Page 186 of Firestorm
I nodded, then looked to Aiden, who seemed to be vibrating where he stood, unsure of whether or not to follow me.
“You don’t need him.” I repeated, then held out my hand. Aiden’s eyes flickered for a moment, and I hoped he remembered what I’d promised him – that I’d never lie.
Finally, Aiden nodded slowly and took my hand. We made our way through the stone hallways, jogging just out of view from the main battle.
We rounded a corner and a militant jumped out from behind a statue. My affinity reacted just as Aiden raised his hands, incinerating the man in the blink of an eye. The heat licked across my skin even after the flames had diminished.
I blinked at the goopy pile of ash left behind on the cobblestone.Holy shit. Since when could Aiden do that?
Aiden took my arm and pulled me along, eventually leading me back out onto the quad.
“Holy shit,” Aiden muttered.
My heart pounded in my chest, a faint roaring starting up in my ears at the sight that greeted me.
Landon Iykos stood in the center of the courtyard…absolutely losing his shit.
Tears streamed down his face, though they evaporated quickly from the heat of the flames licking across his arms. He was spinning in circles, waving his arms back and forth as if he were trying to put the fire out, but the flames only seemed to burn hotter, shooting off into random directions.
Coach was off to the side, yelling instructions to help Landon put the fire out, but it didn’t seem to be helping.
My heart broke for him.
“Landon,” I called out.
He spun around to face me, and his expression melted into one of relief for just a moment before it turned thunderous.
“Skye, you can’t be here,” he shouted. “I’ll h-hurt you. I c-can’t control it.”
“Yes, you can. You’re stronger than this,” I argued, taking a step toward him.
“Come on, Aria.” Coach called out. “Knock him out again.”
“Skye,” Aiden warned, flames jumping to life along his arms as he watched Landon prowl back and forth.
“Don’t,” I said quickly. “I know what’s wrong. I can help him.”
Aiden stayed silent, his eyes never leaving Landon.
“Skye, you have to run.” Landon closed his eyes and dipped his chin to his chest. “He’s here. He’ll s-see you. He’ll know.”
“Who, Landon?”
Landon growled like an animal, and his skin seemed to glow.
“He’s going to Exhaust,” Aiden murmured next to me. “We can just hold him off until then.”
My stomach sank.
“Landon, you can do this.” I said. “You can fight him.”
“I can’t,” Landon ground out. “You know I can’t. He’s trying to…control…” Landon’s words cut off with a yelp, then he dropped to his hands and knees.
“Tell me, Landon!” I cried. “Think it. Let me in.”
Landon screamed, fire rolling off of him in chaotic sparks. The flames were reaching higher and higher, threatening some of the ancient trees standing tall above us.
“Skye,” Aiden groaned. His arms were glowing, so sizzling hot that it almost looked like sparks or embers were jumping off his skin.
