Page 18 of The Lost Elemental

Acker glanced at me. “Any idea who your father is?”

“I didn’t even know there was a chance I was an elemental until today.”

He clapped his hands together as Sinclair frowned. “We’ll talk more once you’re settled. We can pull together a team to do some investigating. For now, Kerry will show you to your room.”

I nodded, unable to get any other words out. It wasn’t even dinnertime, but all I wanted was to crash and sleep for a week.

Kerry motioned me down the hall towards a side door. As we stepped outside, her smile became even more genuine. “I can’t believe you got to spend all afternoon with Riven. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”

My nose scrunched. “Trust me when I say it wasn’t all that enjoyable.”

She giggled. “He can be a bit rude and standoffish, but he’s a good man underneath it all. He cares for his kingdom and his people like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Do all four kingdoms go here?”

Kerry nodded. “It’s supposed to bring us together and help with diplomacy. Now that there are no longer aethers to bring us together, we need the academies more than ever.”

The unique aether elementals had the power of all four elements, and in every generation, one of their ranks was destined to rule. She alone was the destined mate of the rulers of all four kingdoms, binding them together in an unbreakable union. But slowly over time, their population had diminished and then died out altogether.

“Do they know why?”

“No one has been able to figure out why a new generation hasn’t been born. Some hoped that more intermixing of our kinds might help, but so far nothing.” She inclined her head towards what looked like a smaller version of the castle-like main building. “The royals still live together in the old dorm, Crown Hall. The rooms that used to belong to the aether just lay empty.”

I stared up at the stone façade, an ache spreading across my chest. I’d always liked the idea of an aether. They were born to bring harmony between the elements. Some could even sense what others were feeling if they were strong enough. If there was one thing our worlds needed, it was more understanding.

All the windows in the building were lit except for one at the top. The one that must be meant for her. I couldn’t help but wonder how the elemental world had changed without aethers helping to guide the peace and balance between the kingdoms.

Kerry picked up her pace, pointing out the different dorms and academic buildings. “There are walking paths in the woods behind the campus, but I wouldn’t venture in there alone until you really know your way around.”

“City girl over here. Not really used to hiking and all that jazz.” My idea of a hike was running from a group of sketchy guys on the way home from work.

Kerry turned to me, half-skipping as she walked. “I want to hear all about the human world. It’s my dream to live in one of your cities and work in a bakery.”

My gaze swept over her face. Her round cheeks were pink with excitement. She had a smattering of freckles dotted across her nose and these gorgeous green eyes that were only intensified by her red hair. They made my dull gray ones look downright boring in comparison.

“Why don’t you move to the human realm after you graduate?”

Her face fell a fraction. “My father wants me to come back to our kingdom. Probably marry some guy he’s chosen for me.”

Add arranged marriages to the list of antiquated elemental ways.

“You could always ignore that dictate.”

“It’s not as easy as you think,” Kerry said with a huff. She hurried ahead, pulling open the front door to a building. “This is us, Simmeran Hall.”

The massive, ornate doors opened to an equally opulent entryway. Landscape paintings decorated the area and antique wood moldings covered every inch.

“Whoa.”

“Yeah, it can be a bit much, but there’s loads of history around here. It’s pretty fascinating.”

All I could think about was the endless list of things I had to learn. “Hopefully you can fill me in.”

“Of course, I can.”

Someone slammed into my shoulder. “Watch where you’re going, mutt.”

I whirled in the direction of Drue’s unfortunately familiar voice. “What did you call me?”