Page 34 of I Am the Storm

We eat in silence, and when Matilda brings us apple pie fresh from the oven, Cole moves to sit next to Liam. "May I…would it be okay if I held her?"

The two lock eyes, and I can see the war in Liam. The desire to protect his child. His suspicion of Cole. But also…his own guilt. His desire to reconcile with his brother. Finally, he nods and hands the child over. "Make sure to support her head, and here, curve your arm so she can lay in it."

Liam adjusts Cole's arm and arranges Alina in his arms. Cole sits next to Liam, studying his niece, cooing to her and letting her play with his finger.

"She's strong," he says, smiling. "A mighty grip."

She gurgles and then quite suddenly a tiny burst of flames shoot from her hands, singeing the edges of Cole's hair. He handles it in stride, laughing as he uses his free hand to pat at his head. We are all staring, wide-eyed.

Cole looks around. "I take it this is new?"

Liam nods. "She's never shown powers before."

Matilda shakes her head. "We're going to need to fireproof her room. Goodness knows what she'll be up to now."

Liam's grinning like a fool. "She's a fire element. I wasn't sure if she'd have active powers, being half human."

"She takes after her father," I say with a smile, and Liam smiles back, his happiness so pure it swells my heart.

"Speaking of powers," I say. "I've become something of the Otherworld freak. Everyone we meet wants to know what I am. What I can do. I don't know what to say, and I feel like my powers are just out of control. I need help learning how to use them. How to control them. How to even figure out what they are. Will you all help me?"

Matilda nods, finishing the last bite of her pie. "I was going to suggest this myself. It seems, my dear, that you have power from many of the elements. Maybe all of them. This is incredibly rare. It makes you a magical anomaly of sorts. I think it best you train with each of my grandsons to learn to control the different elements and understand your limits."

My body buzzes with a new excitement. I will finally learn what I can do. Maybe this will even help me understand what I am. Who I am. And just maybe it will also help me understand my brother better.

Deep down, in a place I don't like to look at much, I also fear what I will become if I unleash my powers.

Will I become like my twin? Willing to do anything—no matter how atrocious—if I believe it will serve the greater good? But how can anyone be assured of that? How can anyone truly, in their soul, justify evil deeds for the sake of what might be?

"I can train with you a bit tonight," Liam says, pulling my attention back to the conversation.

Derek nods. "That's a good idea. I need Elijah to help with some research. We have to start preparing for the trial."

"I can take care of the baby while you two are training," Sebastian says. "I haven't had much time with my niece."

Matilda rises. "Well now, that's been settled. Cole, your room is readied for you. Come with me, and then you and I can have a nice cup of tea and catch up."

Cole hands the baby over to Sebastian and follows Matilda out, sparing one last glance at me, his expression slightly haunted.

Derek and Elijah leave for the study, and Liam takes my hand as we head to the forge. "It's best to practice fire magic in a place suited for heat and fire. We wouldn't want to burn anything down."

I can't imagine my powers being strong enough to do that kind of damage, but it's a smart precaution.

The forge is a large building adjacent to the castle and smells of hot metal and burning wood. No one is here, but there is work being done. The fire is stoked, metal is being melted, cooled, and hammered into different shapes. I stand, gaping. "Ghosts?" I ask.

Liam nods. "They use the forge to make things useful to the castle. Every once in awhile, we'll find a new sword or knife, meticulously made in the finest craftsmanship. We believe one of the ghosts must have been a master metal worker in their time."

"That's… incredible." I swipe my forehead with the sleeve of my shirt, mopping the sweat off my brow, and I wonder if improving my fire element will help me handle heat better.

Liam seems completely fine. Not a drop of sweat on him.

"How do you do that?" I ask.

"Do what? We haven't even started yet."

"Not sweat," I say. "I feel like I'm in a sauna."

He laughs, and, god, I love the sound of it. He should laugh more often.