Destiny Divided Read Free

remained standing. Out of habit , she searched the room for exits and weapons.
    “I can see you’re thinking abou t running again,” he said. “Do you think I won’t catch you?”
    If there was one thing Sage knew, it was body language. His voice may have been calm, but his body was not. He stood several feet in front of her, sturdy like a tree, blocking her only exit. Had he always been that tall?
    “We need to talk,” he told her.
    “I have nothing to say to you.”
    He sighed. “Must we do this the hard way then?”
    The hard way? She didn’t like the sound of that. “I don’t like being backed into a corner , James. Bad things happen.”
    He smiled and took a step towards her. “I know. You’re like a scared little kitten, claws out ready to fight the world.” His voice warmed, his pale blue eyes softened as he looked deep into hers. “Sheath your claws, anwylyd . No one is going to hurt you.”
    She almost believed him. Then reality hit. Adrena line burst in her chest then burned through her veins. A ball of neon light formed between her hands. She tried to control it but it was intense, the pressure built, the power yearned for release.
    “Impressive,” he said. “Now what?”
    Sh e narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath.
    Please don’t miss. Please don’t miss .
    Squaring her shoulders , she took aim then released the ball of light, thrusting it towards him. As soon as the energy left her fingertips, she ducked and covered her head. The light soared across the room. It missed her target then ricocheted off a metal cabinet and blew up the wooden chair between them.
    A few fractured pieces of chair bounced off James, but he barely seemed to notice. Sage rose to her feet, studying his reaction.
    “You’re going to pay for that,” he said.
    In answer, she reached into her pocket, took out the wad of cash – her only cash – and flung it at his chest. It bounced against him then plopped to the floor. He didn’t pick up.
    “There’s your payment. Now let me go.”
    He shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
    The light congregated in her palms again, but it was weaker. “I’ll do it again,” she warned.
    He shrugged and took a step toward her. Seeing no other option, she launched another lightening ball. This time it flew straight toward him. But he put up a hand and the light sizzled then disappeared. He stepped closer. Panicked, she launched another, but he flicked that one away too.
    What the fuck? She tried to pull up more light but her hands only sparked. He took another step, putting himself just a few feet away. She tried again but exhaustion washed over her.
    “ Damn it!” She shook her hands as if it would spring power back into them.
    The professor s neered. “Fickle, aren’t they?”
    S he couldn’t deny they were spiraling out of control. And she’d be lying if she said it didn’t scare her. But there wasn’t anything she could do about it. She didn’t even know where her powers came from. Erin was only person who’d known about the mysterious things that happened when she was angry or scared. But Sage had been taken from her sister long ago.
    He pulled another chair into the center of the room. “Sit in the chair, Sage.”
    Her fists clenched, her nails dug into her palms. “No.” She never did do well with orders.
    In the time it took to blink, he was inches in front of her. His scent hit her like a tidal wave, wrapping a cocoon of comfort around her. Crisp fall days, aftershave, and desire. It was the kind of smell she would have liked to curl up in on a cold day.
    He wrapped a hand around her upper arm and set her down on the chair. She tensed to flee when he released her arm, but before she could move, his hand clamped around her throat. There was something wrong with her that her first thought was how warm it felt against her skin. Was she that starved for human contact?
    Though gentle, the grip on her neck was still a threat. “Don’t