Page 51 of Our Radiant Embers

I dragged a breath through my teeth and met Adam’s eyes. “I think it worked. We’ll need to test it with a pot, see if it heats up the way it should, but…I really think it worked.”

“That was…” He let go of my hand and touched his chest, shaking his head as if to clear it. “Fuck, Liam. How?”

“I don’t really know. It’s always a bit of a gamble with this stuff, and it’s a fragile balance—too much magic fries electronics. You don’t want to know how many light bulbs I’ve killed.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Yeah, not what I meant.”

“Oh.” I coughed. “That.”

“Yes, that. You…You see magic? And you made it so I could, too?”

“I guess so. I’d never tried that before, so I had no idea it would even work.”

“Holy shit.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “That’s…Christ, Liam. I just—how?”

“Do you remember those Magic Eye books?” I asked him. “I think that’s what it’s always felt like to me. I let my gaze soften, and suddenly, it’s like reality shifts. It doesn’t take effort, not as such, but I need to consciously focus on it.”

He stared at me, looking almost pained. “You already knew about Gale, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I said simply.

“And my cousin Christian?”

“He’s a Spark, too.” I inclined my head. “I haven’t met his sisters, but my best guess is that they are as well. You’re the only Nova of your generation.”

“Shh.” His gaze darted around the space as though someone might overhear—unlikely with the commotion overhead and my siblings shouting in the backyard. “That’s bloody dangerous, Liam. If my dad knew that you know…Or my aunt? Fuck.”

“Oh.” I feigned disappointment. “Guess I should cancel that pub crawl I invited them to next Saturday, huh?”

“It’s not funny,” Adam told me.

“Your lips are twitching.”

“They’re not.” One corner of his mouth definitely twitched before concern took over once more. “Liam, I’m serious. They hate sharing the Green Horizon Initiative with your family, but that’s nothing compared to this. They’d see you as a threat. You cannot let anything slip.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” I lifted my shoulders. “Honestly, it’s not like I ever talk to them. I have no plans to change that.”

“Good.” He exhaled slowly. “God, that was incredible. Like, actually seeing my magic? And yours, too. It’s all these shades—blue and green and orange and white. Mine’s mostly orange with a few spots of blue.”

“It is, but it reacts to your mood.” I immediately wished I hadn’t said a word. Move along. “Anyway. Let’s test the stove with a pan?”

Adam shot me a curious look. “Sure, yeah. But what do you mean, it reacts to my mood?”

Uh.

“It twitches when you’re angry.” I held his gaze. No one was forcing me to continue, and yet I did. “And it kind of…sparks when you’re turned on.”

“Does it.” He didn’t phrase it like a question, voice a hint deeper than usual. I wanted him, God. But I didn’t want to share his closet.

“Yeah.” It came out throaty when I’d aimed for casual. I looked away, started moving towards the kitchen. “Let me just grab a pan, okay? I’ll be right back.”

If Adam replied, I didn’t catch it. Just as well.

* * *

It worked.

It fucking worked.

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