Page 13 of Firestorm
Chapter 3
Skye
“This only saysyou have an affinity for air.” Stevens said, his gaze sweeping over me questioningly.
I resisted the urge to gulp.
Zephyr and I had silently retrieved our ID’s for the officer, and he looked at mine first like he somehow knew I was the one responsible for the lack of water inside the café.
My heart pounded as his eyes narrowed further on the plastic card as if some new information would be revealed.
All these years of planning. All the years of practicing and learning how to deflect. All these years of not strengthening any of my affinities, and they grew in strength anyway. I was still in shock at the amount of water I’d moved.
I had absolutely nothing to say back to him.
“The water is new,” Zephyr said smoothly, handing over his ID. “I’m her older brother. Skye’s only ever done air, same as everyone else in the Aria family.”
“Is that right?” Stevens asked, turning his gaze back to me.
I trembled as I nodded, and Zephyr pulled me into his side perfectly on cue. Only it wasn’t an act. I was actually freaking the fuck out.
“Must have been the adrenaline.” The lady agent said, her expression softening at me slightly. “It happens more often than you think. I’m always telling this guy two affinities are way more common than just one.”
The woman had shown up from the mainland only minutes after Stevens, and she’d given our strangely dry café the same suspicious sweep that Stevens had.
Stevens made a sound of agreement. “Well, that explains why you haven’t attended an academy. We’ll have to get that testing squared away.”
The academy. Of course. Our government had created the academies decades ago as a way to weed out the weak from the strong. The strongest affinates were conscripted after graduating.
Located all over each continent, anyone with more than one affinity was required to attend. The government put all students through rigorous affinity testing before their entry, some ultra secret process meant to scare a Tele out of hiding.
“Alright. Anyone else in the residence?” Stevens asked.
“No,” I said much too quickly.
Stevens narrowed his eyes at me, then glanced at Zephyr. “You, come with me. I’m going to do a quick sweep of the apartment. Standard procedure.”
I swallowed thickly as the two disappeared through the doorway. The lady agent fumbled with her cell phone, effectively ignoring me while Stevens was gone.
I blew out a breath and then tapped at Zephyr’s mind. He opened up for me immediately, allowing me to see what he saw.
Stevens looked over the kitchen and living room quickly before heading back into the bedrooms.
“Careful with my sisters’ room, she doesn’t like people touching her shit.” Zephyr said.
Stevens rolled his eyes. “Women,” he muttered.
Fucking idiot, Zephyr thought.
I resisted the urge to snort.
Stevens trailed toward the utility room, and I froze.
“What’s down here?” Stevens asked.
“Library. Panic room.” Zephyr said with a shrug.
“Show me,” Stevens said.
