Page 153 of Firestorm
“I mean…Skye, our family…” Landon ran his fingers through his hair.
“My parents were harder on me than my brother,” I said for some reason. “They were always stricter with me about control, about how I reacted to situations. I resented him for a while but now, he’s all I’ve got.”
“Control is important,” Landon said. “Especially for people like you and me.”
I had no idea what to think about that.
He continued, “Lana…isn’t very stable. Our parents are hard on her, but I’m the one that fucks up a lot. Lana is usually punished for my mistakes. She’s never even mad at me about it, though. She’s still as close to me as ever, though I don’t understand why.”
“She loves you,” I said simply. “She knows you’re not responsible for your parents’ behavior. And you’re not bad, Landon. It’s normal to disappoint your parents a bit. I’m sure mine were pretty sick of me.”
“You sound like River,” Landon muttered, then sighed. “I don’t think anyone could be sick of you, Skye.”
I laughed, but it was hollow as I remembered the one man whowasignoring me in the weeks before I’d had to leave home. Landon slowed his pace and I slowed slightly ahead of him, turning back to study him.
“Skye, I…you’re such a good person.” Landon furrowed his brow, dropping his gaze to the sidewalk. “Sucha good person. I don’t deserve a friend like you.”
My heart clenched. “I’m really not,” I muttered. My parents’ faces flashed through my mind all in a row, like the universe couldn’t help but shove my shortcomings in my face. The faces of the dead zealots from the massacre followed close behind those of my parents, and I dug my nails into my forearm to snap myself out of the looming panic attack.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong.” Landon said easily. “You’re still good, Skye.”
I chuckled nervously. “Whatever. It’s not that serious. You’re a good guy, too.”
“No, I’m not.” he muttered. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I…I’ve been lying to you, Skye.”
I stiffened.Oh, God. If Landon gave me that weird look and tried to kiss me right now, I’d break more than his fucking nose.
Too bad my shadow wasn’t here to witness this with me. I held back a shiver as I remembered the husky, masculine whisper that had replied to me in the library. Aiden had been right. That shadow was definitely ahim.
“How, Landon?” I hedged as my hands vibrated.
Landon sighed deeply before scrubbing his hands down his face.
“I know what you are.”
I blinked at him.
“Skye?” Landon whispered when I didn’t respond.
“You know what I am,” I repeated slowly, hoping it would sound less crazy.
It didn’t.
Landon nodded solemnly. “I’ve known for a while.”
Blood roared in my ears.
My legs went numb.
I blinked over and over, trying to clear my double-vision.
“What?” I breathed.
“Lana’s a Paralyzer,” Landon sighed. “So I’m sure she knows too, but Lana’s always been…sensitive. She genuinely feels bad for the fight.”
“A Paralyzer,” I repeated.
“Yeah,” Landon said slowly, raising his eyebrows at me expectantly. “She disables elemental affinities. You shouldn’t have been able to take her air the way you did.”
