before she starts to use her magic to clean up the shards of glass. She doesn’t touch a thing, yet it all sweeps into a nice tidy pile in midair then moves gracefully over to the trash.
“No magic,” she says again, this time looking angry. “You’re lucky this is all the damage you did. You’re only just beginning, Kat, but you should know that every power has a consequence if misused. Solstice law is there for a reason, and there are serious consequences for mishandling the powers you’ve been given.”
Guilt swarms my chest. “I’m sorry. Even before I knew what all of this was, running helped me let off some steam. I think it will help me now too. Please, Charlotte. Give me one hour, then I’ll come right back here and pick up where I left off.”
Her gaze softens, then she lets out a sigh. “Okay, but take your bike, will you? It’s been collecting dust for the past week.”
With a squeal, I jump up and throw my arms around her. “Thank you, thank you. I’ll be good, I promise.”
I’m flying down the steps of the library when I hear her yell, “You have one hour, Kat!”
By the time I free my bike from the garage, I can already feel the release from being bottled up for the past week. I don’t have a plan. I don’t know where I want to go. I just want to ride and feel the wind on my face as I expel some of this energy inside me.
I’m struck by an overwhelming sense of fulfillment as I pedal around the neighborhood. As the sun hits my face, a complete sense of euphoria washes over me. A gentle breeze sweeps through my hair, and I giggle.
Late June seems to bring a new world to Apollo Beach. Now that it’s officially summer, the heat is in the high nineties, but I find myself unbothered by what I used to find an intolerable mix of humidity and heat.
After I’ve circled the neighborhood a few times, I come to the entrance of the public beach and head straight toward it. I push through, fighting the sand's resistance and laughing into the wind. Flying by the bay-facing homes, I’m consumed by thoughts of everything I've been through lately.
When I near Alec’s house, I see him sprawled out in a lounge chair on his pool deck. Knowing he hasn’t yet seen me, I slow and hop off my bike as I approach. I’m practically standing beside him when his mouth turns up into a smile.
“Well, there she is. I was wondering if I’d ever see you again.”
I smile back, suddenly feeling shy. His arms are bent and clasped behind his head, and his body wears a natural tan like he’s been sunbathing just like this all week long. Then I look around, half expecting Iris and Ava to pop out from nowhere. “You alone?”
His smile widens. “Not anymore. Sit with me.” He pats the seat beside him.
“Okay,” I say with a slight note of hesitation. “But only for a few minutes. I promised Charlotte I wouldn’t be out long.” I lie back in the chair.
He chuckles. “Ah, now I get why you’ve turned away all my calls and visits. You’re a prisoner.”
If only he knew how close to the truth that was. Heat rises up my neck as a pang hits my chest. “I haven’t been turning you away. That’s all Rose.” I’ve already thought about this lie, but actually letting the words roll off my tongue is harder than I thought. “I told you how I’m finishing up school virtually this summer. Well, the truth is, I didn’t exactly leave my last school on the best note. I got into some trouble, and my mom had pulled me out to homeschool me. She died before we ever got a chance to start, and I have quite a bit of catching up to do.”
Alec reaches out and squeezes my knee. “I’m sorry to hear all that.”
“It’s okay. I’ve already been officially accepted into the School of Gaia in the fall, so it’s not too bad.”
He sits up straight, slipping off his sunglasses, and his face brightens like a ball of sunshine. “Really? So you’re staying in Apollo Beach for good?”
I shrug, not wanting to promise too much when I haven’t even thought it out myself. “I’m staying for now.” I smile. “But it wouldn’t suck hanging out with you while I’m still here.”
He scoots off his seat and onto