“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice shaky.
Reese took three quick strides and squatted next to me. “Dez, it’s okay.” He reached out and stroked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You have to be in Kythan form—your most powerful—in order to use the White Flame. So you don’t have to worry about that for now. It won’t accidentally happen if you’re in human form. I know you’re scared. I was too when I first used it. But our power can be controlled.” His lips twitched into a smile. “We don’t have to hide under a rock.”
I stared into his violet eyes—my eyes. Suddenly all the dread and fear, and the years of not knowing what would happen, hit me all at once.
“But if the Councils ever found out…” I bit down on my lip, pausing to collect my thoughts. “I don’t understand. Why would they destroy the others? You and I survived. There’s nothing wrong with us. Well, wrong as in defective. But why would they kill the others from the experiment?”
Reese blew out a heavy breath. “Fear? Look at what we can do. We’re far more powerful having control over both powers. Not only that, we can combine them.” He pressed his palm to my cheek. “And the Councils won’t find out. I can help you.” He ran his thumb just below my bottom lip, his eyes piercing mine. “I want to help you.”
“Why? You were raised Narcolym. How can I trust you won’t hand me over to them?”
Reese’s eyebrows furrowed into a pained expression. “Because of this,” he whispered. Then he took my face between both hands and pressed his lips to mine.
Chapter Nine
FOR A MOMENT, I couldn’t think—couldn’t breathe. Reese’s lips caressed mine, stealing my breath. Then I folded into the kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. His hands gently cupped my face as his lips parted over mine, demanding more. He buried his hand into my hair, and I shivered as sparks rippled across my skin. He pulled back, his eyes scanning my face, and then pressed another light, tender kiss to my lips.
“From the moment I looked into your eyes, I’ve wanted to do that,” he said, and smiled.
“Could’ve fooled me.” I laughed breathlessly. “I thought you either wanted to kill me or feel me up.”
“Well…” He chuckled. “Both at first. All right, then from the moment you punched me, I wanted to do that.” He cocked his head. “Like I said, when you’re angry, you’re hot.”
I batted his arm and fell back onto my palms. “This is all so surreal. I’ve feared the change my whole life. Now you come along and tell me I can control my shifts. Not only that, but I have both powers and can hide Flame.” I shook my head. “You have to teach me now.”
Reese’s eyes traced my face. “It takes a bit longer than an afternoon. At least a few weeks.” His mouth tugged into a frown. “What about your friends? Have you told them?”
My eyebrows shot up. “Are you serious? Jace for one, no offense, hates the Narcos. I could never tell him my father was one. And Lana and Nick, I love them. I couldn’t endanger them with this kind of information.”
“Hmm…” He leaned back onto his hands, mirroring my position. “They could be a problem.”
“How? Hiding it from them?”
“Yeah. What about your fight club?” he said, arching a brow.
“How do you know—” I bit my lip. “You saw us. It was you in the woods that day.”
He nodded. “Sorry. But I had to make sure you were who I thought you were.”
“And you followed me to my house, that’s how you knew where I lived.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “I don’t know if I should feel flattered, elated that you exist, or creeped out.”
“All of the above?” Reese smiled, and then his expression turned solemn. “Seriously, Dez. You have to find a way to get out of those matches. At least until you learn to use Charge. Jace seems like a real hothead. I don’t want him blowing your—our cover because he’s pro Shythe.”
He was right. If Jace found out…No. I couldn’t believe that. Jace would never do anything to hurt me. But his father was on the Council. Jace may not intend to endanger me, but because of his confusion, he might expose me out of fear. Or worse, hate. I didn’t want to think about what might happen. I couldn’t.
Then an idea came to me. “They’re about to go through the
change in a few days.”
“That’s perfect.” He sat forward. “They might even be out of it for a week or so. By then, we’ll be at the Academy. I hope Jace isn’t going to try and get away with sparring there. Because that would be stupid.”
“Yeah. You don’t know Jace. He has a lot of conviction in his beliefs.”
“And what are those?”
I shrugged. “He thinks the Narcos are here to—” I stopped. Reese was still technically one of them.
“Dez,” he said, taking my hand. “You have to trust me. I may’ve been raised by them, but I’m like you. A mixed breed.” He pressed his lips to my palm and peeked up at me. “And besides, how could I betray a girl that looks so damn hot in a mini-bustle and thigh-high boots?”