completely closed to her.
“Also,” she
continued more softly, “Ellie tells me that she’ll be sharing my memories with
you and the emotions associated with them.” Selene cleared her throat, trying
to decide how to express her concern. “I’m afraid that they are very… um… painful, for lack of a better word. I’ll do my best to remember things accurately, and
if I can lessen the discomfort for you, I will. But please just be prepared.”
Selene had no
idea how she was going to survive what she was about to endure, let alone be
able to protect anyone else. She’d never allowed herself to think about her
past, and for very good reasons.
“Are you sure
you can do this?” Lucy asked with a sympathetic smile. “I can sense that your
intentions are in the right place, but I don’t have to use a power to know
you’re afraid.” Selene nodded, grateful for the simple act of motherly concern.
“I want to do
this,” Selene confirmed. “But let’s get started before I chicken out.”
The others gave
a nervous chuckle, but all moved into a place where they could link hands with
one another. Selene placed her hand in Ellie’s, who was sitting to her right,
and then coughed as Griffin took her other hand, taking the seat to her left. She’d
assumed he would sit as far away from her as possible, if he participated at
all.
Selene looked at
Ellie and nodded. She closed her eyes and concentrated on picturing her
memories as clearly as possible. Even without consciously applying her ability
to see powers when they were in use, Selene could tell that Ellie was gathering
her own power within her. The glow of Ellie’s gift in action would likely be
almost blinding to Selene if she looked at her right now. She kept her eyes shut
and waited for Ellie’s first question. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Let’s start at
the beginning,” Ellie said. “Your parents?”
Selene smiled as
she immediately pictured her parents’ faces. Her father had been a mountain of
a man, with dark hair and a constant twinkle in his eyes. She remembered his
booming voice and the way he used to throw her high up into the air, making her
giggle.
Her mother was
almost a mirror image of Selene—blonde and petite with soft, silvery eyes. She’d
been sweet and affectionate. They had been the ruling family of their pack, attracting
people with powers to them as naturally as waves find the shore. People came of
their own free will, even without being sought or asked. They’d wanted to be a
part of this special clan.
She recalled watching
her parents rule from the same chamber where she’d met with the Council to
request permission to leave. Her parents had been good and kind and strong. They
treated others with respect and had been revered above all other leaders in
return.
“There’s a
sadness there,” Lila’s voice interrupted Selene’s thoughts. “What happened to
your parents?”
Rather than
answering, Selene moved her thoughts to her twin. Gideon had been older by
about twenty minutes. Until Selene turned ten, Gideon had basically ignored
her. She hardly had any memories of him in those years, just flashes of nothing
more specific than a vague feeling of uneasiness around him. But soon after her
tenth birthday, Selene had learned how to turn off another’s power. Gideon had
somehow realized it before she did.
The pain of
Selene’s next memory almost overwhelmed her. There was a collective gasp as her
emotions slammed into everyone in the circle.
Lila glanced
over at Ramsey’s tall, well-muscled form. She’d taken to heart Selene’s warning
about rough emotions and had deliberately positioned herself next to the volatile
firestarter to help with his control. Her green eyes darkened with concern as
she caught him staring directly at Selene.
Catching her gaze,
he gave her a crooked smile and whispered, “Don’t worry, Lily. I got it.”
Lila rolled her
eyes but smiled at his pet name for her, then closed her eyes
“Also,” she
continued more softly, “Ellie tells me that she’ll be sharing my memories with
you and the emotions associated with them.” Selene cleared her throat, trying
to decide how to express her concern. “I’m afraid that they are very… um… painful, for lack of a better word. I’ll do my best to remember things accurately, and
if I can lessen the discomfort for you, I will. But please just be prepared.”
Selene had no
idea how she was going to survive what she was about to endure, let alone be
able to protect anyone else. She’d never allowed herself to think about her
past, and for very good reasons.
“Are you sure
you can do this?” Lucy asked with a sympathetic smile. “I can sense that your
intentions are in the right place, but I don’t have to use a power to know
you’re afraid.” Selene nodded, grateful for the simple act of motherly concern.
“I want to do
this,” Selene confirmed. “But let’s get started before I chicken out.”
The others gave
a nervous chuckle, but all moved into a place where they could link hands with
one another. Selene placed her hand in Ellie’s, who was sitting to her right,
and then coughed as Griffin took her other hand, taking the seat to her left. She’d
assumed he would sit as far away from her as possible, if he participated at
all.
Selene looked at
Ellie and nodded. She closed her eyes and concentrated on picturing her
memories as clearly as possible. Even without consciously applying her ability
to see powers when they were in use, Selene could tell that Ellie was gathering
her own power within her. The glow of Ellie’s gift in action would likely be
almost blinding to Selene if she looked at her right now. She kept her eyes shut
and waited for Ellie’s first question. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Let’s start at
the beginning,” Ellie said. “Your parents?”
Selene smiled as
she immediately pictured her parents’ faces. Her father had been a mountain of
a man, with dark hair and a constant twinkle in his eyes. She remembered his
booming voice and the way he used to throw her high up into the air, making her
giggle.
Her mother was
almost a mirror image of Selene—blonde and petite with soft, silvery eyes. She’d
been sweet and affectionate. They had been the ruling family of their pack, attracting
people with powers to them as naturally as waves find the shore. People came of
their own free will, even without being sought or asked. They’d wanted to be a
part of this special clan.
She recalled watching
her parents rule from the same chamber where she’d met with the Council to
request permission to leave. Her parents had been good and kind and strong. They
treated others with respect and had been revered above all other leaders in
return.
“There’s a
sadness there,” Lila’s voice interrupted Selene’s thoughts. “What happened to
your parents?”
Rather than
answering, Selene moved her thoughts to her twin. Gideon had been older by
about twenty minutes. Until Selene turned ten, Gideon had basically ignored
her. She hardly had any memories of him in those years, just flashes of nothing
more specific than a vague feeling of uneasiness around him. But soon after her
tenth birthday, Selene had learned how to turn off another’s power. Gideon had
somehow realized it before she did.
The pain of
Selene’s next memory almost overwhelmed her. There was a collective gasp as her
emotions slammed into everyone in the circle.
Lila glanced
over at Ramsey’s tall, well-muscled form. She’d taken to heart Selene’s warning
about rough emotions and had deliberately positioned herself next to the volatile
firestarter to help with his control. Her green eyes darkened with concern as
she caught him staring directly at Selene.
Catching her gaze,
he gave her a crooked smile and whispered, “Don’t worry, Lily. I got it.”
Lila rolled her
eyes but smiled at his pet name for her, then closed her eyes
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