Phoenix Rising (Book 5 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens Page A

disagreed."
    Cassie turned toward Luther, astonished that he was actually on her side in this. Luther sadly gazed back at her. "I think it's best if you stay around your friends."
    Something inside of her ached, it couldn't be her heart because that had stopped beating. "You mean you think I should stay with people who might be able to pull me back if I snap, or that can help to destroy me?" They were unmoving, mainly because she had just hit the nail on the head. "That makes sense."
    Cassie glanced at the door that separated this room from the one next door. They had taken the three end rooms; the ones farthest away from the devastation of the manager's office. "Do they know that?" she asked.
    "No, there is no reason for them to. Not yet," Luther answered. "I would also like to see what you are capable of Cassie."
    "Wouldn't we all?"
    He managed a wry smile as he rose to his feet. "Do you know how you were able to shoot fire today?"
    Cassie shrugged as she wrapped her arms around herself. "No, I don't. I knew that I could absorb powers when touching someone, but I thought that once I touched someone else, that other power was gone. Apparently I was wrong."
    "We have to figure out how you are able to do it, and just how many you can use at once. It could really come in handy."
    "Or it could be completely dangerous."
    Luther cleared his throat as he pulled his glasses off. "Well yes, that too, but we will need it against The Elders. What were you feeling when you were able to bring the fire back again?"
    "Terrified," she answered honestly. "Frustrated. Angry."
    He began to pace the small confines of the worn down hotel room. He moved past one of the double beds before spinning on his heel in front of the other and coming back at her. "We're going to have to find a way for you to be able to draw that power forth without your emotions ruling you, and a way for you to keep those abilities under control."
    "Is that all?" she asked dryly.
    Luther's shoulders slumped as he tugged at his hair and made his way back toward the other bed. "This is new to us all Cassie."
    "I know," she assured him. "I also know that you're scared of me. That you all are."
    Luther bowed his head, while Julian and Devon met her gaze head on. "Not of you princess," Julian murmured.
    "Don't lie to me Julian, please. We both know better than that."
    He looked like he was going to protest, then he shut his mouth, and shook back his shock of platinum hair. The near white band around his pupils was dilated. "Fine princess you are a little freaky right now..."
    "Julian..." A lock of midnight hair fell into one of Devon's emerald eyes as he took a quick step toward Julian.
    "What with this seemingly unlimited ability to absorb powers and the strange eyes..."
    "Why do people keep mentioning my eyes? They are perfectly normal," Cassie insisted.
    Julian and Devon exchanged a look; Luther quickly removed his glasses again. "They're not normal when they change Cassie," Devon said kindly.
    "I see," she mumbled.
    "You look exhausted."
    "I am." She wasn't so much tired as she just didn't feel like being studied like a bug anymore.
    "We'll let you get some rest," Luther muttered.
    Cassie opened her mouth to protest, there was still so much they had to discuss, but Luther and Julian were already moving out. She heard the rattle of the chain lock as she sat on one of the worn pink and yellow comforters and hard mattress. She didn't care how hard it was though, it was like heaven compared to her sleeping conditions of the past couple of weeks. It had been weeks since she'd slept in a real bed, with real pillows, and comforters.
    Cassie frowned as Devon grabbed hold of the bureau and walked it over to the window and placed it beneath it. Seizing hold of both of the nightstands he placed them on top and almost completely blocked out the night beyond. It wouldn't be much of a barrier against something trying to get in the window, but it would block out most of the sun. Finally,