Destiny's Fire - By Trisha Wolfe Page 0,7

He had a valid point. The Narcolym had wiped out a whole race of Kythan already. And nearly killed off the Shythe. But this was more difficult for me than he could ever imagine. I hesitantly took his hand. “I get it, but I don’t want you, Lana, or Nick to get into trouble. We’ll be all right. There’s no way your dad would allow them here if he thought we’d be in danger.”

Jace nodded once. Then he gave me a smoldering smile. I hated that my best friend—the boy I’d known my whole life—was suddenly becoming gorgeous. He’d always been cute, but lately, I’d been getting tongue tied and nervous whenever he flashed me his amazing smile.

“You’re right. They wouldn’t do anything to endanger us knowingly. But that’s why we need to train.” He squeezed my hand. “Just in case something goes wrong. They’re in our haven now, and I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to Lane, Nick or…” He bowed his head. “You.”

Jace rocked back and dropped my hand. He swung his leg over the bike. After scooting off the seat I turned toward him as he powered up the engine. The brass-rimmed bike hovered up, and steam vented in a spiral from the copper tailpipe.

“Night, Dez.” His eyes met mine, and a warm smile spread across his face. “Sweet dreams.” Then he took off.

“Night,” I whispered, watching his levibike hover down the roadway.

Rubbing my still-warm hand from where Jace had held it, I climbed my walkway. I glanced over my shoulder once, but he’d already disappeared.

Inside, my mom was asleep on the couch. I frowned down at her. She’d attempted to stay awake, but working long hours at the factory always did her in. And it wasn’t just her. All Kythan with their full power were becoming weaker. I buried my unease and grabbed a blanket from the hall closet. Lightly draping it over her, I tucked the edge close to her cheek. Whatever she wanted to talk about could wait until the morning.

I crept up the stairs to my room and turned the brass dial on my wall, illuminating my star-shaped gas lamps. Walking to my dressing mirror, I tugged Jace’s jerkin around myself tighter, inhaling his cologne and something else indefinably his scent, before my stomach dropped free-fall.

Staring back at me from the mirror was one glowing, violet eye—the color I tried so desperately to conceal.

Chapter Three

I SEARCHED MY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Nothing. I eased Jace’s jacket off, then ran my hand along the collar. Where is it? Panic filled my stomach, constricting my chest. I took in a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

At least I lost it after I came in. I had to have. Jace would’ve said something. More than something, he’d have freaked out seeing a glowing purple eye staring at him.

I flung the jacket across my bed. Retracing my steps, I worked my way through my room and down the stairs. I had leaned over Mom when I came in, I thought, and quietly slunk toward her. I studied the floor, then her. My eye lens gleamed up at me from her blanket. I breathed a sigh of relief. Too close.

I lightly picked the blue lens from the blanket, and rolled it around my palm with the tip of my finger. It was split on one side. Great. I only had one pair left. Eye lenses were a popular alternative to glasses, but colored lenses weren’t easy to find. Only one store carried them, and blue was almost always sold out. The material used to make them wasn’t a big commodity in Haven, and being closed off from the rest of the world strained our imports.

Turning to go, I heard my mom stir. “Destiny?”

I blew my bangs off my forehead with a deep huff. “Yup, it’s me.” I spun around. She squinted against the dim lighting. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I lost my len—” I snapped my mouth shut. She was bent on keeping my identity secret. And pissed was too kind a word for how she’d react to my losing an eye lens.

She bolted up and stared into my eyes. “You lost a lens?” She tossed the covers off. Gripping my chin, she brought my face center with hers. “How many times—”

I jerked back. “I know. I know!” I flung myself down hard on the sofa, sinking deeply into the rough leather. “I’m sorry. But at least it fell out here.”

She turned toward me. “And