Page 52 of Catalyst

“Your girlfriend? She’s my sister, dude.” Jack cackled. “It’s only a matter of time before she comes to her senses and realizes you’re not fit to lick the dirt off her shoes.”

“And then, she’s all mine.” TJ sneered, pressing his nose to mine.

My stomach bottomed out as all the awful pieces clicked together.

“She wouldneverfuck around with a douchebag like you.” I didn’t like the fact that her parents were willing to trade her off to someone like TJ.

If the way he treated me was any indication of how he’d treat her… let’s just say, Callie deserved better.

“Douchebag?” TJ laughed as he yanked me forward, causing me to stumble into the apartment.

Jack slammed the door shut the second I staggered over the threshold. The lock clicked behind me, and a prickling sensation ran down my spine. This wasbad.

“If anyone’s the douchebag, it’s you and that shadow dude.” Jack jeered. “Mom told me all about how Callie dropped out of school… That’s your fault, isn’t it?”

“She’s sick, asshole.” Sure, it wasn’t as bad as it’d been last week, but she’d traded a fever for insurmountable exhaustion.

But, at least this way, she wasn’t going to burn up.

“She’s only sick because she fucks with villains like you and that stupid pyromancer.” Jack’s comment caused me to see red.

“This is your last warning. Leave Sulien and Callie out of this.”Fucking heroes.

“Awww, I think we hit a nerve.” TJ cooed as he leaned in, pinching my cheeks together. “Newsflash–People like you and that pyro freak are nothing but poison. Dying was the best thing Sulien could have done for Calista and the baby.”

And just like that, every shred of restraint I held went out the window. TJ’s fingers on my cheeks were all I needed to control him. I took a deep breath before using his blood to force him to his knees. The second he started to fall away from me, I planted ahand on his bare shoulder, allowing my power to slither through his veins until it filled his heart.

Slowly, I began constricting the vessels in the area, causing TJ to gasp and double over. I could kill him. I could kill himright now,and no one would even miss him. My jaw remained locked as I slowly looked toward Jack.

His blue eyes widened as his drunken bravado made way for fear. He held his breath, extending his hand as a spear of solid ice formed near his palm. But he wasn’t the only one with stupid fucking tricks.

My gaze stayed focused on him as I brought my palm to my lips before biting myself hard enough to break the skin. The sharp taste of copper filled my mouth as blood dripped down my wrist, pattering on TJ’s white floors.

The confidence he so desperately tried to hold on to crumbled. His knuckles went white around his ice spear as a jagged tendril of blood coated my hand. If he wanted to fight, we were going to fucking fight. But, just as I stood to put this bitch in his place… once again, I remembered Callie.

I wanted to be better for her… And I couldn’t do that by stooping to their level. So, against my better judgment, I returned TJ’s pulse to his control. I kept my weapon firmly affixed to my hand, just in case either of these jackasses got any bright ideas.

“You better both write Callie athank-youletter because if it weren’t for her, you’d both be dead,” I said calmly, looking between them as I spoke.

TJ held his chest as he heaved in a few uneven breaths. This was the second time this week I’d seen him almost get his ass kicked. If he wanted to be a hero, he’d better learn how to fucking fight. He was only still alive because I was a man in love… huh, I should probably tell Callie I love her. She’d like that.

Jack’s spear shattered against the floor as he rushed to check on his friend. He dropped to one knee, putting his hand on TJ’s back.

“You’re fucking crazy!” Jack accused me, but he didn’t bother me.

“Just stay away from Callie and keep Sulien’s name out of your mouth. Got it?” I said, almost begging him to try me again.

Jack’s gaze bore into mine as he nodded. That’s all the permission I needed to leave, but before I could, the lesser Voltaris spoke.

“You realize she’s going to die without our help–right?”

I needed to talk to Kane. I needed to talk to Kane. Holy shit–I needed to fucking talk to Kane.

That was all I could think about as I practically sprinted home. I didn't even wait for my cab; it felt faster just to run. Was there a chance Jack Voltaris was just talking out of his ass?

Uh, yeah, probably.

But what he said made sense—and a lot of it. That’s how I knew whatever he was talking about didn’t come from him; instead, he was likely just repeating something he heard from someonefarmore qualified.

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