“Fucking with them is one thing. They aren’t supposed to exist. They aren’t supposed to be here. But that’s not—it’s different. What Seth did . . . I could never do . . . that.”

“So it would have been okay if he’d shot her, but raping her is wrong.”

Tyler just stared back at her.

“What?” she said. “I’m trying to figure out your bizarre morality. You’re the one who lit my arm on fire. Didn’t you rough Becca up yourself?”

He didn’t even look ashamed, reminding her that Tyler was no white knight, either. “It’s not my morality,” he said. “I’m not a Guide. Full Elementals are identified and put to death. Period. Who cares if they get a little roughed up on the way?”

“You’re an Elemental,” she said. “Why are you allowed to live?”

His eyes hardened, and she realized she’d struck a nerve. “Because I can’t accidentally destroy an entire town if I have a temper tantrum. You’ve seen the damage they can do. I know you have.”

“You aren’t the only person who lost someone,” she said quietly. “Their parents died in a fire, didn’t they?”

“Yeah, so did Seth’s.”

She hadn’t heard that. Quinn thought about the carnival fire that had killed seven other students. Or the earthquake that had destroyed the bridge near school—and almost killed Becca. Or the arson attacks that had destroyed half a dozen homes—including hers—and killed people in the community. Whole families devastated because of a temper tantrum, as he called it.

She didn’t want Tyler to be right. But a tiny part of her agreed with him. Maybe Gabriel had been saving people, but she knew enough about Nick’s twin brother to know he had a cruel streak every inch as wide as Tyler’s.

“Nick is my friend,” she said quietly. “I don’t care what he is.”

“You should.”

“I don’t. He’s never hurt anyone.”

“How do you know? Have you asked him?”

That question drew her up short. She thought of Nick in the woods behind his house, showing her what he could do. Relax. It’s only wind.

But then he’d told her about the accidental tornado on the soccer field. The storm that had shattered his leg. His abilities had let him heal in record time. What if a normal kid had been caught up in that storm?

What else could Nick do by accident?

“I trust him.” She hesitated. “He warned me to stay away from you.”

Tyler snorted. “Wait, let me put on my surprised face. You want to stay away from me? There’s the door.”

Quinn didn’t move.

Tyler’s eyes didn’t leave hers. “Where was friendly ol’ Nick Merrick when your brother was smacking you around? I don’t see him putting those powers to good use to protect you.”