Page 207 of Silver Elite

“I don’t know how the fuck this is happening. Is this actually happening?”

He’s in my head now. Wolf. He sounds different, though, because I know whatCrosssounds like.

“Your voice is not as raspy as you think it is.”

He grins at me.“Yours is higher than you think.”

“I do not have a high voice,” I say out loud, trying to hear it for myself. It sounds deeper to my ears.

“Yes, you do.” He shakes his head in amazement. “How is this possible?”

I know exactly what he’s feeling. It’s strange and exciting. Terrifying, too. I’ve known him since I was six years old, yet this is the first time we’re meeting.

And he’s Cross Redden.

He’s Cross Redden.

The implications race through my head. For a moment, I worry he might turn me in, until I remember that turning me in means turninghimselfin.

“You’re Modified,” I accuse.

His expression pains.

“Does anyone else know?”

“No.”

“How? How were you able to keep it a secret?”

Cross moves to sit beside me, long legs stretched out in front of him. “I don’t know. I guess even at the age of eight, when I was suddenly inside someone else’s head, I wisely knew never to reveal it to anyone.”

“Nobody in your family knows?”

“No, you’re the only one.”

“What gifts do you have?” I ask curiously.

“Only telepathy, and I don’t think I’m very strong. I’ve only ever done it with you. I have no idea how I managed to connect with your mind all those years ago, but I’m glad I did. It made me feel less alone.”

“My uncle told me it’s common for children to form spontaneous links when they’re first manifesting their abilities. They don’t know how to use anything properly yet. It’s almost like their minds freaking out.”

Cross is equally curious. “What do you have?”

“Just telepathy.”

Guilt embeds into my stomach. He doesn’t need to know that I’m also a mind reader and projector. That I can incite. Or rather, that I can sometimes incite at random and inappropriate times, with no rhyme or reason to how I’ve done it.

But Cross isn’t stupid. “Julian Ash’s execution,” he spits out.

I’m quick to deny it. “It wasn’t me.”

For the first time in my life, I’m actively lying to my closest friend. It rips a hole in my heart. I never thought I would lie to Wolf. Only by omission. But I’m unsure about our level of trust now. Because Wolf isn’t Wolf anymore. He’s Cross Redden.

He eyes me skeptically.

“It was Jim,” I tell him.

“Ash? Jayde didn’t get any indication he was an inciter when she was reading his mind.”

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