Page 43 of The Lost Elemental

I blinked, trying to focus.

“It’s just you and me. Breathe with me.”

A few ragged breaths escaped me.

“That’s it. Nothing’s going to happen to you here.”

I gripped the edge of my chair, the hard corners biting into my palms. “Sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. It could be overwhelming for anyone. You go as slow as you need to.”

Slowly, I released my hold on the chair and looked up into Phoenix’s face. His beauty froze me to the spot. To see the glimmers of gentleness amidst the brutal warrior façade. “Thank you.”

“Do you want to try extinguishing the candle?” he asked.

“Here, Aura, I’ll get you a light,” Aiden called.

Before I could register his words, Aiden launched a ball of flames in my direction. Terror ripped through me as visions of fire closing in around me danced in my mind. I sat frozen to the spot, unable to do a damned thing.

Phoenix yanked the ball of fire from the air, stalking towards his brother. He threw out his hands, flames erupting from them and sending Aiden crashing to the floor. The fire circled his neck as Phoenix towered over him. “Apologize. Now.”

24

Blood roared in my ears as I took in the scene in front of me. The flames weren’t burning Aiden, but they were strangling him.

“I said apologize,” Phoenix growled.

Aiden’s eyes flashed with hatred. “Sorry,” he spat.

Phoenix didn’t release him.

“I think that’s enough, Mr. Ash,” Professor Cinders said.

With one quick motion of his hand the fire was gone, disappeared in a puff of smoke. Aiden launched to his feet, glaring at his brother. “My powers won’t be bound for long. Remember that.”

I tried to swallow, but my throat was so dry it seemed to stick to itself.

“All right, class. Focus back on your own work now,” the professor instructed.

Phoenix struggled to get his breathing under control as he stalked to the front of the classroom. He didn’t look my way once. Not as everyone practiced. Not as Professor Cinders lectured about the eternal flame within us all.

Drue sneered in my direction. “Looks like he’s not as fond of you as you thought.”

I did my best to pretend I hadn’t heard her, but Drue’s words dug into me. My gaze couldn’t help pulling to Phoenix. Shadows danced in his eyes. Glimmers of that pain cutting through his mask.

Phoenix’s eyes connected with mine. I felt it all in that moment. The pain. The rage. The devastation. Whatever had happened to Phoenix had torn him apart.

He jerked his gaze away, and Drue and Xena laughed. It wasn’t their laughter that hurt. It was the fact that Phoenix wanted to hide whatever he was going through from me. Maybe I hadn’t earned the full truth from him yet, but it didn’t change that I wanted it. Craved it. Everything about not knowing why he was hurting felt wrong.

“That’s all for today. If you have any questions, stop by my office during office hours,” Professor Cinders said.

Phoenix was already heading for the door. I grabbed my bag and took off after him. Professor Cinders had let us out a couple minutes early and the halls were empty. It gave Phoenix a head start with his long stride.

I picked up my pace, my bag smacking against my back as I practically jogged. I rounded a corner and stopped in my tracks. Riven had hold of Phoenix’s shoulders. “What happened?”

Phoenix’s chest heaved. Sparks flew off him as he struggled to control his emotions, but Riven didn’t let go. In fact, he did the opposite, gripping his arms tighter. “Talk to me. You know I have your back, whatever it is.”

“Aiden.”