would be the one to know.
Elliot only shook his head. “I honestly don't know. He could have. An egomaniac like him? I doubt he would have been able to resist the idea of spreading his seed again.”
“But I'm telling you, my mom was human. And a complete loser. Like, you know I don't have a high opinion of Healynas or his church or any of that, but I doubt he would sink low enough to spread his seed to an addict who couldn't be bothered to take care of her kids.”
“You're probably right. It was only a theory.” Elliot quirked an eyebrow. “Do you think you could try it again? What you did before, I mean.”
“The lightning?” I grimaced. “Don't you like being in one piece? And, you know, not crispy?”
“It didn't hurt us before,” Garrett pointed out. “Whether you intended to or not, you protected us from it.”
“It must have to do with the connection between all of you. I'm sure subconsciously, you knew you were protecting us. Your powers won’t harm us if they are being used in our defense,” Elliot said.
I wasn’t convinced, no matter how sure Elliot sounded. I said, “I'm not trying to protect you now, though. What if you get zapped?”
“Try to summon the energy. You don't have to let it out, but try to gather it up inside you the way you do when you harness the wind,” Elliot added.
“Okay. I'll see what I can do.” I glanced around, drawing out the tension before wriggling. “Buzz, buzz.”
“Not funny,” Parris said.
“I thought it was pretty funny,” I replied.
All that earned me were three dirty looks, so I got serious. But no matter how hard I tried, even when I blew half the leaves off the trees around us, that spark wasn't there. That rush of light.
“It must be situational,” Garret mused. If I didn't know better, I would think he was extremely grateful that man bun of his didn't end up burning.
“Is it wrong that I'm a little disappointed?” I laughed at myself, since the idea was ridiculous.
Here I was moping because I hadn’t fried the three of them.
“I know what will cheer you up,” Elliot started. When both Garret and Parris perked up with interest, Elliot shook his head and corrected himself. “I didn't mean that. I meant this.” A sudden rush of wind, and he was invisible, nothing more than wind whipping around me, enveloping me. Asking me to play.
“Where are you going?” Parris shouted, but I only half heard him as I left the ground, rising up through the trees.
It didn't take nearly as much focus anymore. Sort of like tapping into something that had always been there waiting for me. Flying. I was flying!
“Take that, stupid birds!” I laughed with glee before Elliot wound his way around me again, then darted off, flying, swooping, dipping, and inviting me to come along.
And I did. Air rushed around me, and I whooped with laughter again. This would have made getting around a lot easier if I had known I was able to do it. Forget that old junker of a car that only started when it felt like it.
“Hurry up!” I heard Elliot's voice nearby, laced with laughter right before a rush of warm wind blew past me.
I followed, determined now to beat him. He wasn't the only one who could soar like a freaking bird now. I dipped down, brushing the treetops and looking around at the expanse of lush, emerald green stretching out in all directions. It was like something out of a dream—the best, most vivid dream I’d ever had.