Page 56 of The Lost Elemental

She sighed and climbed off my bed, crossing to the door. She opened it a fraction, leaving me shielded. “Your Highnesses?”

The scuffling stopped.

“Where’s Aura?” Phoenix asked, his voice hard.

“Not here.”

“She’s lying,” Atlas said.

My jaw dropped.

“Excuse me?” Kerry bristled.

“Atlas has some extra affinities. He can sometimes sense when people aren’t being truthful.” Kai’s voice took on a liquid silk quality. “Let us in, Kerry. We need to see Aura.”

“She doesn’t feel well.”

“What’s wrong?” Phoenix demanded.

“She has a headache and doesn’t feel up to company,” Kerry hurried to explain.

The guys were quiet for a moment. Then Atlas spoke. “I think it’s the truth.”

“You think?” Phoenix pressed.

“It’s not an exact science,” Atlas groused.

“We can take her to a healer,” Kai interjected.

Kerry shook her head, gripping the door tighter. “I already gave her medicine. She just wants to rest. It’s been a tough day.”

There was some grumbling on the other side of the door.

“Tell her we hope she feels better,” Atlas said softly.

That almost broke my resolve. I bit the inside of my cheek instead. It was for the best.

Kerry nodded. “I will.”

She closed the door and flipped the lock into place. Turning back to me, she frowned. “They looked really…sad.”

Guilt pricked at my insides. It had to be this way. Because if I didn’t cut things off now, I’d end up in shambles when they were the ones who walked away.

31

I smoothed out my rumpled T-shirt as I slid on my Chucks. Grabbing my bag, I headed towards the door. Kerry was still sleeping, but I had an entire day off that I wasn’t going to let go to waste. I had some research I needed to do when it came to people with strong affinities. And I wanted to do that without anyone else looking on.

Opening the door, I stepped out into the hallway. And froze.

Three hulking forms were slumped over around the entrance to my room. Phoenix had his head tipped back against the wall, soft snores escaping him. Kai had fallen against Atlas at some point during the night and was using his shoulder as a pillow. Atlas’s neck was cricked at an angle that was sure to leave him in pain.

It was too much. They’d spent all night outside my room and for what? Because they cared. Suddenly it didn’t matter if my heart was going to get shattered at the end of this.

I cleared my throat.

Phoenix jolted, on his feet in a flash. “What? What is it?”

Atlas jerked upright, sending Kai flying with a slew of curses.