Page 44 of The Lost Elemental

It was only one word, but it seemed to carry all the information Riven needed to know. He went stock-still, those glacier eyes freezing further. “If he comes for you, you have to be ready to end him.”

Pain ripped through Phoenix, so intense I could feel it from twenty feet away. “I can’t.”

“You might not have a choice. He wants the crown.”

“He wants to hurt me. And it’s not like I don’t deserve it.”

Riven pulled Phoenix into a hard hug. The image of Riven caring so deeply for his friend, of doing whatever he could for Phoenix, it rocked me to my core. This wasn’t the cold, emotionless royal. This was a caring brother.

Riven released Phoenix but held his gaze. “You don’t deserve a damn thing he’s put you through. Aiden let what happened twist him into something ugly.”

The corner of Phoenix’s mouth pulled up. “And didn’t I do the same?”

“No, you fucking didn’t.”

Phoenix jerked his head in my direction, as if he’d known I was there all along. “Ask Aura. She just saw what I’m capable of.”

And with that, he took off down the hall.

Riven stalked towards me with those eyes so cold they burned. “What. Did. You. Do?”

The urge to bolt was so strong I almost gave in. “Nothing. I didn’t do anything.”

“It sure as hell doesn’t sound like it. I haven’t seen Phoenix wrecked like that in years. He told me to ask you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. “His brother is in my fire class, and they had an altercation.”

Riven tracked my expression like a predator ready to pounce. “Because he was protecting you.”

Guilt swept through me, insidious and clinging to every nerve ending. “Aiden threw a fireball at me.”

Something flashed across Riven’s expression so fast I couldn’t pin it down. “You should be able to defend yourself against something as simple as that. You shouldn’t need Phoenix or anyone else to step in. You’re going to destroy him.”

“What the fuck, Riv?” Kai growled as he stepped between us.

“It’s the truth and you know it. Phoenix has a hair trigger. She could send him over the edge. Hell, he’s probably off hunting someone now, burning them to a crisp just to fight back the rage.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “Phoenix going on a murder spree isn’t exactly a new development.”

“You didn’t see him just now, Kai. Didn’t see what she did to him.”

Concern flashed across Kai’s expression. “Where did he go?”

“The hell if I know. Wherever he goes when he disappears every night,” Riven barked. “He’ll get his control back, but we need to deal with the real problem.”

“And what the hell is that?” Kai clipped.

Riven turned, zeroing in. “Her.”

25

Anger flared somewhere deep. “You’d blame World War II on me if you could.”

“You’re gonna get him killed,” Riven growled.

“Lay off, Riv. This isn’t on Aura,” Kai argued.

The bell rang and classes began letting out. I didn’t have time for this. Didn’t want to stand around while Riven laid into me.