Destiny's Fire - By Trisha Wolfe Page 0,10

to see it better. “I’ll be okay.”

Jace grasped my waist and hoisted me onto the seat. “Let me see.”

I was wearing my mid-calf jodhpurs, and the pipe had scraped my skin right below the hem. Jace pushed my pant leg up farther, his fingers running alongside the burn. As he inspected, he gently blew over the inflamed area. My skin prickled as his breath cooled the pulsing heat.

“It’s not too bad,” he said, tugging my pant leg back down. “I’ll get some ice for it in the diner.”

My mouth felt dry. I swallowed hard, trying to clear my throat. “Thanks,” I choked out, my voice raspy. “But I think it’ll be okay. I’m fine.” Our eyes met, and I attempted a smile—to reassure him—but he quickly turned away and stalked off toward the Chowhound doors.

Lana sidled up next to me. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah,” I told her, jumping off the seat. “So, did you guys talk to your dad? Is that why Jace is in such a foul mood?”

We ambled up to the doors, and Nick held one open for us. “Yup,” he said. “And he and Jace got into it big time.”

I bit down on my lip and walked inside, scanning the small restaurant. It was old-fashioned, with antique clocks hanging from the ceiling. Lace tableclothes were scattered across the mahogany tables, and copper wire art dangled against the floor-to-ceiling windows. Jace had taken a seat at the farthest table in the back, his head buried in a menu.

I didn’t want to upset him further, but I needed to know what was going on. I’d spent my whole life hiding—my mother scared that one day someone would figure out that I was the missing child from the botched experiment. If I was ever going to convince her to allow me to go to the Academy, I had to get answers.

But that was seventeen years ago. I had to be long forgotten by now. There were so many other, bigger problems the Councils had to worry about rather than one lost child. Besides, all the other children had experienced serious problems. The Council had probably assumed my mother died during birth, or that I couldn’t have survived this long. Regardless, I had to know for sure what was going on.

I slowly made my way toward the table where Jace was thoroughly examining his choices. “Hey,” I said, pulling out the chair beside him. “I know you’re pissed, but I want to know what’s up.” I sat facing him.

Nick took a seat, and Lana plunked down across from me. She scooped up her menu and bopped Jace over the head with it. “Hey, talk to the woman.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Jace attempted to hold his scowl, but a smile broke onto his face.

Nick sighed. “Man, way to be a drama queen, Jace.”

“So, what did your dad say?” I asked, hoping I’d finally get something out of one of them.

Lana parted her menu. “They’re not just here to sign additions to the Treaty Act.” I widened my eyes at her, urging her to keep going. “The Narcos that arrived here yesterday are setting up shop.”

“What?” I shook my head. “Like…moving here? For how long?”

Nick bowed his head and picked at a loose string on the tablecloth. “For as long as this little experiment works, or—”

“Or it ends in a bloody war that wipes us out,” Jace cut in. “Which is exactly what the Narcos are really here for.”

“This can’t be real,” I said, glancing around the table, wanting someone to admit this was a joke.

“It’s real, and it’s really happening,” Jace continued. “The Council has taken down all the protection spells guarding Haven. They even signed a new treaty, stating that for the better of all Kythan, we must learn to live in peace.” He raised his chin, his head cocked back. “It’s called the Peace Act. My dad says that in order to keep the war from starting up again, living in separate havens isn’t good enough. We have to learn to live among each other.”

“Oh, and it gets even better,” Lana piped in. “Guess who’ll be starting the Academy with us this year?”

I blanched. “What?”

Nick nodded. “Yup, Narcos were admitted into the Academy at the meeting last night. Dad came home and told us all about it.”

A whole new fear gripped me. If my power wasn’t Charge after the change, would the Narcos be able to sense it? It was difficult enough just going to school with other Shythe. But