Page 63 of The Lost Elemental

Phoenix’s knuckles bleached white around the edge of the table. “They were hunted to extinction.”

34

Hunted to extinction. The words had echoed through my head as we ate and even on the walk to the clearing we stood in now. No community liked to revisit their darkest days. It was no wonder the story of the end of the aethers hadn’t made it to human ears.

No one knew who it was that had started the network of assassins who had killed every aether in existence. Whoever it was had been ruthless and organized. And the killing had continued into modern times. Even those with aether bloodlines in their family lineage had been at risk.

It made me nauseous to think about all they had done to the aethers of the world. But I guessed no realm was free of their version of racist assholes.

“Aura?”

My head jerked up at Atlas’s voice. “Sorry.”

His expression gentled. “It’s okay. Are you ready to start?”

I scanned the clearing. Pine trees surrounded the four of us. Their scent filled my senses. I’d become partial to their smell. It had a sort of calming effect. But not this time.

My stomach dipped and rolled as I took in Phoenix on the opposite side of the clearing. The shadows had gathered around him again, as if they knew Phoenix was about to let his power fly.

“What if I say no?”

“Then this all stops here and now,” Atlas said quickly.

Sparks danced off Phoenix’s shoulders as he glared at Atlas. “She has to deal with this irrational fear.”

His words made anger flare to life, swirling around me and eating away the worst of my fear. “It’s not irrational.”

Phoenix’s gaze flicked to me. “It’s a part of you. You control it. The only way it’s dangerous is if you refuse to learn.”

“No one controls fire.” People only thought they did. Until one forgotten candle burned too low. Or a cord frayed. Or a heater malfunctioned. All it took was one tiny spark to end it all.

“Aura?” It was Kai this time, moving in close, concern marring his features.

I gave my head a shake. “I’m fine. It’s just ridiculous to think you can control something that powerful.”

Atlas moved in on my other side. “Why are you scared of fire?”

My mouth went dry. I could smell the smoke. Feel the heat. The flames were coming.

Warm hands framed my face. “Aura, look at me.”

The worst of the panic eased at Kai’s touch.

“Breathe with me, nice and steady.”

It was then I realized my breaths were coming in short, ragged pants. I struggled to focus on Kai, the rhythm of his inhales and exhales.

“That’s it.” His hands slid from my face to my neck. “Keep it easy, slow.”

After a few more moments they evened out into something that resembled normal.

“What. The. Hell. Was. That. About?” Phoenix growled. Each word was punctuated as if it were its own sentence. As if he was holding back his rage with every syllable.

Atlas gave him a hard shove. “Pull it together. Your rage issues aren’t going to help.”

Phoenix’s nostrils flared as he struggled to get whatever was eating him alive under control.

“I was in a fire.” I blurted it out in the hopes it might distract those two from coming to blows. But I had no idea what came after that fact.