Page 52 of Firestorm
“I’m not worried, Aiden. I’m stronger than I look.” I replied.
“I know you are,” Aiden whispered, still looking concerned.
I turned back just as Coach blew his whistle, and Landon sent a stream of fire right at me without waiting for me to square up. My eyes widened at the same moment my affinity reacted without me, sending a burst of air to meet the fire head-on and creating a small explosion.
Embers rained down over the top of us, and Landon flinched as one hit his arm. I almost smiled. Finally, this idiot was exposing some sort of weakness to me besides his anger. A bad weakness, too.Who reacted to their own affinity like that?While he patted away at a few errant embers that landed on his shirt, I sent a surge of air toward him.
Landon grunted from the force of my hit. He rocked on his heels, then with a flourish, sent a flare of fire at me. I stepped to the side dramatically, ignoring how the heat of the fire skated across my skin. I quickly summoned some air, catching then sending the fire back at him, and his eyes widened slightly before he jumped, absorbing the flames at the last second.
“That’s it, Aria. Get him again,” Coach called out.
Landon’s jaw dropped in shock, and I took full advantage of the distraction. I dove for my water bottle, flicking off the lid and sending the small rush of water right at his face.
Landon swiped a hand through the water, as if that would do anything, and then he fell backward as the ball of water surrounded his head.
Iwasn’tgoing to drown him.
…Probably.
Landon turned into a ball of fire before I could decide what to do next.
I froze. A few students screamed.
Landon…was actually covered in flames. His entire body ignited like he was the wick inside a candle.
The water around his face evaporated in an instant. I backed away from him, holding up my hands in warning. He was beyond furious at this point, heat flickering off him from every angle. Several students jumped back with startled gasps.
I’d never seen anything like this.
Not only did Landon seem completely out of control, but he alsoseemed…like he was in pain? Was he reallythatout of control? He’d Exhaust in minutes if that was the case.
I wanted to study this.Would my usual medical journal have an article on this phenomenon?
“Landon, get it together.” Coach barked, and Landon’s fire ebbed slightly.
“Skye,” Aiden groaned from somewhere nearby. He’d been good so far, keeping quiet and only watching in horror while I sparred with Landon. I could tell it was fucking killing him not to defend me.
Landon took a deep breath and the fire extinguished, save for the palms of his hands which rested in a ready stance.
“Alright, go for it.” Coach said.
Landon fucking went for it.
Out of absolutely nowhere, he produced a ball of fire the size of an elephant, then launched it right at me. I pulled the air from it as fast as I could, snuffing it out before it hit me. Ashes fluttered in the air around me, clogging my throat and almost making me cough while Landon seethed.
We were getting nowhere. I needed to piss him off so this could end.
I sent a stream of air toward his feet, just like I had that first day I’d encountered him in the hall, and just like that first day, Landon stumbled.
Gritting his teeth, he slammed his hand into the ground, igniting a wall of fire around us.
Roars of outrage filled the gym. Coach, the other students…Aiden was the loudest of all of them.
I barely flinched.
Landon would have to be entirely out of his mind to hurt me during something like this, and knowing what I knew of his family, I was almost positive he wasn’t really going to hurt me. And if he did…my affinity would take care of him. I’d be back home to Zephyr in minutes and we’d be packing to head out on the run within the hour.
I tilted my head to the side, and Landon practically snarled at me.
