Cromwell’s expression didn’t change, but he sighed. “That’s enough, Gabriel. Let her go.”

I hadn’t even noticed someone else was in the kitchen. He stood in the archway—a boy about my age, maybe a year younger, with a head full of blond curls and the prettiest face I’d ever seen on a guy. He had his hand raised in front of him; a look of concentration wrinkled his brow.

“Gabriel,” Cromwell said again. “Let her go.” Gabriel looked like he’d rather toss me through the air some more, but he lowered his hand.

I slid down the wall, stumbling to the side.

“She was going to touch you,” he said, his voice surprisingly deep. “This was a mistake.”

Cromwell pushed away from the table and stood. He turned to the boy. “Gabe, is there something you need?”

Gabe finally pulled his eyes off me. “Where’s Hayden? He didn’t wait around after class. I figured he came right home, like he has every day since you brought her into the house.”

“He’s not in the kitchen, now, is he?”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at me.

“It’s okay. Go. If you happen to find my son, please tell him I need to speak with him.”

Gabriel rolled his eyes. “All right, but if she kills you, I warned you.” With that, he turned and left the kitchen.

“Oh. My. God,” I whispered, heart racing.

“Gabriel is one of my children. There are several kids here your age. They’re a bit concerned, but don’t think they cannot protect themselves.”

I frowned. “I don’t run around touching people for the fun of it.”

He smiled tightly. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, but I will not tolerate you attacking anyone. Do you understand me?”

I pushed away from the wall. I didn’t reach for him, even though I wanted to. God knew what other superpowers he had hidden in this house. “You can’t be serious. This can’t be legal. There have to be laws against this.”

“This isn’t against any law,” he replied calmly. “Your mother is here with you and Olivia. We did not remove you from her guardianship. And need I remind you that you have already broken the law by not reporting what happened to that boy?”

I ignored that. “Like my mom can even make those kinds of decisions.” My self-control cracked and shattered. “I don’t even understand why you’re doing this!”

“I’m doing this to help your sister, Ember. To help you.”

“How is this helping me?”

His hands dropped to his sides. “You’re seventeen and playing mom to a child. Who, by the way, deserves a life far better than what you can provide for her.”

Ouch. That stung all the way to my core, mainly because he was totally right.

“You’re a guest in my home,” he continued. “As are your mother and sister. But if you think of leaving, or if you harm anyone, I can no longer consider you a guest.”