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fit his palm as if made for it. Strangely, holding the orb made him feel better, calmer, as if the uncertainty of the last hour was melting away. Alec frowned.
    â€œYou’re feeling the connection, aren’t you?” Darius leaned in. This close, his eyes sparkled. “I felt it, too, the first time an Operative dropped one into my hand. Of course, I was younger than you.”
    â€œYou were found by these guys, like me?” Alec asked. He didn’t want to be interested in these people and he certainly wasn’t going to help them out, but the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
    â€œSure. Recruited, trained and ready for action. The way you will be.” Darius’ grin was infectious. “You have no idea how interesting your life is going to get.”
    Anna arrived at Darius’ elbow. Immediately the twinkle diminished and his face became more serious.
    â€œI’m working with the other Potentials,” said Anna. “While you’re waiting for regen, Darius, start Alec on basic concentration and focus techniques.”
    â€œSure,” Darius replied.
    â€œNo chatter. Alec will learn about the training program all in good time.”
    â€œAgreed.”
    â€œLeave Riley to me. I’ll start her with an orb as soon as she settles down. Hands off.” Anna headed back to the other teens that were crowded together on the sofas and seemed to be in deep concentration.
    Alec watched her walk away. Anna was very good looking in a cold, distant way, but there was something about her that made him slightly uncomfortable.
    â€œThere’s a reason she affects you that way,” Darius murmured, with a nod in Anna’s direction. “Someday I’ll tell you about it.”
    Alec said nothing. He dropped his eyes to the orb. It was freaky how Darius seemed to know what he was thinking. He’d have to control his facial expressions better. He glanced over at Riley. She was sitting on the farthest lower bunk and huddled against the wall, her knapsack held in front of her like a shield. What Alec knew about women could easily fit on the head of a pin, but even an idiot could read her mutinous expression a soccer pitch away.
    Darius was staring at Riley, too. “I think Anna has her work cut out for her,” he said. He turned back to Alec and winked. “Should be interesting to watch.”
    â€œYeah, so?”
    Darius gave a short laugh. “There isn’t much Anna can’t handle. That’s why she was assigned here. She’s one of the most capable officers I know.”
    â€œYou guys are some kind of army?”
    â€œSenior Field Officer, Tyon Collective. Outranks me big time.” Darius shrugged. He gave Anna a covert look and dropped his voice lower. “But I’m stronger.”
    Alec smirked. “Well, duh. Men generally are. We studied it in Bio last fall. It’s our testosterone and stuff.”
    Darius tapped his temple with a finger. “Stronger this way,” he said in a conspiratorial tone. “Power. Strongest Potential in the last three centuries.”
    â€œWhat’s a Potential?”
    â€œYou are. Someone with the gift. You’re not far behind me. That’s how we picked you up so quickly. You shine like a beacon.”
    Alec found himself clasping the orb tightly and a tingling feeling shimmered up his arm and into his shoulder. It was always Peter getting the attention, the great grades, the accolades. Except on a soccer pitch. No one could touch him there. Was Darius trying to get him on his side with flattery? Did he really have special power? “Does my brother have it?”
    â€œPeter’s power is different from yours.” Darius nodded at the other teens. “More like them. Trainable. Still a threat to Rhozan. Which is the main problem, of course.”
    â€œBecause Rhozan will be looking for him, right?” Alec didn’t want to believe this stuff but