Page 4 of Awakened Gifts

Despite the heaviness in the air, that makes me smile. We’re getting married.

His lips on mine snap me back to reality, and I giggle lightly behind the sweet kiss.

“I need to go deal with this, but I’ll be back later. I love you,” he murmurs softly, kissing me quickly once more, and then he leaves a small breeze in his wake when he blurs out of the room.

Looking down at the ring on my finger, I can’t help but smile.

JASE

Already I’ve seen the scorpion tattoos in their minds. Each room with a new survivor gives me more insight into this group, but nothing really gives me any clue as to where they are stationed.

One thing is for sure, this group is a hell of a lot bigger than we originally thought, and we’ll need the United to take them out. We can’t do it on our own. Aria is going to be pissed.

“Three more to interview, sir,” Captain Fricks says from beside me, and I nod as he enters the code for the next door.

Safety measures for the commander include at least one person escorting me into these rooms. Though they don’t want someone killing me, no one really feels comfortable about being alone with me just yet. Captain Fricks is the only one still treating me the same.

We make it to the living room, and a girl with brilliantly red hair looks up from her hands to force a weak smile at us. I stagger slightly when a wave of... something washes over me, and her breath catches in her throat when our eyes meet, as though she just felt it, too. I’ve only ever felt this when meeting...

No. Absolutely not.

I shake my head in an effort to rid myself of the distracting... feelings, and I sit down on the sofa across from her. Her mind is blank—completely black with nothing going on.

No images, no thoughts... nothing is there.

“I’m Captain Fricks, and this is Commander Ericson.” Captain Fricks looks at me, confused about why I neglected to make introductions as I have in every other room.

The red-haired girl stares directly at me, and her eyes grow wide.

“You’re like me,” she almost whispers.

I turn my head toward the mirror and catch a reflection that startles me. My eyes have turned to their true colors without my knowledge. Shit. That’s never happened.

Clearing my throat, I turn back around, working hard to shift my eyes back, but they refuse to go pale. Fuck.

“You’re a full blood hybrid?” I ask, silently cursing the nerves in my voice.

In that instant, her eyes shift from the pale blue to the mismatched colors I’ve rarely seen on anyone else. A pounding strikes me, and gravity seems to push me, making it hard to stay in my seat as she holds my gaze.

“I’d heard the rumors, but I didn’t believe them,” she says in a fragile whisper.

Captain Fricks frowns down at me, and I try my damnedest to get my shit under control. What’s she doing to me?

“You’re gifted?” I ask, though I don’t know why. It feels like I’m losing control of everything.

“Yes. Though until this moment, I’ve never said that aloud.”

She looks just as confused as I am, but I can’t read her mind to find out why. I’ve only ever had this problem with Kellan. Captain Fricks’s mind reminds me of Hale Banner’s—he’s constantly thinking of a thousand things at once, making it impossible to ever process a single thought. I usually tune him out.

Right now, with just him and this... girl, my mind is quiet with nothing to overhear. It’s starting to piss me off.

“You wanted to ask me questions?” she asks, leaning forward as though she’s fighting the same tug of gravity.

My stomach twists in knots, and I start feeling as though I’m doing something wrong, even though I’m not. It feels like... It’s just... I need out of here.

“Um... Actually, I’ll let Captain Fricks speak with you,” I cowardly reply, standing weakly.

“I’m Erin, by the way,” she says while sticking her hand out.

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