Destiny's Fire - By Trisha Wolfe Page 0,18

lab.

Devon pointed above our heads. I looked up to see three large crystals, a blue electric current jumping around inside them. “That’s how I power the stage instruments and the lights.” He pushed a button and two of the wall gears, one giant wheel and a smaller one with deep cogs, began turning. A pneumatic pipe pumped behind me, venting steam as a grinding noise scratched at my ears. A fake ceiling, slowly moving sideways, covered the crystals—hiding them away.

Devon looked around. “Shouldn’t be a problem to keep most of it hidden from the Narcos.”

I nodded. “Agreed.” I glanced over to Jace. He was handling one of the dormant crystals.

“Hey, Devon,” he said. “Will you show me how you infuse these?”

“Sure. I learned it from my professor at the Academy a couple years ago.” Devon picked up a crystal. “He’s also the one that taught me how to make some stuff on the down-low.” Devon wasn’t into sparring like us, but he loved how things worked. He made our weapons, and figured out new ways to incorporate Charge into them. He glanced over to Jace. “You said the Narcos are going to the Academy this year?”

Jace nodded once. “Yeah. This just keeps getting thicker.”

Everybody was quiet for a long moment. Then I spun around and left the room. I hoped Jace’s theory on why the Narcos were here was wrong. It was going to be nearly impossible to keep them from discovering how to use our power. But if that were the case, wouldn’t our Council already have realized this? I shook my head.

Nick was seated at the bar, helping himself to free beer. I scowled at him, then shrugged. “Give me one of those.”

He popped the cork on one of the dark glass bottles and slid it down the bar. I took a long pull. Tonight was going to be crazy, and my nerves were a mess. Happy birthday to me.

Devon opened the club, and the crowd waiting in line outside filed through the door. Current was on stage, already performing at full tilt. I motioned to Lana, jerking my head toward the bar. The music was deafening, but tonight there were no beat-matching lights, just the low-hung gas lamps. A loud note erupted, and steam spiraled from the pipes underneath the stage, making the club feel dark and eerie.

Lana and I made our way through the mist, and I sat down next to Jace at the bar. He looked me over, giving an appraising scan before furrowing his brow. He hadn’t spoken to me since we first got here.

The bartender checked my ID, and I ordered a Clockwork Tangerine. “Two actually,” I corrected, noticing Lana’s pouting lips.

“Rum?” Jace turned toward me, eyes wide. “Oh, hell no.” He shook his head. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Ordering a drink. What does it look like?” I slipped my ID between my inner thigh and boot. Jace’s hand trailed mine and confiscated the ID, causing my stomach to flip violently as his fingers brushed my skin. “Hey! What are you doing?”

“Taking your ID. You can’t drink.”

I scowled at him. “And you can?”

“Yes.”

I huffed. “That’s sexist! How come you get to drink when you’re all upset and I don’t?”

He stared into my eyes, a desperate look on his face. “You’re upset?”

“You’re not the only one who’s freaked about the Narco situation,” I said, accepting my drink from the bartender. “I don’t like it any more than you do. But I know whining about it won’t change a thing. I just want to try and have fun at my birthday celebration.” I took a sip and nearly choked.

Jace screwed up his face. “Give me that.” He attempted to snatch my drink. I turned, sloshing a bit from the glass but keeping it in my hands.

“No,” I drawled. “And you never answered me. How come you can drink and I can’t?”

He released a heavy sigh. I barely heard it over the music. “Because, no one tries to take advantage of me if I get drunk. I’m not a hot chick that has to worry about some guy trying to get into my pants.” He looked me up and down. “Or my bustle.”

I stretched my eyes wide, amused. “So, I’m a hot chick?” I smiled. “And you’d probably look pretty cute in a bustle.”

He opened his mouth, then shut it. “Did you miss the point of that sentence?”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, Jace. If I get a little messed up, I’m sure you’ll watch my