Page 187 of Firestorm
Landon moved toward us at the same moment Willow and Mia arrived.
“Nothing from my dad,” Willow said breathlessly. “God, Landon…”
“We can hold him off,” Mia said. “Coach said the authorities are already on their way.”
“Too late,” Landon choked out. “Skye,please.”
“No,” I whispered.
I wouldn’t do it. I couldn’t.
I’d done it so easily just minutes ago, though. I’d killed those men by the dorm without hesitation, to saveCarlaof all people. But Landon? He was…my friend. Icouldn’tkill Landon. There had to be another way.
“Just kill me,” he begged, throwing his arm out to send a stream of fire the opposite direction from us.
I couldn’t.
“Skye,” Mia murmured. A long spear of ice formed in her hand, glittering in the firelight. “We can try to fight him.”
My stomach dropped. I didn’t want to have to fight him. I wanted Landon to realize he was strong enough to fight off whatever the fuck was happening to him.
“Knock him out, baby.” Aiden said from behind me. I flexed my fingers, but nothing happened. My affinity bumped up against a wall in Landon’s mind.
“Someone’s locking me out,” I said quietly. Aiden cursed.
“Skye,” Landon gritted out, and then suddenly he was screaming as a ball of fire erupted from…his mouth.
Holy shit.
“No fucking way.” Aiden muttered in disbelief as he took my arm.
“Skye,” Landon cried. “The storm. You have to…Skye.”
“What does that mean?!” I called out desperately. “Let me in, Landon!”
Landon bellowed, another stream of fire coming from his mouth, right for us. I jumped, but Mia didn’t hesitate. She sent a shield of ice into the air that melted the moment it met the fire. Boiling-hot drops of water splattered over both of us as the fire evaporated into the ice.
Mia cried out, cooling us quickly with a blast of freezing air, but I felt nothing. My affinity wouldn’t allow it, but also…I was slowly going numb.
The numbness was washing through me, starting at the tips of my fingers and toes and making its way toward my center.
Toward my heart.
My stomach curdled further, my heart aching as I came to the haunting realization that I might not have a choice in whether or not Landon died today.
“Skye! Mia!” Willow’s voice screeched before a blast of fire sent Landon jumping back. He slammed into the brick wall behind him while Aiden stepped in front of us, his arms igniting into flames as he took Landon on.
Landon breathed fire once again, and I caught it, redirecting it into the sky.
The fight was on.
Mia and Willow appeared as if they were dancing. Mia would create an ice spear, and Willow would propel it forward with a burst of freezing water. Aiden hurled fireball after fireball at Landon, but none of it was burning him.
He continued his advance on us, not reacting at all to any air or water I sent at him.
Landon,I pushed into his mind, breaking past the wall from before. Landon faltered, his feet stumbling.Landon, show me. Show me now, and I can stop this. I swear to you.
“You can’t!” he shouted, sending a ball of fire right at me. I redirected it into the sky and he cried out in pain again. Blood began to drip from his nose. “Skye, please, Goddess.” My blood ran cold. “Stop me.Please, Goddess.”
