“It’s the law,” Limus said. “To answer your question, yes, I did punish Akin.” He motioned with his hand and Akin was by his side. “Tell her what your punishment is, Akin.”
Akins glare was chilling. I shrank from him into the man who held me.
“For threatening you,” he began, “I’m not allowed to drive the car for a month.”
Herra stifled a laugh, making Akin smirk.
“Threatening me?” I cried in protest. “You didn’t threaten me, you attacked me!”
“So you say, but there weren’t any witnesses.”
“That’s not true, Thayde was there!”
“You fell down and I was telling you to stay away.” Akin lied. “Thayde was mistaken.”
This was unthinkable.
“Really? And how did my swimsuit top come off?” I yelled, and he stepped so close I could feel his breath on my face.
“Honestly, I think you pulled it off to make it look like I was hurting you.”
“Akin,” a weak voice called, “leave her alone.” It was Thayde. He was conscious but wasn’t moving.
“Come on brother! I think that if she’s going to accuse me of something, I might as well do it!” Akin grabbed my arm.
“Stop it!” I screamed, trying to shrink away from his touch. When he heard me, Thayde struggled to get up but collapsed back onto the bloodied red grass. It broke my heart to see him lie there, unable to even sit up, yet still trying to protect me.
“Father, please,” he mumbled.
Gavran stepped forward. “We don’t need to do this.” He said.
“Akin, that’s enough.” Limus finally intervened, shifting his gaze back to me. “He’s taken about all he can. Now the problem is what to do with this girl.”
A crack of thunder muffled his last words. The clouds moved quickly under the dark sky and lightning quietly highlighted the scene.
“She doesn’t belong in Vero. Her mother was told not to bring her here. What about our laws?” He pulled me into his arms, turning me around so my back lay flat against his chest. I began to shake.
“Please,” Thayde managed to struggle to his hands and knees. “Father, let her go,” his voice garbled from the blood pouring from his mouth.
“We’ll keep her with us for a while, until we decide what should be done,” Limus continued, ignoring Thayde. He started to drag me across the lawn toward the house.
They were going to hold me hostage. Frantic, I did the only thing I knew I could do. I began to imagine that golden orb as I had done before, pushing it to its very limits. As Thayde tried to crawl toward us, Akin ran up and kicked him in the head, bowling him over.
Suddenly, I was livid beyond words. Limus released his grip, jumping back. I felt as if I were on fire.
“Don’t touch me again,” I growled. All of them seemed to be in shock as they stood, not moving, but staring at me.
I looked down at my hands and could see an orange glow about them that soon spread to my entire body. The heat was intense, yet gratifying. No one could touch me like this.
“What is this?” Limus asked stiffly and then looked around me.
“It’s The Fire, Limus.” Tammer was striding toward us, followed by Mom and Vitahl.
Lightning crackled across the sky and when Tammer pointed at one of the big men, lightning struck him in the top of the head, dropping him. The entire Dartmoth clan, except for Limus, took a few steps backward.
“Well, well,” he said, pulling back his sleeves. “Is it another war you want, Tammer?”
Vitahl stopped behind Tammer and Mom. “There doesn’t have to be fighting at all, Limus. What Akin did was inexcusable and you know it.”
“She’s a Halfling.” Limus looked at me angrily.
“Really? Do you actually think a Halfling could produce The Fire?” Vitahl questioned and moved toward me. “Stop, Morgandy.” He said firmly.
I glared at Limus. “He has to pay for what he did to Thayde.” I wanted to release hell upon him.
“He will. But not by you.” He reached out and took my hand. I could feel his flesh start to burn and it shocked me. Instantly, The Fire was gone and I felt sick.
“Go. Tend to Thayde.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I ran to where Thayde lay and stopped in horror. He was unconscious, lying on his back, his head turned to the side. Blood continued to flow from his mouth and his face was badly cut from Akins brutality. Burns covered his chest and his arms were deeply cut from the ropes that had held him.
“Thayde,” I whispered, afraid to touch him.
“Morgan is right, Limus. You have to pay for what you have done. You know full well that Akin is a liar,” Tammer said.