The Brightest Night (Origin 3)

I thought again of how fast Grayson had disappeared.

“I wonder if I can run fast now,” I said as we walked down a road empty except for abandoned cars that had more rust and sun damage than paint. I kept scanning, hoping to see Nate, but knowing it was probably too soon for him to come back.

“That’s actually a good question. I don’t know. Hybrids are physically stronger and faster, but not like a Luxen or Arum or Origin. So, technically speaking, you should be able to run pretty fast. As fast as I can or they can? I can’t answer that.”

I wasn’t sure what I would do if I could actually run measurably fast, since the only time I had was when my life was under immediate threat. Even then, I ran like a turtle with a broken leg. “Can we practice more when we get back to the house?”

“I think you should take it easy the rest of the day.”

I frowned.

“Before you can ask why, and I know you’re getting ready to, it’s because I don’t want you to overdo it until we get a better handle on what comes naturally to you other than knocking Grayson on his ass.”

My frown turned upside down. “Man, that was great. I will never forget that. Not as long as I live.”

“What was better was the fact it proved you can control your Source, even when angry.”

That it did, but …

What else did it prove? Yes, I’d been angry with Grayson, but that had been nothing like the fury I’d felt in the nightmare, nor the panic. What I had done today didn’t mean I wouldn’t lose control again or that I wouldn’t go hive-mind Trojan on everyone.

And just like that, my earlier confidence belly flopped out of a window. “But what does that really prove?” I asked as a cool breeze rolled down the street.

“It proves a lot more than you were just thinking, Peaches.” Luc took my hand. “You can use the Source, and you can control it, but it’s almost like a muscle that has wasted due to lack of use. I think with a couple of sessions, you’ll be shocked by what you can do.”

A dozen or so different scenarios played out. Opening and closing doors with the power of my mind just because I could. Lighting and extinguishing candles. Summoning a jar of peanut butter and a spoon from the kitchen. Heating up my own—

“Peaches.” Luc chuckled, lifting my hand to his mouth. He kissed the back. “Not even I can summon a jar of peanut butter from a totally different room and have it do anything other than smack into a wall.”

“But I’m supposed to be awesomer than you, so maybe I can.”

“You are already awesomer than I am.” He tugged me along as we came to the overgrown field that bordered the street. Off in the distance, I heard the mournful call of cows. “We’ll practice moving some more stuff, and then we’ll move on to seeing if you can move harder things.”

“Like?”

“Like people who are able to resist.”

My eyes widened. “Like you?”

He nodded. “Grayson. I’m sure Zoe will volunteer.”

“But what if I hurt you guys?”

Luc glanced down at me. “You didn’t hurt Grayson today, even though you wanted to.”

He was right.

I stared out over the field, wondering how much more my life would change. “Does that make me a bad person? That I did want to hurt him?”

“Who hasn’t wanted to hurt Grayson?”

I choked out a laugh.

“Grayson was purposely trying to get a rise out of you,” he added. “And he’s exceptionally good at it.”

“That he is,” I murmured, thinking that over. “You’re saying that he wasn’t pushing my buttons because he just wanted to be a jerk to me, but to see what I’d do?”

“Yes.” He paused. “And because he’s a jerk. It’s one of his strengths.”

How that was considered a strength, I didn’t know.

“Today was a good day. No one had to hurt anyone. No one got hurt,” he said, eyeing the cloudy sky. “Well, except maybe Grayson’s pride and a Blow Pop or two, and we didn’t have to make you panic or really upset. I’ll count this as a win and proof that we’re on the right path.”

Squeezing his hand, I decided that I would also count today as a win.

“So.” He drew the word out. “You want to see if you can run fast?”

I came to a sudden halt. “I thought you said I should take it easy.”

“If you can run faster than before, it will be the mutation—the Source fueling it—but it’s not the same as what you were doing today.” A mischievous glint settled in his eyes. “Or are you feeling tired? If so, I’m sure I can carry you back. Here.” He tugged on my hand. “You can hop on my back—”