Derek glanced back at the large Fae they called Keen, and let out a frustrated breath. Right now, the blond giant was the least of his worries.
It was an understatement to say that discovering what he was after two years of fear and confusion was a relief. Ironically, the idea of a link to Fae loosened a string of nerves taut inside him. The Fae’s existence meant he wasn’t as big a freak as he’d thought he was.
What bothered Derek wasn’t his link to Fae—it was his potential connection to the virus they spoke about.
Unlike Elena, when Derek had turned eighteen two years ago and had gone through “the change,” it was beneath his parents’ roof, a few short weeks before he was to leave for college. Derek’s father wanted him to study cardiology and partner in research back home, and Derek had been on board, until the day he changed.
Professor Marlon St. Just came calling around that time, promising an interesting research project, and a private, well-equipped space in which to work while Derek finished his degree. Derek saw it as a way to add distance between him and his parents—and everyone else. Because if anyone ever discovered what he could do, they’d never understand, especially his adoptive parents.
Portia was right. His parents were conservative. He didn’t have faith they’d accept him if they found out the truth. He’d already lost one set of parents the day he was born; he didn’t want to lose the people who’d raised him.
Derek had agreed to attend Dawson and work with Marlon, changing his college plans at the last minute. In light of current events, however, and the fact that his mentor had disappeared without a word, he wondered… Was Marlon’s super-flu virus connected to the Fae virus? Had his mentor known Derek was a Halven?
He glanced at Elena next to him. As much as Marlon’s virus concerned him, he had other pressing issues to deal with. These people thought Elena could cure them. Were they paying attention? Obviously, the Fae hadn’t seen her use her “magic.” Unless there was something he was missing, there was no way Elena would achieve anything close to a cure if her efforts in his lab last night were any indication. She wasn’t even close to mastering her ability.
Derek opened the door to the lab Leo had entered, and walked in behind Elena. An old-fashioned room, like the other rooms inside this place, had been converted into a fully functional laboratory.
Leo was waiting for them in front of a counter, his arms crossed. “What do you know of your magic?” he asked Elena without preamble.
“I can make liquids boil. I’ve practiced with water.”
“Elemental manipulation, yes, but what of your experience with transmutation—changing one substance with specific properties into something else entirely? Something that does not exist?”
Derek caught Elena’s sheepish glance, and stifled a groan. She’d better not be considering the experiment she’d performed in his lab last night. That had been a disaster. He didn’t think she knew what she’d done, and he certainly didn’t. He shook his head, and she frowned.
“Not much,” she finally answered.
“Strengthen your magic and perform transmutation and you will have the power to create a healing serum for anything, including the Fae virus. The speed at which the disease spreads means we have but one week to create a cure before our entire realm becomes symptomatic. Nothing less than magic will stop it in time.”
“A whole week?” Derek said, and shook his head. Were they nuts? No way would she be able to do it in that short a time. Most likely never. “Why haven’t other magic users found a cure? I’m assuming all of you are capable of transmutation.”
Leo turned his back and began aligning glassware on the counter. “Fae powers vary. Most may be traced through lineage. Half of our people possess mental powers, such as spirit reading, persuasion, and telepathy. Others possess control over the elements.” He stopped what he was doing and looked up. “You, Derek, manipulate your body atomically to make yourself invisible. Though it appears an elemental ability, like Elena’s, in that you commune with the atomic structure of, say, water, your magic is actually mental. You cannot change what isn’t connected to your body as an elemental magic user can, and that is the ability we need.”
“I get it. I’m not as talented as the rest of you, but why Elena? She’s a Halven. Why not recruit your gifted Fae brethren with her ability?”
“Most Fae possess mastery over one of nature’s elements, such as air or fire. So far, Elena can manipulate liquids with ease, but she comes from a line of those capable of manipulating multiple elements. A rare gift few possess. We believe that with training, Elena will master several skills.”
This conversation was about Elena, but considering she’d turned into a pale statue at some point during the discussion, Derek continued to grill Leo for answers on her behalf. Someone had to find out what was really going on.
He decided to say the words Leo appeared to have difficulty admitting. “And that makes her special.”
“Yes.” Leo’s gaze flickered toward the door. “Though not all would agree.”
“If her Fae family possesses these powers, why not go to them for help?”
Leo’s eyes cut away. “The creator of the virus made certain the first exposed were those capable of curing it. A clever tactic,” he muttered. “Those in her family with the ability are gone. Consumed by the disease.”
Derek glanced at Elena, who seemed to sway at Leo’s words. He pressed his hand to her lower back. She may not have known the people who died, but she was related to them. Leo’s news would be difficult for anyone to hear.
Elena’s breathing seemed to even out and she straightened her back. She glanced at him, a fire burning in her hazel eyes, and turned to Leo. “I’m ready to get started.”
Elena had been freaking out while Leo explained her powers and how rare they were. Then he spoke of her Fae relatives who’d died because of their powers—murdered so that they couldn’t stop the disease. Well, the murderer hadn’t counted on Elena being around and she was ready to help.
“What do I need to do?” she asked Leo.
Elena would find a cure the way she’d done everything else in her life—by busting her ass until she achieved the right result. Now that she knew who she was and what she was capable of, she wasn’t walking in blind. That had to count for something, right?
“Only with transmutation can you formulate a healing elixir never created before,” Leo said.
No stress. Elena squeezed her eyes shut and let out a deep breath. “How am I supposed to do that if I don’t know what I’m doing with liquids?”
“You will practice in stages. We will begin with the ability that comes easiest—elemental manipulation of a liquid. From there, you will work toward more complex manipulations. Once you succeed, you’ll move on to transmutation, changing one substance into something entirely new.”
Leo moved aside and gestured for her to approach the beakers. “The first vessel contains water. Change the water into ice, but pay attention to the sensations running through your body. All Fae tap into their powers differently. Determining how your body responds when using magic will help you grow it.”
Elena stepped forward, sensing Derek’s hard gaze. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was nervous—when it came to this magic business, he’d had a front-row seat of her screwing it up.
Elena lifted her shaking hands, and a rush of heat seeped into her fingertips. Invisible sparks of energy jumped beneath her skin. She’d felt the tingling before, but hadn’t known it was her magic.
“Ice,” she whispered, and relaxed her shoulders, releasing the energy as though exhaling on a deep sigh.
The liquid in the beaker instantly solidified and cracked, bursting the glass. Shards shot into the air and Elena threw her hands up to block her face—in the same instant Leo’s arm flashed out and held the glass and ice suspended.
She looked at Derek and saw a wide-eyed expression on his face that matched her own.
Okay, then. Leo’s power was telekinesis.
They might not be able to perform transmutation, but Elena should never allow herself to forget that Fae were powerful.
Leo slowly lowered the shards to the counter. “That was too quick, Elena. Part of your training will be to learn control. Remember, water expands as it freezes. You must measure out the release of your magic. Perform the exercise again, but this time, allow the water to expand within the beaker until it fits inside the vessel as a solid block.”
For several hours into the early morning, Elena manipulated the elements, learning to control her power. She managed to manipulate water, fire, and air. Leo was pleased that his prediction about her abilities had turned out to be true. She could command more than one element. And the power that yielded was mind-boggling.
Exhausted and overwhelmed, it would take her a month to wrap her head around what she could do with her ability. But she didn’t have a month. She had a week to master these powers and save the Fae, and she was nowhere near where she needed to be in order to transmute something into something entirely new.
Her head pounded and the muscles in her body—even internal ones, like her diaphragm—burned with fatigue. Her movements became jerky and unsure.
Derek grabbed her arm, steadying her. “Enough, Leo. She needs rest.”
Leo took in her appearance, which must have looked pretty sad, considering the surprised furrow in his brow. She could barely lift her arms, and the room wavered like an ocean.
“Very well,” he said, but she sensed his disappointment. He turned his back and began clearing the beakers and other glassware they’d used. “You will rest here.”
What? she thought, at the same time Derek said, “No. She’ll go home. I’ll take her.” He led her toward the door.
Elena’s head spun. She didn’t appreciate his bossy tactics, but in this case, she wholeheartedly agreed with him. She didn’t care where she put her body down, but she’d prefer that it be in her own home.
“It is not safe for Elena at her apartment,” Leo said from behind. She would have faced him, if she’d had the energy. At the moment, standing like a zombie and allowing Derek to handle it seemed perfectly reasonable. “She will stay where she can be protected.”
“I’ll protect her,” came Derek’s response beside her. “She needs sleep. Look at her.”
Elena finally peered up to find a frown on Derek’s face. A look of similar distaste rested on Leo’s. This kind of scrutiny could eat at a girl’s self-esteem. Did she really look that bad?
“She’ll sleep better in her home,” Derek said.
“He’s right,” she managed to get out. “I’d like to go home.”
She wanted to help the Fae. That didn’t mean she felt comfortable around them.
“You’ll need peak strength in order to develop your ability in the time we have left.” Leo’s voice was low, as though he was speaking to himself as much as to her. “You’re an asset I do not wish to lose.” He gave a brief nod. “Very well, you may take her home, Derek. We could surround her with guards, but that would draw attention. Our kind stand out amongst humans. I’ll send hidden soldiers, and of course Keen will stay with her.”
Elena nodded woodenly, willing to agree to anything as long as it got her a pillow.
Leo studied her a moment longer. “One more thing. I insist you both learn fighting skills—Derek more so than you, Elena. Your focus must be on your powers, but you should learn basic battle maneuvers while you’re working with us in case you run into danger. It will do us no good if you get killed because you put up no fight in a confrontation.” His mouth twisted in annoyance. “It is a disgrace that this world does not teach its youth the fundamentals of battle. Keen will arrange the training.”
In what world were fighting skills fundamental? “I have two bodyguards, and you just added a few incognito ones to hide in the bushes. Why would I need to learn to fight?”
“No guard can shadow your every move. Whoever created the virus is deadly. There is no doubt the mastermind would come after you if they discovered your involvement. If at any point we find they suspect you, you will have no choice but to remain in Emain. No exceptions.”
“Emain?” she asked.
“The Fae realm embedded in the Dawson campus. That is where we are.”
Leo turned to his tasks, effectively dismissing them. Derek nudged her forward with his hand on the small of her back, which she appreciated. It helped keep her upright.
“Don’t worry,” Derek said low near her ear. “We’ll do the fight training together. It’ll be fine.”
Would it? She didn’t feel fine. She felt frightened and utterly drained.
Keen followed them to her apartment. Elena managed to walk the entire way on her own, though she wobbled a few times and was pretty sure her eyelids were at half-mast; her vision had constricted to a narrow strip.
Once inside the apartment, Keen took up residence on the couch, and Derek walked her to her room.
Elena fell facedown on her bed and everything—the world, her fears—faded.
