Page 93 of Echoes of the Banshee

I should run away.

The trees tear at my arms as I race towards it. Twenty feet into the woods, I find her. The plants around her are growing rapidly, wind whipping through the clearing.

Her body is pulsing with light and tears streak her face.

I approach cautiously.

“Thea?”

“Go away B!” she screams.

“What happened?”

“I’m losing control. I don’t want to hurt you.” She sounds terrified.

The wind pulls at my clothes as I step into the clearing. I drop to my haunches, inching towards her until I can pull her into a hug.

“I got you.”

I don’t know how long we sit there, the eye of a storm in the woods.

The wind falters suddenly, her skin no longer glowing.

“You okay?” I ask, moving to kneel in front of her. I reach out and wipe the tears from her face.

“I think so. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, I cause earthquakes when I lose my temper.”

Her lips quirk and she surveys the damage she caused.

“Guess this is what happens when I skip training two days in a row.”

I snort and stand, helping her to her feet.

“Want to get some dinner?”

“Really?” she asks, incredulously.

“I hear you love waffles.”

She smiles and then it falls. “I should get back to my room, I’m defenseless.”

Footsteps crash through the underbrush and I put Thea behind me. A security guard comes into the clearing, flashlight sweeping the area and falling on me. His brow furrows.

“What’s going on here?”

“Um—” What won’t get her in trouble?

“Where’s Thea?” he asks sweeping the cleaning again.

“What?”

Thea grabs my arm and peeks from behind me.

“Ollin?” she asks. His body relaxes.

“Gracias a Dios. Are you okay?” he asks, stepping towards her reverently. Who’s this guy? I move in front of Thea.