Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(72)

“Fine, I’ll eat yours.”

He snatched a second s’more before she could hoard them all.

This felt good. Whether it was due to the sugar high or being playful with Zavien, she didn’t know. It no longer felt like her skin was crawling with electricity. She finished off a third s’more, leaned back against the couch, and contemplated the giant ball of lightning she’d grown.

“Maybe I used Quintessence to make the electricity.” She held her hand out, planning to test her new theory.

“Stop,” Zavien yelled.

“Why?” she asked.

“I have the first fifty pages of a research paper in that desk. I don’t relish the idea of it being blasted to smithereens.” He stood. “Go clean up and we’ll call Stanton.”

Bryn walked back to his bathroom. One look in the mirror made her laugh. Strings of marshmallow and chocolate decorated the lower half of her face. Once she was presentable, she joined Zavien in the living room, where he waited by the door.





Chapter Twenty-Three


“Bryn, I’m sorry about what happened.” Mr. Stanton’s face showed remorse. “It’s my dormitory. I should’ve protected you better.”

Touched by his concern, she gave a sad smile. “You couldn’t have known.”

“I’m glad you’re all right. Zavien told me some amazing things on the phone. Have a seat. Let’s eat first, and then we’ll visit one of the labs.”

“Afraid I’ll blow up your office?”

“Yes.” His tone was so sincere it made her laugh.

A student knocked on the door. Mr. Stanton answered and accepted two flat boxes. Bryn inhaled, and her mouth watered. Pizza.

She sucked down the first piece without bothering to use a plate. Zavien set a can of soda in front of her, along with an inch-thick stack of napkins.

“What are you implying?” she asked.

“I’ve seen you eat.”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed two more slices of pizza.

“Are you always this hungry?” Mr. Stanton asked.

Since her mouth was full, she nodded.

“You might have increased appetite due to your constant use of Quintessence,” Mr. Stanton said.

“I never thought about it. I use it in place of makeup, too.”

“Amazing.” He looked at her with admiration. “You have such control.”

“Medic Williams said I was a natural. She suggested I study Quintessential medicine.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. I can slot you into the classes required for a medical degree starting next year.”

“How long would it take?” She crossed her fingers and hoped he’d say two years.

“A basic degree in Quintessential Medicine takes four years. If you specialize, another two years are required.”

Damn. “Are there other things I can do with Quintessence? I don’t know if I can stay here that long.”

“Let’s leave career counseling for another day,” Zavien said. “I want to find out how you made the ball of lightning grow.”

Once they were done eating, Mr. Stanton led them to a lab below ground level. Stainless steel tables and cabinets sat against bright white walls. The chemical scent of disinfectant irritated her nose. She was afraid to touch anything because the entire room appeared sterile. Mr. Stanton insisted they wear flame retardant lab coats.

“I’m not producing nuclear power,” Bryn muttered.

Zavien helped her into the heavy garment. “Humor him. If that ball of lightning had exploded, your room would’ve been rubble.”

“Really?” Good thing she hadn’t known that at the time.

Zavien placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down until they were face-to-face. “No matter what you produce, think small.”

Hard to think of a snappy comeback when he was within kissing range, so she nodded to indicate she understood.

Zavien produced an emissary and passed it to her. She concentrated on keeping it alive and under control. It grew to the size of a grapefruit and held.

“Try changing it to ice,” Mr. Stanton said.

Cold. Snow. Ice. The ball of energy turned to a ball of snow and dropped into her palm.

“I should be filming this.” Mr. Stanton stepped over to a computer and pushed several buttons. Red lights blinked on in cameras set high in the corners of the room. “Try producing lightning.”

She concentrated, but nothing happened. Changing gears, she produced an emissary of fire, and then changed it to electricity. “I must be using Quintessence to copy lightning.”

Earlier, she’d assumed being near Zavien had made her feel better because she was producing an electrical charge. She thought he’d balanced out the chemistry in her body. Now she realized the comfort he provided was brought on by a different kind of chemistry. Did he feel the same way? It’s not like she could ask him.

Best to focus on the task at hand. “Mr. Stanton, pass me one of your emissaries.”

“Wonderful idea.” He created a small twister.

Zavien retreated to the other side of the room and stood close to a large filing cabinet. “Don’t take it personally if I duck and cover.”

Bryn ignored him and concentrated on sustaining the twister. It grew in her palm. She imagined Quintessence traveling through her fingertips, and the funnel of wind doubled in size. Oops. She better back off. The funnel kept growing. The hair on her arms stood up. The twister tripled in size and turned black. Why couldn’t she control it?