Page 116 of Firestorm
I bristled slightly at that implication, then my shoulders sagged. He wasn’t wrong. “I guess I’m not used to people trying to be my friend.” I muttered.
Landon threw his head back and laughed loudly. I groaned at the sudden attention from the other students seated around us.
“What’s so funny about that?” I hissed, not even attempting to hide how annoyed I was.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Skye. It was just…no wayno one wants to be your friend. You’re smart and talented, and so funny.”
I stared, dumbfounded.
“Talented?” I croaked, mentally slapping myself for having pickedthattrait as the most unbelievable.
“Yeah,” Landon said, a genuine grin on his face. “You have such smart ways of using your affinities. Super out-of-the-box, you know? Are you sure you don’t have any more? Have you ever tried practicing anything else?”
“No,” I clipped. Landon’s face tightened slightly, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I felt my shadow draw closer.
“Not even telepathy? My parents are pretty good with it. My dad more so than my mom.” Landon said, trying to sound casual like before, though the casual feel was gone.
“And your sister?” I watched him carefully.
“Nah,” he said. “Lana doesn’t do much. Her affinity is rare, but it’s a little lame. She doesn’t like people knowing what it is. She’s a really anxious person. I think she’s got OCD or something, but my parents don’t give a shit enough to do anything about it. You relate to that at all?”
“Sort of,” I said slowly. “One of my parents was good with telepathy. And another was a psychiatrist, so…”
“Really?” Landon’s face lit up. “I’ve always been interested to see how other people use telepathy. My parents are…” His face changed slightly, something like pain flashing across his eyes. “…something else.”
“Right,” I said, forcing myself to swallow the pizza I’d been chewing too long. I was beginning to learn that the universe was cruel as fuck, taking my perfectly normal and happy parents from me whileleaving shitty people like the Brandts and the Iykos to reign terror over their children.
“I bet if you practiced, you’d be able to do a bit of telepathy.” Landon said. “You’re so powerful already, and if one of your parents could do it?” Landon let out a low whistle. “Maybe I could help you practice. We could just start with mental shields, something that would protect you.”
My hands fisted at that. My affinity had never liked when people implied I was helpless. When I spoke, I tried to keep my voice even, not harsh. “I really don’t need that, Landon. My affinities are my business, and I don’t need help practicing them, okay?”
Landon froze, mid-burger bite. He chewed quickly and swallowed before raising his hands placatingly, dipping his chin to his chest.
“Of course, Skye. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I just think you’re really cool, and I feel bad for how I acted in the past. I want to help you out, if I can.”
I nodded, relaxing slightly.
“Baby?”
Landon’s gaze moved above me, and I turned just as Aiden sidled up behind me. He pressed his chest into my back, and one of his big hands settled possessively close to my throat.
My affinity didn’t react to that at all, of course. Territorial men didn’t frighten us at all, apparently.
Landon’s eyes widened slightly, like he’d somehow just noticed the insane hickey on my neck, and then he cleared his throat.
“What’s up, Landon?” Aiden asked, leaning down and kissing my cheek. His breath fanned across my neck as he stayed in that position, holding my neck with my face next to mine, while he stared down Landon.
And holy shit?
I wasbeyondturned on.This can’t be normal.
“Not much,” Landon replied, taking another bite of his burger. “I didn’t realize you two were official.”
“Yeah,” Aiden clipped, his hand flexing on my throat slightly before he slid into the seat next to me. His hand traveled down to my waist, where he pulled me into his side. “Connected.”
I tried not to wince. Aiden and I hadn’t discussed whether or not we’d be public about our Chain status, but it looked like this was happening whether or not I was ready. Was it even fair of me to try and keep it quiet?
Seeing the proud look on Aiden’s face, how his shoulders squared and his jaw set…I almost sighed. It wasn’t fair to Aiden to keep things a secret. The amount of non-cocky confidence he’d been displaying made me feel all sorts of things, and I didn’t want to take that from him.
