knew the Compasses and their power reasonably well. But it had never been like this.
This was an ancient howling energy that spoke of Jacob Compass being more than an ordinary fey. He was beyond my knowledge, but since I was the only one here, I had to try and calm him down.
As it had when I launched over the fence, my power surged up again, dancing across my senses. Deciding this might be the one shot I had, I released the energy churning within me, and from that came a blast of ruby-toned light.
I had never touched the elements in the same way Jacob did. My power—the few times I’d used it—was a destructive blast of ruby-filled energy. I thought of it as a ray of sunlight, scorching hot as it burned away other magic. Very much an attack power.
This time, as it cut through Jacob's fire, I could taste earthiness on my tongue. It reminded me of a forest after it had been scorched by fire and then the rains come. There was this scent that followed, one that was unique.
This is what I tasted now. Jacob's power.
When my ruby light cut a line of destruction through his elements, some of the ice in Jacob’s gaze melted. It was quickly replaced by a competitive light that I'd seen from him too many times.
"Jacob," I warned, only a few feet from him now, a ruby glow surrounding me.
Thankfully, my energy had burned through his power but hadn’t touched the fey himself. I’d been worried since my control wasn’t the best. The result of ignoring something when you should be learning about it. Moron of the year award goes to…?
"You’ve already used a ton of magic in front of the humans," I continued, trying to keep my voice even. “Do you really think it's a good idea to send more…?"
I was pushed back as his power sliced through mine. Sharp and fast, it crashed against my chest, but it wasn't painful … more like he was toying with me.
"Stop it right now!" I shouted, the wind howling across my face making it hard to be heard. "Listen up, you stupid motherfucker, you’re about to reveal a secret that will probably get you killed. Didn't we just go through this shit with Louis?"
He wasn't listening.
Maybe it was best if I just straight-up murdered his stupid ass—save someone else the job later.
This time I deliberately yanked at my power, pulling it from the box I had it trapped in. It surged free, like a puppy desperately waiting for its chance to run. Although puppy wasn't really an apt description. Hellhound maybe?
With metaphorical claws and teeth.
The beam of power cut into Jacob's energy and the fey flinched as it grazed his skin.
Shit. NO! I didn’t really want to hurt him, just teach him a lesson about games and the best time to play them. Not in the middle of a human war, for starters.
Thankfully, before I could do too much damage, he swiped my energy away with a blast of his own, and I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful he was as powerful as he was. I was pretty sure my beam of light could have spliced him in half like a ruby lightsaber if he had been a regular supe.
Jacob's head snapped up, and since it was the first time he'd taken his eyes from me since he’d lost control, the movement was super noticeable. Following his gaze, I could see nothing outside of his wind still swirling around us and the many guns that had been stolen from the soldiers.
A moment, later I heard the distinctive whomping of a helicopter, moving toward us at a rapid rate. The human reinforcements had arrived—hard to believe they’d taken so long to get to us in the first place.
"Come here," Jacob ordered. He was no longer staring at the metal beast. Nope. The full focus of his green eyes was on me, and I had not a single fucking clue what he was thinking.
I did know one thing though: that boy better check his tone or we’d have more than the human army to worry about.
9
Jacob Compass
Women never listened when I told them to do things. I mean, it was fucking amazing that they had their own minds and knew how to wield them like weapons—I was all for that. But right now I really needed Justice to move her fucking ass out of the line of fire.