{ Ace }
The last time this happened, I thought I was dying.
The way the energy had burned under my skin, wild and untamed, had nearly broken me. I remembered the way my vision had gone dark, my body had locked up, and how every nerve in me had felt like it was on fire.
And now, watching Mia tremble, her fingers twitching with golden sparks, I knew exactly what she was feeling.
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
I should've told her.
I should've warned her before it got to this point.
Instead, I had kept my mouth shut, convinced that she had more time. That maybe just maybe it wouldn't happen to her at all.
But I was wrong.
And now, she was paying the price.
Her breathing was steady, but I didn't miss the way her hands curled into the fabric of the blanket like she was afraid to let go. I wasn't sure if she was awake, half-conscious, or lost somewhere between, but I knew one thing:
She was going to need me.
Because no one else could help her through this.
No one else knew what it felt like to lose control of something you never even knew was yours.
{ Mia }
I woke up feeling… different.
Not in the groggy, disoriented way I expected after nearly blacking out. No, this was something else. My body felt too warm, like a fire smoldered just beneath my skin. My fingers tingled, aching with an energy I didn't understand. It pulsed through me alive, restless, waiting.
I swallowed hard and forced my eyes open.
The ceiling above me was dull gray, metal panels lined with faint cracks. The air smelled like rust and something mechanical, sterile. The safehouse. The one Natalie was talking about!
I turned my head slightly, and there he was, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me. His usual smirk was nowhere to be seen.
"You're awake," he said, pushing off the wall. His voice was casual, but I caught the tension underneath.
I licked my lips, my throat dry. "Yeah," I croaked.
"How do you feel?"
I flexed my fingers, watching as faint golden light flickered across my skin before vanishing. The warmth inside me flared at the movement, eager, wild.
"Like I don't belong in my own body," I admitted.
Ace nodded, like he'd expected that answer. Like he understood.
"Well," he said, crouching beside me. "Then we better figure out how to fix that."
" And how are you planning to do that, Mr. Know it all ?" Cole asked sarcastically raising a brow at Ace.
I watched as Ace's face burned with rage and just as he was about to throw a punch, I reached out to stop him and his hand collided with a golen barrier surrounding Cole.
He turned to me his eyes softening." You did that cupcake?" He asked smiling but I could see the uneese settled on his face.
I tried to hold on, but the energy inside me pulled me under, dragging me into the dark.
{ Ace }
I jerked my hand back, my heart slamming against my ribs.
The barrier around Cole flickered for a moment before vanishing, like it had never been there. But I knew better.
That had been Mia.
She'd done it instinctively, without even thinking.
I turned to her, forcing a smile. "You did that, cupcake?"
She blinked at me, dazed, her breathing uneven.
Then, without warning, her eyes rolled back, and she started to collapse.
"Shit, Mia!"
I caught her before she hit the ground, her body limp in my arms. The golden sparks that had danced along her skin sputtered out like a dying flame.
Panic clawed up my throat.
Not again.
Not her.
Cole cursed under his breath. "What the hell is happening to her?"
I ignored him, focusing on Mia. Her pulse was there, but it was weak, too damn weak.
I clenched my jaw. This was exactly what happened to me back then. The power had drained me dry, leaving me barely breathing, barely alive.
But I didn't have anyone to help me through it.
Mia did.
And I wasn't about to let this power, our power take her down.
I tightened my grip on her and stood. "We need to stabilize her, now."
"How?" Cole asked, following close behind me. "Because I don't think a glass of water is gonna fix this."
I shot him a glare before looking back at Mia. "Her body isn't used to this much power. We need to find a way to stop it from overwhelming her."
Cole sighed. "And you know how to do that?"
I hesitated.
Because the truth was, I had no damn idea .
"Okay, " I took a deep breath." Step out of the way, I'm going to help her..." I said uncertain of the result.
I pressed my hand on her forehead, feeling the power radiating from her. I closed my eyes and quickly tapped into her mindset.
And there I saw her sitting there struggling against everything inside of her.
" Cupcake," I whispered. She looked at me fear evident in her eyes.
" A-Ace ?" She stuttered.
" Just breathe cupcake. Don't resist, relax, and embrace the changes. Don't stress." I added gently patting her head .
She smiled weakly . The second Mia let go, the energy inside her shifted.
It pulsed, wild and untamed, but this time, instead of fighting against her, it flowed. The golden light flickered around her like embers caught in the wind, no longer erratic but controlled, guided.
She took a shaky breath, her shoulders loosening as the tension drained from her body.
"That's it," I murmured. "Just like that."
Her gaze met mine, still cautious, still afraid, but there was something else there now—understanding.
"I can feel it," she whispered. "It's… listening to me."
"Good," I said. "Because the moment you stop controlling it, it'll take over."
A beat of silence. Then—
"What if I can't control it?"
Her voice was small, uncertain, and for the first time since I'd met her, she looked vulnerable.
I tightened my grip on her hand. "Then I'll help you."
A sharp exhale came from behind me.
Cole.
"You two done with the dramatic bonding moment?" he muttered, arms crossed. "Because while you're busy playing mentor, we still don't know what the hell is happening to her."
I clenched my jaw, turning to face him. "I told you—"
Cole let out a breath, his usual sarcasm slipping. "Okay, fine. She's stronger. But stronger how? Does that mean she's got more control, or less? Because if it's the second one, we might be in bigger trouble than we think."
I hesitated.
A theory.
There was one possibility one I had never wanted to admit, not even to myself.
I looked back at Mia. The golden sparks had faded, but I could still feel the energy humming beneath her skin.
This power. This connection.
It wasn't just random.
It meant something.
I took a breath.
"She's not just like me," I said finally. "She might be stronger."
Cole scoffed. "Stronger? Great. Because one supercharged time bomb wasn't enough."
I ignored him, my attention locked on Mia.
"If I'm right," I continued, voice low, "then this is just the beginning."
Mia's breath hitched, but she didn't look away.
"Beginning of what?" she asked.
I exhaled.
"Something that, if we don't figure out soon, could tear her apart."