When Lightning Ignites: Lightning Series, #2

Also by Kathleen Rovner

Lightning Series

When Lightning Strikes

When Lightning Ignites

When Lightning Burns

When Lightning Ignites

Kathleen Rovner

For my family.

Cover Illustration by Melody Barber

Edited by Jeni Chappelle

Copyright © 2015

All rights reserved

Chapter 1: Yanked Around

≺≻

Julie stretched a little, her aching muscles scraping against the wood floor. There was a pressure on both arms, and she blinked as someone yanked her hard. Her tired eyes burned in the light.

What did you do to her?

Someone else yanked her the other way. The tingling in her arm said it was Rory.

Or maybe it was Luke.

Memories spiraled back, making her head spin. Luke had been talking to her in the coffeehouse with Rory a few minutes ago.

Was that only a few minutes ago?

He’d touched her, and all the memories of the night of her dance had rushed back. He’d saved her from men dressed in black suits at the hotel—men after her. She’d zapped one of them unconscious.

Luke had kissed her and connected with her before she even knew Rory.

And then wiped away her memories. Or was this all a dream?

The connection was mind–altering enough without both of them touching her at the same time. The tingles soared up and down her arms from both sides, colliding in the middle in a nauseating swirl. She felt drunk on sensations. It was too much.

I didn’t do anything. She was fine until you showed up. Rory. Her vision was blurry, but the person tugging on her right arm sounded like him and had brown hair.

Had she fallen? They were fighting over her, and she was hurt. Did they even care about her at all?

Her head pounded, the skin sensitive as she was pulled one way then another. Julie focused on the little spot of anger that helped drown out the overwhelming feelings from the connection. She fed it, taking in a deep breath and willing her mind to focus like when she danced, to push everything else away.

She told you to let her go. Why didn’t you listen? She blinked to her left at Luke’s light blond hair.

Her hair dragged the floor, getting tangled in tiny crevasses in the wood. A few long, red strands were jerked out as Rory pulled her again. They were going to wrench her arms out of her sockets if they kept this up. Julie took another breath, letting the sensations she got from her dancing merge with the one from her connection, trying to overpower it.

The tingling going up each arm made it plain that they owned her reaction to them. She struggled to gain control of her thoughts, her mind. Even if she wanted to kiss Rory…and oh god, Luke.

Her mind spun away again, her anger drowned out by longing.

No.

Julie pushed the thoughts away, fighting to regain the little bit of sanity she’d had a moment before.

My name is Julie Marin. I do not belong to either of these men. Her body prickled with cold fear.

She blinked again and let her anger build, crowding out her fear. She could overcome this.

Luke is a stranger, and Rory…

Well they had issues that she wasn’t comfortable with. He was too possessive. He made too many plans for their future—things she wasn’t sure she wanted yet with anyone. She’d considered putting her dreams to the side for Rory a time or two. The connection they shared was insidious and poisoned her thoughts.

She didn’t love them.

She didn’t even know them.

The two of them were influenced by the connection the same way. They had the same sensations. It was hard to be angry with them, when she knew they were struggling with this too.

Whatever happened was after you held her hand. What did you do to her? She clenched her fists as Luke pulled her.

She is mine! Her right arm was getting sore from their tug–of–war.

I saw her first!

Her fingers tingled. She wasn’t some toy they could fight over.

Julie blinked away the last of the fog from her mind. She could make her own decisions. And right now she didn’t want either of them.

Stop. She croaked out, confused about who was saying what. Not that it mattered. Her shoulders started to ache. You’re hurting me.

Both stopped yelling at each other for a minute. She blinked up at them, trying to focus on their faces. Her breath caught as she met each of their eyes, and her mind swirled away with thoughts that made her blush.

She closed her eyes. It was safer that way. Neither of them let go. More evidence that they had issues. They didn’t want her—they were just addicted to these feelings.

Julie, are you okay? Luke asked.

Yes, would you both stop yanking on me? She screamed. Let me go!

Rory let go of her arm. A second later she heard a smack, and then Luke let her go. She risked opening her eyes. Luke held a hand against his cheek, his blue eyes wide as he stared at his rival, a lock of blond hair falling over one side of his face.

She wanted to reach up and sweep it out of his eyes. She sighed.

What the hell? I’ll make you sorry for that. Luke shot back, all of his attention now on Rory.

Julie’s eyes flicked to Rory too. His eyes were all stormy, and she remembered how they turned darker with other emotions when they kissed. She resisted the temptation to pull him toward her, let his strong arms wrap around her, and kiss him until she forgot about the last few days.

And Melissande. Him and Melissande.

Rory stood up, and Luke followed. They towered above her, and she struggled to sit up by herself, gripping her head where it felt sore.

Thanks for the help, guys, she muttered under her breath, most of her not wanting to draw their attention as they continued to fight. She looked around the coffeehouse and realized that they were alone. Where had everyone gone?

Luke, a stranger’s voice chimed in, I think this is getting out of hand.

Julie dipped her head under the table next to her to see a pair of feet standing in the doorway. Her eyes traveled up his body to his face. He looked rougher than Rory and Luke with spiky brown hair but had kind brown eyes.

He shuffled his feet, his head turning to look outside nervously. You should let the boy take her home, and then we can sort all this out later.

Boy? Rory yelled. Furniture dragged across the floor, and framed pictures on the walls shook.

Ike, I wait months—years—doing what I’m told to help out the entire race of Fey, and this is what I get? Luke clenched his fists. Julie is meant for me.

I see your point, but maybe we should talk this out. Or maybe you should let Julie talk. Ike glanced at her and smiled slightly. Or we should all just take Julie home and sort it out later.

She smiled back at him automatically, until she realized he was Luke’s friend from the night of the hotel. His gaze returned to his friend before he caught her frown. Ike had watched Luke wipe her memories and done nothing—though, he did seem to be trying to diffuse this situation. Why couldn’t she have this connection with him? He seemed a lot more reasonable than the other two.

Shut up, you freaking wizard! Why would I listen to you? Get the hell out of here before I break something over your head, Rory replied.

Wizard? Julie stared, wondering if Ike would pull out a wand or something. She still knew very little about the world her parents had dragged her to when they forced everyone to move here for Jamie.

A picture flew off the wall at the man—wizard, whatever—followed by a crackle. The picture dropped to the floor as Luke wiped Rory with electricity.

I’ll get you for that one, bastard, Rory yelled.

A table flew at Luke, who held up his hands and zapped it with a bolt of bright light. It split in two before it hit him. Julie gasped as he shot out another bolt of light.

It was scary, but wow—would she be able to do that one day?

Rory threw up a table in front of him to block the bolt. All the pictures on the wall behind him tore off the wall and started shooting sideways like knives.

Oh, crap, Julie whispered.

Why did this keep happening to her? People kept attacking each other and losing control around her. Less than a week ago Rory and Jamie were fighting over her. Was she driving people to the edge?

Yeah, crap, Ike said next to her. Julie started and looked at his calm, steady face. He had walked over to her as she stared at the fighting men. He ducked again as coffee cups hurtled through the air. I don’t think either of them is going to be happy until they beat each other up a bit. Hopefully they won’t kill each other. Come on, let’s get out of here. I know that they don’t want to hurt you by accident.

Really? You could have fooled me. She raised an eyebrow at him as she rubbed the growing knot on her head.

Yeah, this is all a bit of a shock. I haven’t seen Luke lose it like this since we were boys. He shrugged and then ducked as a table flew over his head. He didn’t even flinch. Was he used to situations like this?

Ike looked down at his hands for a second before reaching out to help her up, his eyes wide. He let out a relieved breath as he touched her and could help her sit up.

Julie stared at him for a minute, trying to figure out why he looked scared to touch her. Then she laughed. Worried I would connect with you or something?

Actually, yeah, a little bit. He coughed and looked away from her. If you can connect with the two of them and make Luke all crazy, I don’t want to know who else you can do this with.

She glared at him. Like I have any control over this.

Light arched over their heads as Luke zapped Rory again, and they yelled more insults.

Are they going to hurt each other? Julie asked as he helped her to her feet. She was mad at them, but her stomach twisted at the thought of either of them getting hurt.

Maybe a bit. I’ll get worried if they move in close. Luke needs to actually touch someone to stop their heart. She gulped, and Ike winced. He may be mad, but he would never forgive himself if he killed someone over you…like this. He coughed again, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.

That was intense.

She looked back at Rory and Luke. Their faces were red, and their eyes were wide and crazed. Would Rory kill for her too? Were they doing that right now?

Julie glanced out at the street through the glass door and stopped walking. All the people from the coffeehouse and more were gathered out there. When they saw Ike and her, they fell silent. Several narrowed their eyes as they stared at her, almost like they blamed her.

Her stomach clenched. How was this her fault? She couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

There was a loud crash behind them, and Ike turned back. I have to see if I can stop them.

She grasped his arm. Her fingers felt warm and tingly. "I’m not going outside with them or with Rory and Luke fighting over me."

He looked down at her hands, frowning. Okay, fine. But please don’t zap me. I have a feeling that if you can zap people unconscious a few feet away, you could seriously hurt me.

I wouldn’t mean to. I don’t really know what I’m doing yet or anything about it. She squeezed his arm to reassure him.

Well, sure. That makes me feel better. He rolled his eyes.

Julie smirked. She liked him. Ike turned them back toward the fight. Luke and Rory were both just staring at each other panting.

Please stop. Her voice carried over to them both, and they paused, turning to look at her. They pinned her with intense stares, eyeing her up and down like she was a piece of chocolate they wanted to gobble up. This connection was scary sometimes. This is getting out of hand. Look, I think we all need a break—some time to clear our heads. Can we all just go to our homes or whatever?

But I came here for you. Luke held his hands out to her, his eyes wide and pleading.

At the same time, Rory’s expression softened from anger to longing. We just left your house. I wanted some time with you.

Julie gulped. She couldn’t take all this. She couldn’t take hurting either of them, even if they were both idiots. This had to stop now.

Look at you both. You’re fighting over me. This is stupid. These feelings aren’t real. How can they be? I barely know either of you. She looked away. I think it would be better if we all don’t see each other for a while.

Ike jerked his head toward Rory and Luke. Their gazes had both switched to identical looks of pain and anger. She shuddered and held up her hands. They looked ready to kill something or someone. I’m not sure that was the best thing to say right now.

Julie took a deep breath, trying again. We just need to let things calm down. There is a lot to figure out here.

Ike’s hand tightened on her arm. She looked at him, getting mad. Her head throbbed, and all everyone was thinking about was preserving Rory and Luke’s feelings.

Well, she had some too.

What do you want me to say? I don’t love either of them, and they’re both acting like idiots. I don’t care if I ever see either of them again!

Luke reached out to her. His face fell into unbearable lines of misery, like she was breaking his heart. Even though she knew she wasn’t really, her own chest clenched in response.

He doesn’t love me. This is all fake. She would just keep telling herself that.

Jules, I need you—

Don’t you dare call her Jules. This is all your fault! Rory lunged at Luke. They fell to the ground punching each other.

No, no, no. Ike pushed her to the side to get to them. This is bad.

She didn’t want them to hurt each other. She may not want anything to do with them right now, but she didn’t want to lose them either.

Julie tensed up, gripping Ike. He struggled to get free before looking back at her, his face white. She wondered for a moment what he saw and then closed her eyes.

The familiar sensation of trying to release something surfaced, but there was nothing there. Her body searched. It was there, warm against her hands, trying to pull away from her but full of the energy she needed. She drew from it, and after a brief struggle the energy slid into her. The weight dropped from her fingertips.

She opened her eyes and was standing on her own. Ike lay crumpled on the floor at her feet.

Had she done that?

Her hands opened, and an arc of light left them as it hit the two men rolling around on the floor. They both stilled, and she sagged but kept herself on her feet, holding the chair.

Julie? someone yelled behind her. Are you in there?

The door banged open behind her, and Jamie rushed in. His dark blond hair tousled and his cheeks red, he gasped in a few breaths as he searched for her. When he found her, he hurried over and looked at the men on the ground. His face turned white, and his mouth pinched together.

Was that fear? Julie had never seen it on her brother’s face before.

Jamie. She let him hold her, and she sagged against him in relief. I…I don’t know what happened.

Let me get you home and call Dad. Quickly. He looked over his shoulder, outside the windows. It was silent, and she met eye after eye staring at her. Some were full of fear and others, disapproval.

She clung to her brother. She was half afraid what some of them might do to her if he wasn’t here. Everyone backed out of their way as they went through the crowd of well–dressed people. No one spoke. They just stared, making it all the more eerie.

What about them? Will they be okay? Julie whispered after they made it through everyone. She wasn’t sure why she cared. They both had a lot of explaining to do, and she wasn’t sure she felt like hearing it for a while.

Ike was another issue. She hoped she hadn’t hurt him. What had she even done?

Jamie nodded, holding her close. I think so, but I need to look after you right now.

He pulled her to his moped, but his hands shook on the steering wheel. What was he thinking? What was he sensing?

She struggled to stay awake as he drove to their house. The pristine parks and neighborhoods passed by in a blur. As he lifted her off the bike at the house, she fell asleep.

♦

Chapter 2: Visitors

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"Julie? Julie, honey? Are you awake?"

She groaned. Her eyes opened briefly to make out the tall form of her father leaning over her, his dark hair falling over his intense grey eyes.

What did he want? Go away, Lir. I’m sleeping.

It’s Dad. Stop calling me Lir. He snapped. A second later, he lightly touched her shoulder. She tensed.

If he wanted her to start calling him Dad again, keeping her from sleep when she was this tired was not going to help. He had lied to her and let her mind be manipulated. For months she had suffered, spacing out at the weird stuff around Seelie Island or strong negative emotions. It had been like an emotional lobotomy, so she was in essence forced to be happy all the time. For a while she was even half convinced that she was going crazy. Now she knew the truth.

Go away. There’s no school, and I’m so tired. I must be coming down with something. She was starting to dislike waking up in different places than where she fell asleep.

Just letting you know we have company. He cleared his throat.

Fine, tell them I’m sick and they can come back later. She pulled a pillow over her head. Why wouldn’t he go away? Why was he being weird?

I tried that and well… He paused. They’re in here with me since you’re too ill to get out of bed.

What? Her eyes flew open, meeting his, and she flinched a little. She couldn’t help it. She knew what that gaze could do now. Well, she wasn’t sure what exactly, but he could manipulate people’s minds.

Lir frowned. He must have noticed her fear of him.

He leaned away a little so she could see that there were four people sitting on dining room chairs in her room, two men and two women.

Julie’s eyes widened. What the hell were they doing in her room? She thought she recognized two of them from around the island, but they were all strangers to her. As usual all their hair and clothes were magazine perfect. One of the women shifted in her seat a little, her spine somehow becoming straighter.

Sorry to wake you so soon after fainting again. Lir reached out to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes. She glared at him, and he put his hand back with a sigh. But they insisted on seeing you right away. Here, let me help you sit up.

She complied, thankful that Jamie had just dumped her in her bed with her clothes on. This was the most time she and Lir had spent together since she found out about everything, and she wasn’t sure if she missed him or wanted him to leave. Right now, though, she didn’t want to be alone with these strangers.

Rory, Luke, Ike? Her breath hitched, afraid of what she might hear.

He leaned in to tell her so the others couldn’t hear. They’re okay. They’re all sleeping like you were. They will be fine.

One of the women smiled and nodded. She didn’t recognize the woman, but her eyes sparkled with a familiar look that Julie couldn’t quite place. She was sure they'd never met, yet she looked like someone she knew. The others’ expressions all seemed carefully blank.

I’ll ask them to leave if you don’t feel up to talking right now. Lir ignored the mumbling over his shoulder that his comment brought.

No, it’s okay. I’ll talk to them, Julie said. They must be desperate to be sitting in here waiting for me to wake up.

He chuckled.

The other woman looked down at her hands, and a man cleared his throat. He looked a little like Rory. He had the same eye and hair color.

They all had to be Fey. It was weird that she was so calm thinking that. Here were basically aliens, sitting and talking to her in her bedroom.

And she was one of them. Not quite human.

The familiar–looking woman spoke first. Do you know who we are?

Julie shook her head.

Your father hasn’t told you about us? one of the men asked.

Nope. She glared at Lir. But that shouldn’t be all that surprising, considering all the other things he hasn’t shared with me until lately.

Just a few short months ago, even if it felt like years, her parents had forced them to move to this island out of the blue. They had used two minor attacks on her—well, maybe they weren’t that minor—as an excuse to move here. But it had really been for Jamie. He’d needed to learn to control his Fey abilities. Just a few days ago, while saving Jamie and Rory’s lives, everyone discovered that she had Fey powers too.

All four stared at Lir. Everyone but the smiling woman crossed their arms and narrowed their gazes at him. She just lifted an eyebrow.

He cleared his throat. I decided not to go into details with my daughter about anything the last few days since she is recovering.

Then his mouth went back into a tight knot. He didn’t like these people. Did that mean she should like them more or less?

The guests nodded.

Wise but this makes why we’re here a bit harder. The man not only looked like Rory, but his smooth voice reminded her of him too. She trembled and looked down at the bed as he spoke.

Just the thought of Rory made her heart speed up and her hands tremble in longing. She clenched her hands in the bedspread, hoping none of these people noticed the purple cover moving.

She wouldn’t allow these fake emotions to rule her. From now on she would decide what was real to her and what was not.

Julie glanced back at the man, determined to focus on him and not think about Rory.

I miss him so much, but I don’t want to see him anymore.

She took a deep breath. This wasn’t the time to think about it. She’d have to wait until she was alone and could cry or hit a pillow.

I’m Muirgen, this is Nerida, Marisol, and Kailen. She tried to absorb what he said as he pointed to each of them, not quite meeting his eyes. "We are the island elders. We help maintain the rules that