#col:threads

"Can't say I've noticed anythin' like emotional manipulation, personally, but I haven't exactly spent much time around people for the last few years so it's not like I've had much opportunity to notice anythin' like that." Hearing he might be the only one in the family whose abilities converged like that wasn't particularly reassuring since that likely meant there would be difficulty in finding someone who could help him learn how to control it. "Well, given that the one time I tried, it didn't show me anythin' good, I think I can safely say that's one thing I don't really wanna be messin' with to start with, so I'm already ahead of you on not wanting to go advertisin' that shit."

"It's not a common ability. Only a few of Cord's kids and grandkids have it. The further you are from her genetically, the less likely you are to develop that one."

It was a blessing, really, that she didn't have to worry about that one. It would have made things so much worse between her and Wilder if that were the case because there would be no way to convince him that she wasn't using it on him.

Colette had been putting this off for probably longer than she should have, letting the fear of his reaction consume her. Talking to Talia had helped, but not enough. Not that there really was anything that could help where Wilder was concerned.

It was...a risk. Okay, maybe that was putting it mildly, but he had been almost like a friend to her she reasoned, trying not dwell on the past tense of her thoughts. Still, the sigil had been something stupid she had done one of the times they had hooked up, a way to make sure he was safe because he had always seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. She didn’t even think when she felt the stinging in her wrist, alerting her that he was hurt somewhere. 

Tracking spells are easy if you have something of the person you’re trying to find. He had stayed at her place often enough that hadn’t been hard to end up with some of his hair when he used her shower or anything of the sort. So she did what she did and she stole her cousin’s car, rushing off on what could end up being a suicide mission if it played out wrong. 

Nothing had prepared her for the state he was actually in and, for a moment. Colette couldn’t bring herself to move. It had to be a trick of the light, her eyes not working correctly, anything but what she was actually seeing. 

Tea was not her drink of choice by any means, but it was cold already at the bar once the sun set and she needed something warm. Whiskey would only give the illusion and lavender tea just made her feel more like she was at home. It was a feeling she missed. The bar was fine, it was nice to know Cord was family, but it wasn’t quite the same. 

Her fingers curled around the mug, the heat warming her hands but making the rest of her shiver slightly. 

His gaze met hers, reluctant and angry. The temptation to take a swing at her was strong. The gesture wasn’t necessarily aggressive, but it was controlling and she had to know that would get under his skin. Then again, most of her actions did. “What the fuck is so important?”

Waking up hurt. Everything was stiff and she was overheating to the point that it was damn near suffocating. It didn’t help that the room was entirely too unfamiliar. 

“Hell,” she rasped as she turned her head and caught sight of a familiar face. “Definitely hell if you’re here.”