The ice continued its trek, not diminishing in the slightest. It flowed over my face, blocking my air. My heart thundered, and my lungs burned.
“Enough.” Cash’s voice was muffled.
Malcolm let go of my powers, and I gasped for air. I leaned against the wall, shaking my head. “It was like it wasn’t even there.”
“Let me know when you want to try again.” Malcolm tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
My powers surged inside of me, flowing through my veins, fueling me. They were like a living being, sharing my body, strengthening me. I pushed off the wall and stood in a defensive position. Holding my hand out in front of me, I thought of winter, snow, and cold again. This time I hung an icicle off of Malcolm’s ear.
He laughed in surprise. Then the icicle shot toward me. I backed up, and it landed on my foot, thinning out as it covered it. The ice spread, and I shivered.
Once again, I thought of warm, sunny days. Then I reached for my powers. I was met by a vast, emptiness that scared me more than any demon or dragon I’d faced. I dug inside, searching for even a tiny spark that I could fan.
Malcolm clutched the arm of the couch. He stared at Cash. Cash’s violet eyes drooped. The frost climbed both of my legs, creeping over my skin and sweatpants, encasing me. Fear clutched my heart. If Argentum and Tye did this to me, I would die.
Ignoring the ice that consumed my flesh, I pressed my eyes closed and imagined my power. I pictured it as a massive serpent. Its coils rippled, making its pearlescent scales shimmer. The beast stared at me with copper eyes.
“You are mine,” I said to it.
The viper buried its head in its coils. Ice spread over my body, sliding over my stomach and sending a chill through me. I filled my voice with command. “Look at me!”
The beast snapped its arrow-shaped head up and hissed, flicking its tail in warning.
I stepped closer to it. “You are mine!”
It stretched up, standing about four feet off the ground and puffed its body up.
“Don’t you know me?” I reached my hand out to it. “You are a part of me. You’ve always been part of me.” Ice flowed up my neck, then glided over my lips before slipping down my throat. You are mine.
It slithered toward me. Its body looped around my leg. Its scales slid over my jeans as it ascended.
I gasped, choking on the frost. Coils tightened around my body, crushing my ribs. I lifted my hand to my throat.
The snake’s head swayed, but it held my gaze. Leaning back, it opened its mouth and struck. Its fangs pierced my skin, sinking into my neck.
There was no pain.
The ice retreated from my throat, and air whooshed into my lungs. I sucked it in greedily. The serpent merged with me, and power surged through my veins. You are mine, the snake whispered.
I opened my eyes, and the ice sphere was in the palm of my hand. Malcolm smiled at me. “How’d you do that?”
“I claimed them, and they claimed me.” I looked down at my hands, and for a second, I thought I saw the serpent slithering under my skin.
Cody watched me from the desk. “You were blue.”
“I wasn’t breathing.” I lifted one shoulder to my ear, then looked at the door. “I need to talk to Diana.” I wasn’t sure how she’d react, but I’d put it off long enough.
“Why?” Cash leaned forward like he was ready to jump up.
I walked over to the window and stared outside. Snow swirled across the ground, piling in drifts. “It would be better to have them on my side than on Argentum’s.” I tugged my hand through my hair, turned around, and looked at all of them. “I don’t want to give him the chance to make them worry that I’ll abuse my powers.”
“Shower before you come back.” Malcolm flashed his fangs at me.
Cash tilted his head and sneered. “Or maybe before you talk to her.”
“You could just say, ‘Hey, Dacia, you stink.’”
“Hey, Dacia—” Malcolm smiled at me “—you stink, and Val will be back before too long.”
“Fine.” I grabbed my bathroom bag and tossed clothes into it. “I’ll shower. Then I’m talking to the Nephilim.”
Cody stopped me by the door. “Careful.” He traced his fingers along the side of my face. His eyes softened, and he pressed his lips to mine.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me and deepening the kiss. Cody lifted me off my feet, and I moaned into his mouth.
Cash growled, and Cody set me down. He looked over my shoulder. “Sorry.” Then he brushed my hair back and tucked it behind my ear. “Argentum’s out there.”
“I’m aware.” I held the doorknob. “There should be enough eyes on me here to keep me safe. Have one of them”—I nodded at the dragons sitting on the couch—“take you if you’re going to shower.” I didn’t want Cody to have to worry about his safety, but Tye knew how much Cody meant to me, so Argentum probably did, too.
Staring at the white and purple-flecked tiles, I walked down the hallway. Olivia and Diana followed behind me and stood guard outside while I showered.
When I finished, they were still standing there. “I need to talk to you,” I said as I walked past them.
Olivia frowned at me, but Diana nodded and followed me. “What about?”
“In my room.” I trailed my fingers along the wisteria vines painted on the wall.
When I walked in, Cody sat at the desk, watching the door. His hair was wet, and he was clean-shaven. Malcolm and Cash sat on the couch. I waved the Nephilim into the room. Malcolm nodded at them, and Cash glowered.
“So, what do you want?” Olivia
