“How do I do that?”
“It’s easy. When you have some quiet time alone, take it in your right hand—that’s your projective hand—and hold it like this.” He folds my fingers around the pendant and peers up at me, making sure I’m following him. At my nod, he goes on, “Then imagine what it would feel like if it was pulling all that harmful energy—all those negative emotions—away from you and into itself.”
“I can’t do that.” I feel whatever feelings happen to come by, I don’t direct them.
“Yes, you can,” he gently insists. “You’d be amazed by what you can do.”
My hand is cocooned in both of his, and for a heartbeat, I feel strong and safe. Like I can be all the things he believes me to be.
“Here—” He takes the necklace from me and unclasps it. “For the time being.”
I turn around and lift my hair off my shoulders. When the stone touches my chest, I shiver, and again when Leo’s fingers brush the back of my neck.
“Charge it as soon as you can, but even uncharged, it’ll still help a little.”
Leo gave me a necklace. To protect me.
I turn to face him again, my fingers tracing the silver vines. “Thank you.”
“Promise me you’ll charge it.”
“I promise.” Right now, I’m game for just about anything he asks.
“I wish I didn’t have to go, but Robin needs me to help her with something.”
I nod.
“I’m glad I got to see your costume.”
Stupidly, I nod again. I’m lost in thought, trying to formulate a reply, when out of nowhere, a wave of fury crashes over me, stealing my breath.
What the hell? I tense up, head swiveling over one shoulder then the other. Where is that rage coming from?
“Betts, what’s…” Leo’s gaze flicks from my face to somewhere behind me. “Oh.”
Someone barks, “Z! Chill out!”
More voices join in:
“C’mon, man.”
“Get the fuck off me!”
“Dude!”
Out of the crowd bursts Zander, his eyes shooting fire, and two of the biggest O-Chi brothers behind him, gripping his shoulders. He points at Leo and snarls at me, “Who the fuck isthat?”
God, I hate Lara. “It’s…it’s…” I glance behind me. Leo’s back has gone straight and his gaze is now a glare.
Zander yells at him, right over my head, “Who the fuck do you think you are?!”
All around us, people go still, their eyes huge and shining. They’re salivating for a good fistfight, but that’s the last thing I want to see. Zander has rage on his side, but Leo’s bigger and sober. And he looks plenty pissed off, too.
Zander strains against Trevor and Jake’s hold. “You’re that dickhead from the library, aren’t you?”
I intervene. “He’s just a friend.”
“A friend? You expect me to believe that?”
