<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99">Ayla dropped her gaze, staring at her hands as her shoulders hunched, as though she were still trying to curl up into a ball, despite his attempts to calm himself. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d">"Control." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99">she answered shakily.</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d"> "Of my magic.... Of my emotions.... And of my actions..."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"> each answer said quieter than the last.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ffcc">Alexi watched her with concern in his eyes, before actually reaching out to feel what was unsaid. A look of heartbreak crossed over his face, almost speaking. But he was afraid if he said what he wanted to Lucian would only use it against her. And that might do serious damage.</span>