Solar Dare Read Online Free Page B

power rippled away from her hand. “I did it. Sort of.”
    She giggled as the ball of energy sparked and twisted on the ground near her feet. “Do I pick it up?”
    “Sure, if you want the shock of your life. Once the power separates from you, it is as painful to you as it is to your target.”
    Solar took a deep breath and grabbed the skittering ball. The searing agony that rippled up her arm knocked her to her knees.
    Denhar was at her side in a moment. “I told you not to do that.”
    “I needed to know what it was like. I needed to make sure that I could survive it.” She rubbed at the tingling skin of her hand and fought back to her feet.
    “Okay, time to try again.” Knowing how the ball felt clicked something inside her. Solar held out her hand, watched her aura build in intensity, but this time, she bent her hand and then thrust it forward to propel her power across the patio. The ball wobbled a bit but struck the nearest rug and punched a hole in it before setting it aflame.
    Slow, steady applause came from Denhar.
    “Wonderful. More power, more speed and you will have it.”
    Solar grinned. “I know.”
    She shifted to the left side and tried again. This time, the ball flew true and punched a simple hole in the fabric.
    “Again. Left or right, keep going until those rugs are tattered.”
    She grinned. “I will.”
    Left, right, left, right and both arms at the same time, Solar fired ball after ball. The sun climbed higher and her energy spiked. She had a strange, heavy sensation in her eyes, so she closed them and tried to send a beam out through her optical ports. It worked. She was able to stare a line of energy that cut one of the rugs from the hanger.
    She tried the same sort of feel with her hands, and she created a slicing blade that removed half of a rug. Solar had to get in closer to use it, but it was a definite option.
    Finally, Denhar called a halt for lunch.
    “Why am I getting stronger as the day goes by?”
    He grinned, “The sun calls to you and gives to you. Others are powered by starlight, celestial gasses, lunar shifts or other stellar events. You and yours are solar powered. The stars keep you from drawing on your personal energy, but you still can do this in the dark. You will then be drawing off stored energy and the power of your body. It is a considerable amount.”

Chapter Six
    S olar practiced more after lunch. First, projecting and controlling the energy and then restraining it once again. By the end of the day, she was exhausted and the rugs she used for practice hung in smoking tatters. It was probably a good thing the structure was made of sandstone, otherwise she may have burned the place down with her efforts.
    “You did well,” Denhar said as they walked inside. It was strange knowing that she could control her energy. It was also strange to be able to feel the difference in temperature as they entered the gleaming castle.
    They sat at the shining sandstone table where Haringk served them some delectable fruit dish and more of the cool, sweet water that she had come to love. Solar had never had anything raw before. She’d always managed to burn almost anything before she brought it to her lips if she wasn’t wearing a containment suit, and even then, she always warmed it. That was why all of them had been so proud when they finally cooked a meal and managed to eat it without charring it beyond recognition.
    The fruit dish was cool against her lips, and she closed her eyes with a smile. Never had she tasted anything so cold or sweet before. It was a treat.
    One she planned to savour.
    “What will you teach me tomorrow?” she asked before spooning another bite of the lovely orange fruit into her mouth.
    “Nothing. You have learned how to control your energy quite well and faster than I did, I might add.”
    Denhar looked both proud and apprehensive when he took a bite of his fruit. He didn’t even bat an eyelash at the taste. What must it have been like to live