Rainmaker

12

The warmth of Lucas's kiss still lingers on my lips, but as I pull away, something inside me shifts. It's as if the magic simmering beneath the surface is now awake, more alive than ever. The connection I felt to the earth earlier, the pulse beneath the ground—it's growing stronger, more intense.

 "I can feel it," I whisper, my voice trembling with the thrill of discovery. "The magic—it's different."

Lucas watches me, his eyes sharp but curious. "What do you mean?"

Without thinking, I raise my hand, my fingers trembling with anticipation. The ground beneath us rumbles softly, a gentle tremor that I can feel in my bones. I open my eyes, and to my shock, the stones on the shelter's floor begin to shift, rising slowly into the air as if drawn by an invisible force.

Lucas steps closer, his voice low. "You're controlling the earth."

I stare at the floating stones, my heart racing. I'm controlling the earth.

The realization hit me like a wave, and suddenly, the storm inside me didn't feel so wild anymore. I feel connected to the ground, to the very elements around me, and I can sense the power that lies within them. The earth isn't just something solid beneath my feet—it's alive, and it's responding to me.

But it doesn't stop there.

As I reach out with my other hand, the air around us begins to stir. A breeze sweeps through the shelter, swirling around us as the stones continue to float. The wind feels like an extension of myself, like I'm part of it, not just controlling it but moving with it.

Lucas watches me, a mixture of awe and excitement in his eyes. "You're connected to all of it. Earth, air... Maybe more."

I slowly lower my hands, and as I do, the stones cascade gently to the ground. The wind, once fierce, now settles into a soft breeze, carrying the earthy scent of dirt and leaves

I turn to Lucas, breathless. "How is this possible?"

you're more powerful than any of us realized," he says, stepping closer, his voice filled with wonder. "You're not just tied to one element. You have the potential to control them all."

I swallow hard, glancing at the still-glowing crack in the ground. "But... if I can feel the elements like this, does that mean... others can feel me?"

Lucas nods slowly, his gaze serious now. "Yes. You've awakened something, Emily. There are others out there—others who are attuned to magic like yours. They'll sense this, and they'll come looking."

My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean, come looking?"

"The magic you're connected to—it's ancient, rare. There are those who will want to take that power for themselves, who will see you as a threat."

"So, I've put us in danger," I whisper, the weight of my actions pressing down on me. "I didn't mean to."

Lucas steps closer, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "It's not your fault. This was always inside you. You didn't create the danger—you're just awakening to it now. But we have to be careful." Lucas's runs his hand through his hair and exhales. "Now wasn't the time for Kade to leave."

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to shake the guilt. "I didn't want him to go."

Lucas's voice softens, but there's an edge to it. "He left because he couldn't handle what's happening. He's too focused on keeping you safe from everything, including yourself."

Lucas steps closer, his hand sliding down from my shoulder to my arm, his touch warm and grounding. "We'll figure this out, Emily. Together."

I look up at him, feeling the intensity of his words. He's not just offering his help—he's offering his trust, his belief in me. And right now, that's something I desperately need.

Before I can stop myself, I take a step closer, closing the space between us. Lucas doesn't move away. Instead, he leans in, his gaze flicking down to my lips for a brief second before meeting my eyes again. I don't know who moves first—whether it's me or him—but suddenly, our lips meet. This kiss is more passionate than the one early more urgent, more demanding.

I respond without hesitation, my hands sliding up the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. His arms wrap around me, strong and possessive, and I can feel the heat of his body pressing against mine. His kiss is fiercer and deeper, and I match it with equal intensity, my heart racing as the world around us fades away.

My breath catches in my throat as he deepens the kiss, his lips hot and demanding against mine. I gasp softly, but it only makes him kiss me harder, more passionately, as if he can't get enough. My fingers dig into his shoulders as his lips move down my jaw to my neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

Lucas..." I whisper, my voice breathless, but it only seems to spur him on. His hands grip my waist, pulling me even closer, and I can feel every inch of him.

His lips return to mine, and this time the kiss is even fiercer, more heated. It's as if everything we've been holding back—our fear, our desire, our need—is pouring into this one moment,

When we finally pull apart, we're both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other, the air between us thick with the heat of the moment. Lucas's hands are still gripping my waist, holding me close, and my fingers are still tangled in his hair.

"Emily..." he whispers his voice rough and filled with something deeper than just desire. "You have no idea what you do to me."

I can barely form a response, my body still humming with the aftershocks of the kiss. "I think I have some idea," I whisper back, my voice shaky but filled with a quiet confidence that surprises even me.

He chuckles softly, his breath warm against my skin, but there's a hunger in his eyes that hasn't faded, a promise of more that lingers between us.