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In that instant, Nick kneas happening The Guide was gathering power, building the sa Nick had done in the dance studio: a blast of air pressure that would radiate outward

This blast would flatten the woods It would knock out Nick and Tyler, and possibly kill Gabriel, all in one wave of power

Worse, the outside of this pressure ould be a wall of fire Nick had co off--

this really would be like a both behind the force, this would be enough to level the neighborhood

Reverse it

Nick’s ele every ounce of power he had to collapse the air pressure around the Guide It pulled the spiraling fla it, scra enough The fire glowed brighter, fed by the oxygen in the air The circling flames accelerated, ready to pull free of his control

His knees landed in the underbrush as he struggled His eyes clenched closed He begged his elerasped for nothing more than empty fistfuls of air The spiral loosened further

He was going to lose it

Tyler grabbed his forearasped, and his eyes snapped open

"Do it," Tyler said "Do it, Nick You think of every god-da I’ve ever done to you, and you ht of it He couldn’t not think of it, the way Tyler’s fingers burned into his skin

Tyler’s voice grew louder "You think of how much you hate me You think of how I know you’re the weakest, ritted his teeth Tyler’s hands were scalding hot, but the pain didn’t steal Nick’s clarity, it enhanced his focus Nick sed He gained an inch with the air Lightning cracked aht when Quinn told y?" said Tyler, his voice low and insidious "I thought, well, doesn’t that fking figure "

Another inch As soon as he killed this Guide, he was going to kill Tyler

"At least I got to meet your boyfriend," Tyler said "Now I have so for Quinn He won’t be able to fight e, Nick threw hi not tied doent surging forward, toward the Guide Fire, leaves, underbrush

That included him and Tyler They hit a tree

Reverse pressure Nick couldn’t breathe All the fire died as oxygen was sucked from the air For an instant, he couldn’t think, as if tiave Wind exploded fro leaves and underbrush back out Twigs and branches caught exposed skin

Nick hit the ground Then so wet hit him on the cheek

And on the arm

For an instant he couldn’t move Then his limbs decided to work Nick swiped at his cheek and ca thicker

Oh, god

"Holy shit," said Tyler "You--you blew him up"

His voice held the same awed fascination that Nick would expect from his twin

"We," said Nick He needed to find his brother

Nick ignored the pain in his ar his shirt "Gabriel!" He staggered tohere he’d sensed his brother the first ticharred leaves He’d been shot,his clothes His face was darkened with soot Nick could sot close

But his brother was breathing He could feel that

Nick got down close to hi and he didn’t care "Come on Gabriel Open your eyes"

Then, to his wonder, Gabriel did "Nicky" His eyes fell closed again

"Coain" Nick patted his brother’s pockets, looking for his phone

Dead Damn it

"Guides," said Gabriel "I have to find you"

"You found ot him You’re okay"

"Both?" asked Gabriel

Nick frowned "What?"

"Hey, douche bag," Tyler called frouy?"

Nick froze "Yeah?"

"Well, there’s a hand here, still wrapped around a gun, if you can believe that And either the dude who shot you liked a nice French manicure, or the Guide you just killed was a wo by the time theys her ass and keeping her going

So was Ada Gareth pulling the gun and shooting Nick in the head It ht Get to a phone

The landscaping truck was in the driveway

Quinn almost screamed in relief Nick’s brothers were here!

They could help!

She didn’t even bother knocking, just grabbed the front doorknob and pushed through to the foyer

Her eyes registered everything at once

That Gareth guy wasn’t in the woods with Nick and Gabriel

He was here, right here, in the Merrick living roo

She could hear his breathing froun barrel three inches frood," she whispered

"Come on in," Gareth said "If you’ve come to warn them, you’ll see you’re too late"

Quinn couldn’t et the hell away from the house, before he was seen

"Your friend, too," said the Guide His voice sharpened

"Now Or this one dies Threetwo--"

Ada a hand on her shoulder "We’re inside," he said, his voice very careful "We’ll do what you want"

"I want you both to sit down," Gareth said evenly "We won’t be here long"

"Please," said Quinn She couldn’t look away fro Gareth’s countdown The gun didn’t waver