Cordray tried not to let the insecurity of dread creep into his pores at exposing himself to the room, but his palms began to sweat when he took in what he’d done. He had a moment of debate where he entertained the idea of bolting out of the castle and changing his name and address. It had been so long since his last episode. Still, he knew he couldn’t leave Rory, helpless as she was.
When Benjamin’s floored expression finally registered what had happened, he ran to Adam.
“Wait! He might still have a current running through him. Usually wears off within a minute.”
Benjamin’s mouth was dropped open. “Rory told me you were on the pill!”
Cordray ran his tongue over the outside of his teeth. “I am.”
“No, you’re not! The pill mutes all your magic. That’s the whole point of it, so you aren’t capable of doing things like this. You just electrocuted Adam!”
Frustration welled up in Cord, threatening to explode. “The pill doesn’t work on me, okay? It takes me down a few notches, but stuff like this still happens.”
“This is what you can do with your magic muted?” Benjamin’s eyes were wide with incredulity. His hand went over his mouth. “It’ll be up to the Chancellor, if you’ll be allowed around his only daughter after this. You’re the deadliest Lethal I’ve ever heard of if you did all that while on the pill. Stefan was on the fence about Rory dating a Lethal to begin with. Of course, then he met you and loved you. But still. This might change things.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of the stigma that brands all of us as criminals. I know I’m a freak above freaks. No father wants their daughter to date me. If I’d used two hands, Adam would’ve been dead in the next heartbeat,” Cordray croaked, his mouth completely dry.
Benjamin’s eyes flicked from side to side as he tried to put the pieces in the proper order. “I’ve never seen a Pulse like yours. To actually electrocute someone while your magic is muted?”
Cordray didn’t mean to let a flicker of vulnerability shine through in his eyes, but it was there nonetheless. “Adam will be fine. He shouldn’t have come near Rory, yelling like that.” Years of childhood anger and hurt were bubbling up. He’d been so careful for so long. But after only a month of kissing Rory, suddenly he was ready to take his gloves off and go to war at the slightest hint she might not be able to smile at him in the morning.
Benjamin held up his hands in surrender, taking a step forward. “Put a cap on those babies, and we’ll get you some help.”
“Nothing can help me,” Cordray replied, morose. Still, he complied and shoved his black driving gloves back into place, not wanting to electrocute two people in one day. His heartbeat throbbed in his neck, exposing his insecurity and need for people to look the other way on his genetic oddity. “I electrocuted my mother on the pill when I was nine. Buried her right before Christmas. Medication isn’t strong enough for me.”
It was the confession he hadn’t had the nerve to tell Rory. Instead he’d blamed his previous lack of traditional medication for people in his condition on the moral grounds that it muted the rest of his magic – which was no small inconvenience. There were two camps of Lethals: those who wanted the pill to keep their loved ones safe, and those who resented it for muting all of their magic, instead of taking away just the one problem area.
Benjamin moved slowly toward Adam, bending down and searching for signs of life. When Adam’s eyes opened, there was a flash of fear, and then the usual surly disposition took him over. He didn’t even growl a “thanks” to Benjamin when the guard helped him up. He cracked his neck and flexed his fingers a few times before speaking. “Since when do you allow Lethals near Rory? I would’ve thought security would be tighter for the Chancellor’s daughter. You’re falling down on the job, old man.”
Benjamin’s lips tightened. “Do yourself a favor and shut up. If I wasn’t so shocked at what just happened, I might’ve been able to enjoy someone finally knocking you down a few pegs.” Then his gaze cut to Cordray. “I’ve got nothing against you, Cord. I actually really like you. But until I give you the all clear, you don’t touch Rory again. If you truly do care about her, you won’t fight me on this.”
“Understood.” Cordray hung his head, his shoulders slumping in defeat.