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privacy.
    “That’s really not what I meant. At all,” said Kenzie. “You’ve seen what my brother and Nate can do, right? How powerful they are?”
    Kenzie stared off into the woods. “I mean, Decks can jump a car . An entire car! That’s practically unheard of for a jumper. And Nate? The things I’ve seen him do…” she trailed off. “That sort of power isn’t common for Variants. It’s the exception , not therule.”
    She started off down the trail again. Alex followed a few steps behind her.
    “You may not be able to hold onto your powers for long, Alex, but believe me when I tell you that while you do have them, you’re capable of things Declan and Nate could only dream of doing. I can sense it coming off you in waves. All that potential. You’re unique.”
    They broke through the edge of the woods and into a large clearing.
    Overhead, the cloudy sky had turned dark purple, threatening rain, but the sun still shone brightly across the field. The unusual play of light and shadow made for a gorgeous contrast.
    Okay , said Kenzie, admiring the view. Maybe this swamp life isn’t all bad.
    A blast of anxiety crashed against her mental barriers. She turned to face Alex. The girl swayed lightly on her feet as all of the color drained from her face.
    Kenzie reached out and snagged Alex by the elbow, as much to steady her as to keep her from bolting. She recognized the look in her friend’s eyes.
    This time Kenzie couldn’t resist the urge. She dove headlong into Alex’s thoughts—and then backpedalled as quickly as she could. The onslaught of fear and scattered images left Kenzie sick to her stomach. She released Alex’s elbow and took a step backward.
    Alex went completely still.
    Kenzie tried to make sense of everything she’d just seen.
    The anxiety and the fear were mostly tied to Alex’s concerns about losing control and hurting someone, but interwoven with those same emotions was an undercurrent of guilt and shame.
    Below all of that , however, was the thought that had stopped Alex dead in her tracks. Recognition. Her friend had seen this clearing before… in a dream.
    No, not a dream. A nightmare.
    No wonder she was so freaked.
    Nathaniel was walking toward them from the center of the field. “Hey, Red.” He smiled, oblivious. “And Alex! Long time no see. How’ve you been?”
    No one moved.
    “It was just a dream, Alex,” said Kenzie.
    That seemed to snap Alex from her reverie. Hurt and betrayal flashed in her eyes.
    “Don’t, Kenzie. Just…just don’t.” Alex turned to Nathaniel with an apologetic smile. “Hey, Nate. It’s good to see you. Listen, I’m really sorry.” She began edging her way back into the forest. “Can we try this tomorrow instead? I’m suddenly not feeling so great.”
    Nathaniel shrugged. “Of course.” He sounded a little disappointed. “See you tomorrow, then?”
    Alex nodded once before turning on her heel and jogging back into the forest.
    Nathaniel crossed his arms over his chest and turned to Kenzie, exasperated. “You dug through her head, didn’t you?”
    Kenzie grimaced. “I didn’t plan on it , Nathaniel. It just sort of happened.”
    “She going to be okay?”
    Kenzie looked back toward the path. She could just make out Alex threading her way through the trees and back toward where they’d parked the jeep.
    “I really hope so.”
     

 
    — 5 —
     
    A flash of pale skin was the only warning Nathaniel had before Kenzie’s bare foot made contact with the bridge of his nose. In the span of half a heartbeat, Nathaniel jerked his head backward, threw up a hand, and transformed his adoptive sister into a living statue.
    She stood there smiling up at him, her right leg stretched high in the air and her core oddly twisted, paralyzed halfway through her attack.
    “ Ow ,” he mumbled, rubbing his nose ruefully. He’d halted Kenzie’s forward motion before she could do much damage, but taking a spinning heel kick to the face—even at