Page 39 of The Lost Elemental

Atlas’s gentle rumble eased everything in me further. Fatigue hit me like a bus. My body trembled, and he swept me up into his arms. I pressed my face into his chest, searching for more of that comfort.

How long had it been since I’d truly let down my walls? Let someone take care of me? I didn’t remember. I hadn’t wanted to give my mom more to worry about. Hadn’t wanted Charlie to be scared his sister was losing it. Hadn’t even wanted to put more on Lainey’s plate. I’d had no choice but to pretend to be strong.

The same was true of every moment since I’d found out I was an elemental and had been forced into Kingwood. I couldn’t allow anyone to see a flicker of weakness. That was all shot to hell now. The entire school had seen me in the throes of a panic attack.

Since everything was shot to hell, I let Atlas carry me off to God knew where. I didn’t care. All I wanted was more of his warmth and comfort. The calming buzz that spread through me.

I closed my eyes and let the rhythm of his long strides bring a little more of that peace that always seemed to escape me. A door opened and shut. There was a change in temperature.

More doors. The flick of a light. Atlas set me down on a bathroom counter. His large hands came up to frame my face. He searched my eyes. “What happened?”

The first hints of embarrassment flooded me.

“Don’t. You don’t have to hide anything from me.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t do well with feeling confined.”

It was all I could manage to say. All I could handle this close to a panic attack.

Atlas’s eyes flared. “Aura…”

“When there are a lot of people and they’re close…it’s not good for me. Same with feeling trapped. Everyone was staring. It felt like they were on top of me.”

His lips thinned. “I’m sorry Phoenix and Kai made a scene. They were trying to help in their own way.”

“I know, I just…I want to fade into the background.”

Atlas grinned. I’d seen hints of a smile on his lips before, but the full effect? It was devastating. He brushed my now-sticky hair out of my face. “I don’t think you could ever fade into the background.”

I wanted to reach out, to soothe Atlas the same way he was soothing me. Instead, I fisted my hands. “I did a pretty good job in my old life.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” He glanced at a clock on the wall. “You better get cleaned up if we have a prayer of making it to class on time.”

“Shit,” I muttered.

Atlas stepped back and I missed his heat immediately. He bent, retrieving some towels from the cabinet. “These are clean. Use whatever you want in the shower. I’ll find you a fresh uniform.”

My throat burned. “Thank you.”

His mouth curved. “You aren’t alone in figuring out this new world. I’ll help any way I can.”

The burning only intensified, my throat clogging with emotion. I nodded, and Atlas slipped from the bathroom. For the first time, I really took in the space. It was massive, just like the man himself. There was a huge soaking tub and a shower with more jets than I could count.

I slid off the counter and pulled off my uniform. It would have to be trashed. The syrup was already hardening into a solid.

Turning on the shower, I held my hand under the spray. It was warm before the count of three. I stepped under the stream of water. I hurried to shampoo my hair and clean my body, having to scrub at the caked-on food. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my body and then my hair.

A new uniform hung on the handle of the door. I couldn’t help but smile. With Kai, I would’ve been worried he’d sneak a peek as I showered. With Atlas, I knew he’d never. He was too much the gentleman.

I used some of the lotion on the counter and didn’t miss the scent that clung to my skin from the body wash. I smelled like Atlas. It was comforting, the knowledge that I’d carry him with me for the rest of the day. I was half tempted to steal the bottle so I could have that comfort always.

Slipping on my uniform and into my shoes, I kept the towel on my head, hoping my hair would dry a little more. I stepped out into the bedroom and three sets of eyes flew to me.

It was Phoenix who spoke, his voice a low growl. “Are you okay or do I need to remove someone’s head from their body?”

22

“Please, for the love of all that’s holy, do not murder anyone on my behalf.”