“So, what exactly is this place called?” I ask after a few minutes of silence have drifted by between Holden and me.

Max is walking farther ahead, playing with the orbs of light. And, by playing, I mean that, every so often, he plucks a green one from the air and tosses it around like a baseball.

Green, just like his eyes and his magical light powers. I doubt that’s a coincidence.

“We call this place The In-Between,” Holden says as a golden orb of light lands on his shoulder. “But it’s basically the place that links all the worlds.”

It takes me a gulp or two to process his words. “So, what world are we going to now?”

“Our world.” He pets the light with his fingertips. “Also known as Elemental.”

“Just how many worlds are there?”

“More than even I know about.” He gives me a sidelong glance. “I know it’s a little overwhelming, but when you start going to the academy, you’ll learn all about our world.”

“Are all humans that go there aware of your powers?”

He shakes his head, collecting the light in his hand. “No. Actually, most of them don’t know about us.”

“But, how do you keep it a secret from them?”

He winks at me. “With magic.”

“Oh.”

God, this is so much to take in. Powers. Worlds. Orbs of light that act like pets.

“What are these light thingies anyway?” I point at the ball of light in his hand.

Smiling, he sticks his hand out toward me with the light resting in his palm. “This is what we refer to as essences. They exist only in The In-Between and, like our eyes, their color represents their power.”

“So, they have the same powers as you guys?”

“Yes. Only, they never connected to a body.”

“Connected to a body …?” My confusion morphs into shock. “Wait. Are you saying these things are what create people …? Creatures like you?”

He nods, somewhat amused. “Although, not all of them will connect to a body. Some will always just roam The In-Between. Those we refer to as wild essences.”

I glance curiously at the wild essence in his hand. “What does it feel like when you hold it?”

Pressing his lips together, he moves his hand in my direction again. “Touch it and find out.”

“Will it …? Can it hurt me?”

“No. Wild essences are as pure as untainted souls. I’m not sure if you’ll actually feel anything since you’re human, but I’m curious to find out.”

It seems as if I should be afraid, but every single part of me is begging to touch the orb of light. So, like a magnet to metal, my fingers drift forward, the tips slipping through the light. A wave of heat and iciness courses through me, then a gust of wind kicks up, blowing through my hair and across my skin. Seconds later, the clouds begin to shower rain as lightning bolts zap and thunder booms, rumbling the ground.

“What the hell?” Holden peers up at the sky.

I gasp as electric energy surges through my veins, and Holden’s attention whips to me as rays of light swarm around me, like a multicolored tornado.

“Hold perfectly still,” Holden whispers as the rays of light eddy around me.

“Are they going to hurt me?” I whisper, my voice shaky.

“No, they’re drawn to you.” A crease forms at his brows. “Sky, is there any way you could have powers?”

I swallow hard, willing the words to leave my lips. But again, I remain silent.

The crease between his brows deepens. “Sky, can you hear me?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He surveys me over. “Can you not talk about something?” When I say nothing, he nibbles on his bottom lip. “If you think you have some sort of powers, nod your head.”

I attempt to do just that, but my head won’t budge. Frustrated, I ball my hands into fists. The movement captures his attention.

“You can’t talk about it, can you?” he asks, frowning.

“I … Why … can’t I?” I manage to strain out.

“I’m not sure.” He taps his finger against his lips. “There’ve been a couple of instances when elemental protectors had spells cast on them to keep their identity and powers hidden. Usually, though, it’s because they did something illegal and wanted to hide from the council. I know my grandparents did it once when they were younger, but that was to conceal that they were elemental enchanters …” His eyes abruptly widen. Then his gaze travels across all the orbs of light whirling around me in a colorful stream. “Oh fuck.” He snatches ahold of my hand and drags me back in the direction we just came from.

“What’s going on?” I ask as I stumble after him.

He doesn’t answer, taking longer strides, and I damn near eat dirt as I struggle to keep up with him. Finally, he scoops me up in his arms, and then we’re moving so fast that the sky, trees, and light around us become nothing but blurs of colors.

Before I know it, we’re back on the podium. Emaline and Gabe are still there but look as if they were about to leave.

“What’s wrong?” Gabe asks immediately as Holden rushes up with me in his arms.

“All the essences are drawn to her,” Holden hisses. “I think she might be an elemental enchanter.”

Hearing him say the words aloud causes adrenaline to soar through me.

“What?” they simultaneously say, their eyes bulging as they gape at me.

“And she can’t talk about it,” Holden adds, “which means someone went through an awful lot of trouble to keep her powers a secret.”

“But,” Emaline sputters, “it can’t be possible. Her parents are human.”

“Unless they’re not her real parents,” Gabe states, avoiding my gaze.

Wait. What?

“Th-They’re my parents,” I sputter. “I know they are.”

His eyes convey pity. “I know you’ve been through a lot lately, and this is probably the last thing you want to deal with, but humans can’t have children with elemental powers. It’s just not possible. And an elemental enchanter …” He shakes his head. “They almost always come from a line of very powerful elemental protectors.”

“Maybe my parents had powers and you just didn’t know it?” I say. “I mean, no one knows about me … Well, until now.”

Gabe and Emaline exchange an unreadable look, then Gabe cautiously says, “Maybe.” But I can tell he doesn’t believe it.

My heart sinks in my chest. What if what they’re saying is true? What if my entire life has been a lie?

“We need to get her out of here.” Holden says with urgency.

“Why? Foster’s here, and he’s one, so …” I’m so lost.

“It was odd enough that headquarters requested you come with us today,” Holden tells me cautiously.

“Which means if someone knows what she is, this could be a setup.” Gabe shakes his head with his jaw set tight. “I should’ve suspected it the moment I got the message.”

Emaline places her hand on his arm. “Honey, you couldn’t have known. None of us suspected she had powers.”

“All the extra storms make sense now.” Holden stares down at me with the strangest look on his face.

I become hyperaware he’s still carrying me. “You can put me down if you want.”

Strands of hair fall into his eyes as he shakes his head. “Nah, I’ll carry you through the portal.” He looks at Gabe. “So, what’re we going to do?”

Gabe glances at the trees, the portal, me, then at Holden. “Take her back to the house. We’ll find your brothers and send them back. Then your mother and I will go to headquarters.”

“You think it’s safe?” Holden asks, his arms tensing around me.

Gabe wavers. “I’m not sure, which is why we’ll go to Gabby first. She’ll be able to give us a sense of what’s going on. We’ll make our next decision based on that.”

Worry crams Holden’s expression. “Just be safe, okay?”

“Of course.” Gabe forces a smile.

Holden sighs, striding across the podium toward the rainbow portal.

Guilt weighs down on my chest. If something happens to them, it’ll be my fault.

Before I can verbalize my feelings, though, Holden jumps into the portal and rainbow light swallows us up.