It had been around the point of that realization that I’d started hitting harder, as if I could hit the worst offenders hard enough that they would stay down. Living up to the ‘brute’ part of the brute classification. So stupid, deluded, short sighted. Even now, I shuddered to think what I might have become if the combination of Dean and my sister hadn’t reined me in. In that world of heroes and criminals, that very stark reality, I hadn’t had enough points of reference to think straight.

The truth didn’t always correct distorted perspectives—it could just as easily create them. Comforting lies and illusions were important.

The group maintained its retreat, my instincts told me it was because of what I’d shown them, while my brain continued to protest in vain, telling me Kenzie was waging a war with a ‘hornet’s nest’ and the others were putting umbrellas away and getting situated.

I didn’t miss the fact that Byron switched to Tristan, even though it wasn’t Tristan’s turn.

It was Sveta who approached. She still had the towel she’d tried to give me.

“Let’s try this again. Get yourself dry,” she told me. “Whatever you need, let me know. I’ve got you.”

I put my hand over hers, and gave it a waggle. Then I took the towel and dried my face of the moisture that had beaded it in the midst of stormy weather. Lengths of my hair had been blown free and been soaked, and I wrapped the towel around each in turn, squeezing the fabric to leech out the moisture. I didn’t look at anyone in particular, and in a way I was spared from having to, since Sveta was close. She was wet, damp, but she loved the water.

I was on the third length of hair, which had wrapped around my shoulder, when I heard someone break the silence.

“That shape—that’s what you looked like in the hospital? Your sister changed your power?”

Kenzie. Wide eyed, innocent.

“How about I tell you after, Kenzie?” Sveta asked. “I know most of it. If that’s okay, Victoria?”

“Thanks,” I said. I was worried about the silence, and I decided to confront it head-on. “I needed to get that out of the way. It’s hard to bring up or even explain. My forcefield is wild. It’s important that if we get into a fight, you have some sense of its reach. I pay close attention, but stuff happens. If I end up compromised… something which isn’t out of the question with people like Goddess in play, it’s important you know.”

I saw some nods. Kenzie looked very serious. Tristan too. Chris looked disinterested.