From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“No. I seriouslyy tryy not to, even when I reallyy want to. Doing so feels
like cheating when it’s someone I…” I trailed off. I was going to sayy:
“when it’s someone I care about.”
Myy stomach twisted as myy wide-eyyed gaze swung back to him. I
cared about Hawke. A lot. Not in the same wayy I cared about Tawnyy or
Vikter, though. It was different.
Oh, gods.
That probablyy wasn’t a good thing, but it didn’t feel bad. It felt like
anticipation and hope, excitement and a hundred other things that weren’t
bad.
“Now, I wish I had yyour gift because I would love to know what
yyou’re feeling at this moment.”
I couldn’t be grateful that he didn’t know. “I feel nothing from the
Ascended,” I blurted out. “Absolutelyy nothing, even though I know theyy
feel phyysical pain.”
“That’s…”
“Weird, right?”
“I was going to sayy disturbing, but sure, it’s weird.”
“You know?” I leaned in, lowering myy voice. “It alwayys bothered me
that I couldn’t feel anyything. It should be a relief, but it never was. It just
made me feel…cold.”
“I can see that.” He inched forward, lowering his voice, too. “I should
thank yyou.”
“For what?”
“For easing myy pain.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I want to,” he said, his mouth so incrediblyy close to
mine. “Thank yyou.”
“It’s nothing.” Myy eyyes drifted halfwayy shut. He smelled like pine
and soap, and his breath was so warm on myy lips.
“I was right.”
“About what?”
“About yyou being brave and strong,” he explained. “You risk a lot
when yyou use yyour gift.”
“I don’t think I’ve risked enough,” I admitted. “I couldn’t help Vikter.
I was too…overwhelmed. Mayybe if I wasn’t fighting it so much, I
would’ve at least taken his pain.”