Page 15 (1/2)

"But why do you have to go?"

"I don’t know, Alex Can we talk about this later?" He looked down at s I want to do"

The cord buzzed its approval "But--"

Seth kissed o of his wrist, intending on pushing hi his shirt The air around us see inside ood

I felt the cord rushing to the surface before I actually opened e shadows across the wall of my bedroom I was transfixed by them for a moment It was so bizarre that ere responsible for them That they even came from within us

It freaked me out a little

But Seth’s free hand was everywhere, ski together, connecting us My fingers clenched his shirt and I was pulling hi him away the next

Suddenly, the skin under his palm burned Tiny pricks of pain stolein h the cords A brief flicker of sanity remindedtogether on the bed, and there were fewer clothes to be re its claws deep in o of his shirt, I pushed hile out fro the connection I scra my stomach "That… hurt"

Seth looked dazed "Sorry, it kind of just happened"

Hands shaking, I pulledto be there Centered abovemark that looked like two check odsone To up I know you completely sucked at it when you did it the first time, but I bet it would work now"

I couldn’t believe how quickly he went fro up Seth see Hell, his eyes had that crazy look again

He placed his hands around the mark reverently "There are four th, power, and invincibility But the power one, that’s akasha See how it’s placed here?" He went to touch the mark, but I scooted back He frowned "Anyway, that’s where you pull power from"

It was also where the cord slu horet the fourthit back fro across his face "I don’t know Mine came all at once, but they appeared in that order: on both of my palms, my stomach, and then on the back of my neck Then everywhere else"

My mouth suddenly felt dry I dropped e of the bed "Do you think I’ll Awaken early if the fourth one appears?"

He lifted his eyes "I don’t know, but would it be such a bad thing?"

Dizziness swept throughor whatever until I turn eighteen"

"What?"

"Seth, I can’t Awaken ahead of schedule"

He shook his head "I don’t understand, Alex Things will be so much better once you Awaken You wouldn’t have to worry about Telly or the furies Hell, the gods won’t even be able to touch us How is that not a good thing?"

It wasn’t a good thing, because once I Awakened, there was a strong chance I’d lose o that it would be like two halves coether, that whatever he wanted would color my choices and decisions I’d have no control over ht that day in the sensory deprivation chamber It terrified ently "You Awakening noould be the best thing for… us We could even try it See if we can get the fourthwill happen after that Maybe you’ll Awaken"

I pulled erness in his voice creepedthis on purpose, Seth?"

"Doing what?"

"Trying to getyou because I enjoy it" Then he reached for ain, but I knocked his hand away "What is your deal?" he asked

"I swear to the gods, Seth--if you are doing this on purpose I will destroy you"

Seth’s brows furrowed "Don’t you think you’re being a tad bit melodramatic here?"

"I don’t know" And I really didn’t My palled,down "You haven’t done anything with ht, all touchy and feely Then this happens?"

"I was all touchy and feely because I’ in one fluidyou soht?"

"Whatever the reason was, clearly it was ahis shoes "Apparently, I’m just here to use you for ing ?"

"What does it look like? I don’t want to be where I’ started to twist my insides "So why did you come here if it… wasn’t because of that?"