Wild and Out of Control

|chapter twenty|

"The first rush of power is unmistakable. The first time it forms to you, surrounds you with a seemingly endless supply of energy, you'll be addicted to the high, to the possibilities of all you can do with it, to the control you hold in the palm of your hand. But here's the thing: that power can quickly turn and control you."

- PAGE NINETY, THE BOOK OF ANTONY

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|danica|

"Pay attention, Dani," Ridoc's stern voice breaks through the fog covering my mind, which causes me to snort. Stern and Ridoc don't belong in the same sentence.

     We've been in his room for the past hour trying to study history because,  unlike Violet, that seems to be my weakest subject. Ridoc's too, if his touseled hair from running his hand through it so many times when remembering dates and facts becomes too frustrating. And then there are the people and the places and the events. Don't get me wrong, learning about history is important, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

     "Who are you to tell me to pay attention?" I tease, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Gods, we've been at this for hours, studying for tomorrow's history test. Usually, we would have Violet help us, but she's busy for some reason. Probably busy with some Squad leader. "But to what you said, the Treaty of Arif is the agreement between Navarre and Krovla for mutually shared airspace for both dragons and gryphons over a narrow strip of the Esben Mountains, between Sumerton and Draithus."

     Ridoc stretches his legs out in front of him as he yawns. "However you know this, please let me know. We've been studying this for hours but if someone asked me what the Treaty of Arin then I wouldn't be able to answer it."

     "Treaty of Arif," I correct him, running my hands over my two braids. My eyes are failing to stay awake, my body wants sleep...and adrenaline pumps through my veins so suddenly that it causes me to jump in my seat.

     Ridoc looks at me strangely. "You okay, Dani?"

     I stand suddenly, knocking the table with my knee, knocking the pens and paper to the floor. I needed to get out of here. "I'm fine." I am anything but fine. A ripple of energy runs down my spine. That's...weird. "I need...I need to go now. It's past my bedtime."

     "Dani—what?" Ridoc's on his feet now. "Is everything okay? Is it Violet?"

     "No. I got to go now. See you tomorrow morning." I swing the door open before I slam it shut. What the fuck is happening? 

     Maybe it's...No. It can't be. Why would Azare channel power now of all times? Why not when I was in my room? Why does it have to be around others, and around Ridoc of all people? I make it back to my room in record time, leaning against the closed door for support as something within me expands, somehow too big for my own body, too vast to be contained, and pain sears every nerve as a crack open, the sound reverberating through my skull like bones shattering. It's as though I've been split at the very seams of the fabric of my being.

     My knees hit the floor, and I throw my hands over my temples, trying to shove everything I am back into my skull, forcing myself to shrink, hoping this pain would go away. I've been through pain before, but nothing like this.

     Energy pours in, pushing everything out of my mind until it's the only thing there. My head screams, wanting this pressure to go away.  My breathing harshens, and I stare at the daggers I have dropped across my chair as I try to steady my breathing.

     In and then out.

     In...and then out...surrendering to the onslaught.

     The pain ebbs but the energy remains—powerful, strong and so beautiful. I let out a surprised laugh, smiling as I realize what this means. "This is your power, isn't it?" I ask Azare down the bond, but he doesn't answer. "Azare?"