Page 49 of The Lost Elemental

I let out the smallest noise at the sound of Atlas’s voice.

He charged towards me, lifting me in his arms and cradling me to his chest. The instant I was in his hold, the pain eased. It wasn’t gone but so much better than the fiery agony I’d been experiencing.

“We’re not done here,” King Zephyr growled.

Atlas glared down at the man. “Yes, you are. If you lay one finger on her, I’ll come for you.” He moved his gaze around the room, meeting the eyes of everyone in the space. “Aura is under my protection.”

Dean Sinclair gasped. “She-she’s half-human.”

“She’s. Under. My. Protection.”

Broken glass rattled with Atlas’s growl. I pushed my face into his chest. The steady beat of his heart against my cheek comforted me in a way I didn’t think possible moments before.

“You need to think long and hard about who you extend your protection to, Atlas.” King Zephyr’s eyes narrowed as he spoke and there was a calculating look in them. As if he was adding up all the things Atlas’s attachment to me might mean.

“It’s done. You won’t hurt her again.”

Atlas charged towards the door. Royal guards lined the hall, on edge after the power outage and explosion. They all stepped back, making room as Atlas strode down the corridor. Students whispered as we passed.

“I can walk,” I said softly.

“No, you can’t,” he gritted out as he started towards the royal dorm.

“Will you take me to my dorm? Please.” I didn’t want to get used to their dorm as my haven. Because it wasn’t. At some point they would lose their enchantment with me, and I’d have to go on with my regular life.

Atlas merely grunted but changed directions. He made it to Simmeran Hall in record time. A girl was exiting just as we approached. Her eyes widened at the sight of us. “E-excuse me, Your Highness.” She ducked to the side, holding the door open.

Atlas charged inside. “Room number.”

“Three-thirteen.”

He took the stairs two at a time, not winded in the slightest, even with my weight on top of his own. He strode towards the door. “Key.”

“Set me down.”

Atlas didn’t move.

“I can’t get it if you don’t set me down.”

He grumbled something under his breath but obliged.

My legs were shaky as I stood, the remnants of the pain still coursing through me. I slid my hand into my pocket and pulled out my key. My hand trembled as I tried to slide it into the lock.

Atlas plucked it from my fingers and unlocked the door, ushering me inside as if he owned the place. I flicked on a light and went straight for my bed, collapsing on it.

Atlas paced the tiny space. “Tell me what happened.”

My fingers dug into the blankets beneath me. “They wanted to test me. To see if these weird magical bursts were due to an issue with my binding or if they are sheer power.”

Atlas let out a growl that sounded more animal than human. “Those testings are barbaric.”

“I’m getting that now,” I mumbled as I rubbed my legs. They ached as if I’d just run a marathon.

He stopped pacing, turning towards me. “Are you still in pain?”

“It’s better now.” It had been from the moment he’d touched me. My mind circled around what that could possibly mean. I wanted to ask, but I worried it might give too much away, so I asked something else instead. “This means I have some sort of double binding, right? I shouldn’t be able to short-circuit electrical grids like this.”

Atlas’s lips thinned. “An issue with your binding might lead to small energy bursts. Moments where your full power leaks through. I’ve heard of it happening twice that I know of. But this?”