Page 64 of Her Magic Light

The hummingbird made my decision for me, flapping its wings so fast they were a mere blur as it rose higher into the air and shot away, quickly out of sight among the rest of the rainbows in the space. This place was really the perfect camouflage for it.

“Come back inside,” Coop said. “I think you’ve done enough for today.” He paused. “And don’t tell anyone—not even Dr. Anderson—what you’ve just done.”

I nodded. I hadn’t done anything, so I certainly wouldn’t be making any sort of declaration to Dr. Anderson.

Coop reached for me, his hand extended like he might help me up. Dark shadows and abrasions over the back of his hand caught my attention.

“What happened?” I grasped his hand briefly, examining his bruised knuckles.

“Nothing.” But he turned his face away so I could only see his profile.

I covered his knuckles with my other hand. “I’m sorry for whatever happened,” I whispered. “I hope they heal soon.”

My hand warmed, and Coop turned his head sharply back toward me. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. I should have felt afraid, but I didn’t.

Joyful power flooded through me. Again, nothing like whatever Dr. Anderson had done to me the last time I was in his room. It was the opposite. And it was glorious.

“Take your hand away, Meira.” Coop’s words were tight and controlled.

I hesitated, suddenly not wanting to.

“Meira,” he whispered, and this time his word was strained. “Please.”

I whipped my hand away and flung it behind my back, and we both stared at Coop’s knuckles, now bruise-free. He ran the forefinger of his opposite hand over them.

“Incredible,” he whispered.

“Let’s go inside.” I stood abruptly, my energy nervous as it skittered into my chest. There was no doubt in my mind: I had powers, weird and magical. And I was cold now. “It’s getting chilly.”

Coop glanced at the sun. “No, it isn’t.” But he stood as well and rested his hand on my shoulder briefly. “You mustn’t do that again.” His words were low and urgent. “Your safety depends on you never doing that again.”

twenty-four

Iheaded straight to a small sofa inside Dr. Anderson’s control table room. I didn’t want to sit near Coop, and I didn’t want to think about what I’d done too much. How could I have not known these things about myself? Everyone else seemed to. I shook my head. I didn’t even want to think about my hummingbird. I felt emptied out, and my teeth chattered. So cold.

Sleep sounded good, and I allowed my eyes to droop closed as I rubbed at my chest, trying to work some heat back into myself.

But closing my eyes was even worse. Too many thoughts bombarded my mind, and I tumbled through them so quickly I couldn’t relax.

Had I actuallyhealed? I mean, Coop’s hand, yes. Maybe, right?

But the bird? Perhaps it hadn’t been dead. None of this made sense.

People couldn’t heal other living things on a whim and a wish.

Except maybe I had. I bit my lip as I considered it. Then I opened my eyes and looked at Coop, about to ask him a question. He was standing in his usual place by the door, his hands clasped in front of him, almost like he was deliberately concealing his newly healed knuckles.

The door opened abruptly, and Dr. Anderson raced in, his face flushed, his eyes bright. He rubbed his hands together as he looked at me, glee seeming to radiate from him.

“Interesting, very interesting,” he exclaimed. It was almost like he was having trouble maintaining consistent volume control as his words boomed around the room. “This is a huge discovery.”

I shrank away from him, and Coop tightened his hands, clutching his healed one against him.

“You just needed the power of the sun to charge you!” Dr. Anderson voiced his thought like it was a grand pronouncement. Then he tapped his head. “I should have connected the dots.”

I stared at him, and my face must have shown my surprise, because he grinned.

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