Page 37 of Starfall

Gabi said, “You have been drawing her picture since you were twelve. Do you think the fire arranged that? The fire didn’t manifest until you were nineteen if we are using your timeline.”

Rowen blinked. “Oh. Right.”

“And you have been verbally sparring with her ever since you opened the gym.”

He frowned. “Yes, that’s... oh fuck, what have I done?”

Orla looked behind him and said, “Rowen, can you put a hard pulse through your magic right now? Through anything connected to it?”

He frowned but nodded. Twenty feet away, a woman screamed and clutched her head.

“Got her. Thanks.” Hunter’s partner sprinted over to the woman who was blinking and clutching her head. As Rowen watched, Orla blasted the woman with starlight, and he felt clear.

“What the actual fuck?” Rowen’s mind was clear, and he was looking around for Emery.

Hunter scowled. “What happened?”

“No idea.”

Gabi grunted. “I know what that was. It was a repulsion spell based on one aspect of Emery that made you uneasy. It rippled until there was fear and disgust on your face.”

Rowen’s eyes burned, and he turned and walked to the woman who Orla had knocked over.

Orla had the woman in glowing cuffs and said, “Rowen, this is Amelie Norwalk, one of Emery’s bullies. Also, incidentally, her adopted sister via Emery’s adoption.”

He looked, and memories stirred. “Amy. You have a membership at the gym.”

She looked at him and tried to look seductive. “I am a way better choice than she is.”

His mind was completely clear. “You are a nasty little worm. I would not choose you if you were the last woman on earth. Your corruption oozes out of your pores. I can smell it.”

Amy paused and smirked. “Well, she won’t have you now. How could she when you rejected her so publicly?”

“You did this on purpose?”

“She doesn’t deserve anything good. She’s ogre born, and she killed her mother.” Amy sniffed as if that made sense.

Orla grimaced. “Amy is a bully. She only eased up when Emery learned to mask her appearance. Pretty sure tonight is the first night that Emery has been out as herself since she was fourteen.”

He was going to act, but Ty snapped his fingers. A tree trunk began to wrap around Amy, and she started screaming as the bark took her over. Then silence.

“That will hold her. How can we get Emery back here?” Ty scowled.

Orla looked at Rowen. He stared back. “Shit. I can text her.”

He picked up his phone and started texting.

---