Page 55 of The Lost Elemental

“What about you? How was your day?”

Kerry sighed, flopping back onto my mattress. “Oh, you know, the usual. Ridiculed and scorned.”

I shifted so that I could see her face. “That bad?”

“Not really. Just mocked today. No one tried to set my hair on fire.”

“Someone did that before?” What the hell was wrong with these people?

“It was Drue and Xena’s favorite pastime in high school. They’d do it and then make some quip about how they were just trying to make my fiery hair come alive.”

“Jealous cows.”

Kerry snorted. “I don’t think they’re jealous.”

“If they weren’t, they wouldn’t bother you. They’d simply ignore you. You’re hilarious and beautiful and kind; they’re none of those things and have everything to be jealous of.”

Kerry went quiet for a moment, staring at the opposite wall. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

Rage lit in my veins at that. What was wrong with Kerry’s parents that they never told her how wonderful she was? Were they truly so caught up in the need for her to be powerful that they didn’t see all of her other wonderful gifts?

My mom had told me every day how amazing I was. We might have struggled financially, but our home was always overflowing with love. The thought sent a pang of longing through me. To have her arms wrapped around me and to tell me everything would be okay.

But she couldn’t. And even when she had before, that had been a lie. She knew more than she was saying and if I wanted to find out what that might be, I’d have to find a way off this campus and back to the human realm. Who knew how long that would take?

I reached over and squeezed Kerry’s hand. “Just because people are blind to the truth about you doesn’t mean that you need to listen to them. The best thing you could possibly do is to hold your head high and silence that noise. Pretend you don’t hear a word they say. It’ll drive them nuts.”

Kerry giggled. “Drue and Xena aren’t used to not being heard.”

“Maybe it’s time they got that lesson.”

“Maybe it is.”

Someone pounded on the door. “Pip? You in there?”

I stiffened at Kai’s voice.

Kerry’s eyes widened as she let out a tiny squeak.

“I heard something,” Phoenix growled. “Let me pick the lock.”

“You can’t do that,” Atlas argued. “She could be changing.”

“Dear gods, please let her be changing,” Kai muttered.

There was a smack, a grunt, then a scuffle.

I looked to Kerry with wide, panicked eyes and mouthed, Tell them I’m not here.

“Why the hell do you want me to do that? Do you know what I would do to be in the middle of that hot-guy sandwich?”

I choked on a laugh. More scuffling sounded in the hallway and that laughter died away. “It’s not a good idea. Hanging out with them will only bring more attention on me and it’s making them fight with Riven.”

I didn’t want to be the one to drive a wedge in their brotherhood, even if Riven was an asshole. But the words I didn’t say were the ones that were harder to swallow. They’d all take mates someday. I already knew my heart was attached to them in ways that went way beyond friendship. None of their kingdoms would stand for a half-human queen. I didn’t know a ton about elemental history, but I knew that much.

Kerry frowned at me. “They’ve always bickered. I’m sure they’ll work it out. You should let them look out for you.”

I shook my head. “Please?”