Page 23 of The Lost Elemental

“Damn. Do we have anything together?”

Kerry shoved a slip of paper at me with a schedule. “Nope. We don’t even have the same lunch hour. This was with your uniform this morning.”

Dread pooled in my stomach. The thought of finding a seat in a cavernous cafeteria made me want to book it back to bed. And the schedule itself looked as if it changed its order every damn day.

Kerry squeezed my shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”

“That’s what you say now. Just wait till you hear I was murdered in first period.”

“Murdered?” a familiar honeyed-whiskey voice said. “No one’s going to murder the love of my life.”

Kai slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. A buzz took flight in my muscles as his heat seeped into me. Even through my long-sleeved shirt and his, I felt far too much.

He gave me his best puppy dog face. “Have you been avoiding me?”

I tilted my head back and gave him a bland look. “Yes.”

Kerry let out a squeak.

“That’s not very nice, love of my life.” He plucked my schedule from my fingertips. “You’re not running for long. You’ve got water class with me this morning.” He waggled his brows at me. “Did you pack a bikini?”

My eyes bugged as I turned to Kerry. “Tell me he’s joking.”

“He is. You won’t have to be in the pool or lake for a few weeks.” Her gaze jumped back and forth between the two of us as if she were watching a tennis match.

“Somebody shoot me now. Hell, find Drue. I’m sure she’ll do it.”

Kai frowned at me. “Was she mean to you?”

My lips screwed shut. I didn’t need Kai in my business any more than he was already. But Kerry filled him right in. “Word spread pretty quick about a powerful half-human elemental.”

The first hints of concern flickered across Kai’s typically happy-go-lucky expression. “You may want to lay low for the first few weeks here. Stick close to me—”

“I’ll be fine.” I shrugged out of his hold. The last thing I needed was more one-on-one time with Kai. My shoulder still tingled where his arm had been, a slight buzz where there had been contact. My mind screamed danger in loud neon letters.

“I can put the word out not to mess with you.”

Kerry shook her head frantically. “Whatever you do, don’t do that. You would just paint a target on her back.”

Kai frowned as he held open the door to one of the academic buildings for us. “Fine, but I’m keeping an eye on her.”

“Great,” I muttered, heading down the hall.

Kai caught my elbow with a grin. “You’re going the wrong way.”

I let out a soft growl and Kerry laughed. “I’m the other direction. Follow Kai.”

I glared at her but followed her instructions.

Kai’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll never let you get lost.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s make sure we’re not late while we’re at it.”

The halls were mostly empty, but I didn’t miss the occasional stare in our direction. Kai turned the corner and came to a stop in front of a door. He pulled it open with a flourish. “Madam.”

As we stepped inside, the entire class turned in our direction. A middle-aged woman at the front of the room sent us a wan smile. “Oh good, my teaching assistant has decided to grace us with his presence. Do you think you’ll be able to keep your clothes on this semester?”

Kai sent the woman a cheeky smile. “Now, Professor Belthorn, you know I like to be one with the water. It helps the strength of my gift.”