Page 17 of The Lost Elemental

Something flared in his eyes. “It’s surprising you went unnoticed for so long.”

“Unnoticed?”

“We can sense the power in other elementals. Even when it’s bound, we can still feel it bubbling below the surface.”

I forced myself not to look away even though I had a burning desire to run from the room. “If you can sense it, why do you need to do the testing?”

Acker leaned back against his desk. “We need to register the strength of each individual. Some don’t need to go to an academy. They would never be a risk. Others need to learn to master their gifts.”

“Because we could hurt someone?”

He nodded. “The stronger the power, the more training required. And from everything I hear, you have quite the power simmering in your veins.”

“She’s going to combust. It’s just a matter of time,” Riven muttered.

My head snapped in his direction. “Combust?”

Riven merely shrugged, looking bored, but Quincy stepped forward with a gentle smile. “You’ll have to train hard to keep yourself and those around you safe.”

Riven let out an exasperated sigh. “Say it plainly, Quince. She could kill herself and everyone around her.”

9

My breaths came quicker and quicker. My lungs ached with the strain of the pants. Quincy sent Riven a withering look I barely registered.

His hands found my shoulders, gentle and reassuring. “Breathe with me now, Aura. Nothing is going to happen to you or anyone around you.”

“T-That’s not what he said.”

My short, stuttered breaths were in danger of sending me hurtling back into a memory. Only I wasn’t even sure it was a memory. The trauma of almost dying in the blaze ten years ago had wiped every memory before the incident from my mind, and the memories of the fire itself were fractured as best. Partial snapshots, not entire photographs. But that didn’t make them any less terrifying.

“We’re going to train you, so you aren’t a danger to yourself or anyone else. It’s why these academies were built. Our teachers are experts; they’ve had cases far more volatile than yours.”

Quincy’s words ate away at the worst of my fear, and my breathing eased a fraction.

He patted my shoulder. “There you go. We just take it one step at a time. Don’t listen to anyone trying to scare you.”

I darted a look at Riven and for the briefest of moments, I thought I saw regret in those glacial eyes. But I blinked and the mirage was gone.

A knock sounded on the office door.

“Come in,” Acker called.

The door opened, and a girl about my age hovered in the entryway. “I was told you wanted to see me, sir.”

“Yes. Kerry, this is one of our new students, Aura Coleman. She’s going to be your roommate and could use a tour guide since she hasn’t grown up in this world.”

The girl sent me a hesitant smile. “Of course. Nice to meet you, Aura.”

I let out an audible breath when she wasn’t appalled at being paired with me. “You too.”

“I don’t think you need me for anything else,” Riven said, starting for the door.

Kerry scrambled to move out of his way, apologizing and blushing furiously. I wished I could’ve snuck in one more parting shot to his balls.

Acker pushed off his desk. “We’re done for today.”

“Don’t we need to talk about Aura’s father?” Dean Sinclair cut in.