Page 30 of Powerful

I’ve been hammering steel since I saw her.

I don’t think I’ve stopped for longer than it took to choke down some food. Channeling every emotion into a physical blow is the only thing keeping me sane these past twenty-four hours.

Because I failed Hera. Damned her to death. And the guilt of that is threatening to swallow me whole.

I should have gone to her first, should never have been so distracted by Adena. But the pull of her power was so familiar, so comforting, that I couldn’t help but follow the feel of it. The presence of her is hypnotizing. So much so that I missed my chance to save Hera.

Guilt has my hammer slamming into the steel, over and over. The rhythmic sound lulls me into a state of detachment, numbing any notion of feeling.

The metal glows red.

I couldn’t save her.

My hammer hits hard.

She will die in these Trials.

A wave of heat hits my face.

I failed—

Hair stands on the back of my neck at the familiar feel of her.

I straighten, dropping my tools to the ground as the power grows with each passing second. My eyes drift to the door, feeling each step she takes towards it.

When she knocks, I almost laugh.

Whipping open the door, I’m met with wide eyes and a timid smile. She gives me about three seconds to stare before her arms are around me, squeezing tighter than I imagined she’d be able.

After a moment, my hands find her back, holding her tightly against my chest. ‘You’re here.’

Her voice is muffled. ‘Only because you are.’

I smile at her words. ‘You know you can just walk through the door, right?’

‘I didn’t want to scare you.’

‘I can sense you, hun.’ I breathe in the sweet scent of her hair. ‘I always know when you’re near.’

‘Right.’ I feel her shrug. ‘I’m still getting used to that.’

‘And I’m still getting used to you knowing that.’

She pulls away, looking up at me with those big eyes. ‘But there is still a lot more I need to know.’

‘Oh, is that right?’

‘It is.’ She grins mischievously. ‘And you still owe me a night in the Fort, remember?’

‘I don’t recall ever having an urge to do that.’

She huffs, fitting her hand into mine before dragging me out of the door. ‘We had a deal, Mak!’

‘A deal implies that this is mutually beneficial.’

‘Oh, you’re so dramatic,’ she teases unsympathetically.

We weave down the dark streets, hand in hand. She’s nestled close to my side, seemingly blissfully unaware of her surroundings when she’s in my presence. I guide us through the shadows, allowing her the luxury of looking anywhere but in front of her.

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