“Come on, Harleigh, you can do better than that,” Colten taunts me from the middle of the mat while I’m knocked on my ass. Again.
I’m starting to get frustrated. His big plan is to see what happens when I get angry because apparently, that’s when a lot of demon powers present themselves before they have been reigned in and controlled.
But I don’t get angry. Not really, at least not the way he is wanting me to.
“I can’t get angry, Colten, not the way you want me to. It’s not in my DNA.”
He looks at me thoughtfully for a minute as I stand back up on my feet.
I do not like the look on his face right now.
He looks like the devil incarnate wanting to destroy me until I’m nothing.
Pure evil and all bad boy.
“You know, I’m pretty good at possessing people, babe.”
I snort. “Yeah? Is that why you can’t possess me?”
He gives me a glare. “You are the only person I can’t possess, babe, and you know it. Well, aside from angels.” He shoots a small glare at Brian who is smirking in the corner.
“You can’t possess angels?” I look between them, and Bry is the one to answer me.
“It’s biologically impossible for demons to possess angels just as it is for us to control them. It would tip the scales too much.”
“The balance between good and evil,” I mutter to myself. Everything comes back to that balance. “Makes sense.”
“You got it, beautiful.” I smile at Brian before Colten coughs to get my attention.
“As I was saying.” He gives Bry a look I can’t decipher that puts him on edge. “I can possess anyone. I like to play with people.”
I shake my head and continue to focus on Brian. He’s stiff and his jaw is ticking.
“That’s because you’re a douche. What are you getting at?” If it’s setting Bry off like that, someone who never really gets angry, I’m not sure I will be able to handle it.
“I’m saying, I think I might pay your little bestie a visit and have some fun.”
Oh, hell the fuck no! He goes near anyone I love, and I will castrate the son of a bitch.
My entire body is taut with anger as I rush at him until things around us start to shake and move. The ground vibrates under my feet and I stop moving. I’m still furious beyond words and can’t think clearly until Bry places his hands on my cheeks.
“Breathe, Harleigh. I need you to breathe, beautiful.” I try my best, and the shaking slowly settles. I’m still angry as hell at Colten, and try to turn my head to glare at him but Bry doesn’t let go. “That’s it. Keep breathing. Look at me and don’t think of anything else.” I take another breath as he continues. “Think about how much you love me. Feel the love I have for you.”
I feel a calming energy work through my body as I look into his eyes, and everything stops moving. All I can focus on is the warmth spreading throughout my body until I close my eyes and just bask in the calmness, only stiffening when I feel a body behind me.
“You really think that was a good fucking idea?!” Bry snaps at Colten over my shoulder, and I remember why I was so angry, but before I have a chance to react, he responds.
“She needed to get angry and it worked. I did what I had to do to get a reaction.” His hands land on my shoulders, and I tense.
“I didn’t mean it, baby. I just needed to make you angry. Apparently, you have some seriously high thresholds for anger,” he says to me, and I whirl around on him.
“Don’t you EVER threaten someone I love again.” I push against his chest hard, and he stumbles back.
“I won’t, Harleigh, I promise.” The look of sincerity on his face stops my movements.
“I know we aren’t close, Colten, but when I love, I love fiercely, and I will protect anyone I love to the grave. Understand me?” I have to fight back the tears as emotions flood me.
“I get you, babe, loud and clear, and I’m sorry. I just didn’t know any other way to trigger your anger, and we need to know what your abilities are.” He walks toward me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You’re years behind everyone here, babe.” He looks over my shoulder at Bry.
“He’s right, beautiful. I don’t like the way he did it, but he’s right.”
I sigh and lean into Colten as he tightens me into a hug.
“I am sorry, but can we talk about what happened?” Colt asks.
I pull back to look between them. “Uh, an earthquake happened.”
The guys look at each other before Colt looks back at me.
“No, babe, you happened.” I look at him dumbfounded. “Your anger moved everything around you. I almost guarantee no one upstairs or down the hall felt it.”
“I did that?” They both nod as I swallow the lump in my throat and wrap my arms around myself. “So… what does that mean?”
Colten grabs one hand away as Bry does with the other so that they’re both comforting me. It’s a sweet gesture but I’m kind of freaking the fuck out.
“If I had to guess, I would say you have the power of telekinesis,” Colt says softly.
I look at him. “Wouldn’t that mean things would have moved rather than the ground shaking?”
