“No.” Silas shoved in front of Hope. “Focus on your skill, Silvie, not the others here to aid you.”
“I just want to singe her a little.” I fed my thoughts with my rising anger, and the flames blazed brighter.
“You’ll hate yourself if you do.” Guy gripped my wrists and lifted my arms high. My fire licked the ceiling then chased across to the windows draped with red velvet. Oh, I so wanted to see that alight.
“Pull your fire back, Silvie.” The shout came from Faith.
“I’ve got this.” Hope pooled water from the ground and it gurgled and rose.
“No, Hope. This skill has lain dormant for far too long. It’s time to give it free reign.” Eyes closed, I envisaged a raging fire, a heat unlike any I’d ever known before, and it was all mine.
“Stop!” Davio blared, only I no longer cared.
“Listen to me, if no one else.” Guy’s black hair streamed behind him from the pulsing waves of my heat. “Find the control you need. Your skill can’t rule you. That’s not who you are.”
“How would you know who I am? You decided not to stick around long enough to find out.” The floorboards under me buckled and bent. “I want to burn.”
“Look at me. I’ll enchant you.” The silver in his eyes swirled to life. “Heat has come and heat must go. Restore all to order, and make this one I hold whole.” He locked our fingers tight together. “I’m here now. Don’t let go of me.”
He really wasn’t going to leave me? My soul cried out for him. “I won’t.” I fought for control. Cold thoughts. Think only cold thoughts. My blood settled, aided by his spell. Order descended, incredibly fast. “Did I do it?”
“You did.” Grinning, he smoothed his thumbs inside my palms. “Your fire is out.”
It was, except the ceiling was scorched beyond repair. “Look at the mess I’ve made.”
“Get the curtains, Hope. They’re smoking.” Davio raced toward them.
“Got it.” Hope sent a wash of water at them.
Zayn ran to help Davio, and the two hauled the soiled mess down.
“Hey.” Faith twirled me around. “You did it. I can’t believe what I just saw.”
“I’ve destroyed the library.” The damage I’d caused was intense.
Belle stared at the disaster. “You just need to learn some control. That’s all.”
“We’ll watch over you until that day. Don’t worry about the library. It can be repaired,” Silas called from where he aided the others.
Together the men bundled the curtains up. Sooty water pooled at their feet, and Hope flicked her fingers and drew the water into the tub.
“How do I gain control?” This disaster couldn’t happen again. Scorched ceilings and warped floor boards. Nah-uh.
“In the same way we all do.” Guy cupped my cheeks. “Mind over matter, and don’t worry about the mess. I can fix what you’ve damaged.”
“You can? You’d do that for me? How?”
“With a spell.” Hands directed upward, he chanted, “Above and below, repair and renew. All must be fused together, both the old and the new.” Two streams of white light zoomed from his hands and arced toward the ceiling. One shimmered across its surface and the other rebounded and hit the floor. “Everyone, close your eyes. The light gains in brightness until it repairs all it needs to.”
The dazzling light danced across both areas.
“You too, my mate.” He covered my eyes as a wave of heat bathed us.
“Oooh, nice.” I tried to pry his fingers away.
“A little bit longer.”
I peeked through a gap. The good wood fibers knitted together, and the old disappeared. Soot fluttered down. “That’s amazing.”
“You weren’t supposed to look.” The floor boards creaked and rolled. Blackened dust plumed. Guy moved us back.
“I can handle the bright light. Thank you for this.” On my tiptoes, I kissed his cheek.
“I’ll collect the water I drenched you in. Hold still, you two.” Hope swept her hands down Guy and me, drawing every last drop away. She floated the water back to the tub.
Davio heaved the roll of velvet onto his shoulder. “Good job, Moyer.” He beckoned Faith to him. “Has she calmed for now?”
“Yes.” She grabbed the trailing end and helped him. “Silvie, don’t forget your skill is directly related to your emotions. If your excitement grows or your temper flares, it’ll trigger your fire. ’Path me if you need me. I’ll help Davio with this then head to school, but I can come in an instant. You only have to ’path me.” She and Davio flashed away.
“She’s right about the emotions.” Belle patted her clammy cheeks. “I’m wiped out. I need a breather after this intense dousing of feelings. If you need me, ’path me too.” She staggered out the door.
Poor Belle.
Silas gripped one end of the tub. “Moyer, if you don’t mind, keep an eye on my sister until I get back. I can see you can handle her heat as the rest of us can’t.” He held out a hand to Hope. “I’ll take you home.”