Page 60 of The Lost Elemental

Kai grabbed a plate, handing it to me. “That’s because you don’t know her.”

“She’s not that bad,” Atlas argued.

“She’s as ruthless as I am,” Phoenix muttered.

Atlas heaped casserole onto my plate and then added two biscuits, a croissant, and a donut. I looked up at him. “Seriously?”

“You need energy.”

“I also need to be able to not explode after eating.”

He shrugged. “Pace yourself.”

I glanced at Phoenix for help. He just grinned. “One bite at a time.”

I grumbled something about pushy elementals under my breath and turned for the table.

Kai pulled out a chair for me and nodded at Riven and Eva. “Riv, Ice Queen.”

“Manwhore,” Eva shot back.

I choked on a laugh. I couldn’t help it, I kind of liked her. “Hey, Eva.” I didn’t bother greeting Riven.

“Hey, Aura. What are you doing slumming it with these three?”

“They pretty much kidnapped me, and I decided I could at least get fed out of the arrangement.”

She chuckled and took a sip of her coffee as Atlas and Phoenix lowered themselves into seats.

Heat from Riven’s glacier gaze bored into me. I didn’t want to look at him, but it was as if I had no control over my traitorous body. My eyes pulled in his direction. His froze me to the spot. His gaze grabbing me by the throat and refusing to let go.

A muscle along his jaw ticked. “Heard you almost blew up the entire building.”

“It only would’ve been worth it if you were inside.”

Those eyes flashed. “You’re reckless.”

“You think this was my choice? If it were up to me, I’d have them strip me of every affinity and send me back home to my family.”

Only I wasn’t sure that was entirely true anymore. Because Kai, Phoenix, and Atlas had wormed their way into my hearts in a matter of days.

“It was your fucking dad who was behind it all. Take your anger issues out on him,” Phoenix barked.

Riven’s head snapped in his direction. “What did you say?”

The table went silent.

“What. Did. You. Say?” he pressed through gritted teeth.

It was Atlas who answered him, his voice low and calm. “Your dad showed. He did a double bind test on Aura.”

Emotions flitted through Riven’s eyes so fast I couldn’t pick up on a single one. He shoved back from the table, sending his chair toppling backwards. “Stay the hell away from my father. You don’t and I’ll strip your powers from you myself.”

33

Eva looked at me with new eyes. Assessing ones. As if she were trying to see something that the rest of us were blind to. “I should make sure Riv is okay.”

No one said a word as she got up and headed for the door.