I had forced myself to put the bookshelf back in place, to erase any trace of what had happened, but that didn’t erase the evidence inside me. My body still trembled slightly from the effort; the muscles in my arms protested with an inexplicable weakness. It was as if the weight of the furniture was still clinging to my bones.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, trying to ignore the echo of Freidis's voice still ringing in my mind: “This is no accident. This power is part of you.” But not even she could soothe the exhaustion that still clung to me like a shadow.
The sound of the door opening jolted me upright. Connor entered the room, carrying his usual energy, but something in his expression made me tense my shoulders. His eyes, as perceptive as ever, studied me immediately.
"
