Page 93 of Secret Gifts
“You saved my life… again. I kind of owe you, so I'll help you if I can. By the way, were you there the day of the jets?”
He shakes his head, keeping his gaze forward.
“No. I was following a trail near a deserted base when those loud bastards zipped overhead. I knew they were going after you when I saw their direction and their symbols, so I called to warn you.”
That’s not what I was expecting to hear. If he wasn’t there, then where did that hypnotic blaze come from? Where did it come from tonight?
“Something wrong?” he worries, his eyes being the only thing I can see holding concern.
“I don’t know. There’s a gifted who has used these breathtakingly incredible flames twice now, but I don’t know who it is.”
My mind starts falling over all the hybrids of our group, but none are level sevens outside my family, and that fire would be at least a seven. I can’t think of anyone who has been with us who could hold such a secret gift. Melania perhaps? I've yet to ask what her gift is.
“Flames? Aria, I don’t like the sound of that. If someone is using such a gift, and I’ve managed to miss it, then you need to be careful.”
He sounds so sincerely worried about me. It doesn’t make any sense. He even offered me blood to heal my wounds. Jase would kick his ass if he knew that, at least I hope he would want to kick his ass.
I ignore the nagging voice in my head that is trying to tell me what I don't want to hear. No. I don't have a counter. I can't have a counter. I love Jase. I just feel drawn to this stranger because he saved me.
“I’ll be fine. Whoever is doing it, they're doing it to help me. I know that much, and don’t say I’m naïve.”
My eyes cut toward him warningly, and a breath of laughter accidentally escapes through those lips I can’t see.
“You are naïve, so I’ll just keep an eye out for our mysterious flamethrower. I’ll let you know when I find out. In the meantime, you need to stop trusting everyone so much and start paying more attention.”
“Give me an example,” I murmur through a yawn.
“Of what?” he muses, his hand sliding behind my back to pull me into him when my eyes threaten to close.
My head finds his firm chest, and though I should be scared, I’m just comforted right now by his arms.
“Of my naivety.”
His face presses to my hair, continuing to be affectionate toward me and making my worry that much fiercer. It's so odd he's acting this way, but he won’t show me his face. Jase would kick his ass for this too.
“In time, you’ll see, and then I’ll be there to help you through it. You’ll find there are some you should trust that you don’t, and there are some you shouldn’t trust that you do.”
“Riddles. I hate riddles,” I mumble, my eyes growing even heavier as the blood loss takes its weary toll on me.
I can’t go to sleep. He’ll need to escape, and it’s too dangerous for me to be out here while unconscious. I can smell the mud and the fresh air. I never even knew we left the tunnel, but I can feel the soft earth beneath us that promises we did.
“Riddles for now,” he murmurs softly, and that’s all I can take.
My eyes give up their endeavor to stay open, and my weakened body gives into its exhaustion. I’m sorry.
C
hapter 13
The wet, slippery ground clings to me with its sticky hold. I feel my aching head throbbing as my eyes try to open. My side still bleeds, but it has healed so much more. I slide my hand over the wound that is still trying to fully close up, and then I look around at the starless night air.
How long have I been asleep? He just left me here?
My clothes are covered in my own blood. I stare at the ground that has suffered the same fate of wearing my red stains. I see a glimpse of a shadow, and then I hear a car crank in the distance.
He stayed.
I wobble to my knees, praying I’ve healed enough to walk a little better than I did earlier. I listen to the car slowly disappear from my ears, and then I realize I’m wearing a jacket - a black hooded jacket with the scent of melted chocolate and dark cherry.
