Page 75 of The Lost Elemental

Riven stalked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

A door slammed, echoing in the empty halls. I couldn’t move. Could barely breathe. All I could think about was what Riven’s father had done to him.

Tears slid down my cheeks and I whispered to the empty room: “I didn’t know.”

40

Footsteps pounded down the stairs. They weren’t angry-sounding, but they were hurried. I still couldn’t take my eyes off the marble floor. I could still see Riven standing there, evidence of his torture on full display.

Atlas gently took hold of my shoulders. “Aura?”

“I didn’t know,” I whispered. It seemed it was all I was capable of saying.

Kai muttered a curse.

“I’m going to fry his ass,” Phoenix quipped.

I trembled as I kept staring at the floor. “How could someone do that to their child?”

The guys went still.

Kai slid a hand along my jaw, tipping my face up to his. “Riv told you about his dad?”

More tears slid down my face. “He showed me.”

This time it was Atlas who cursed.

“How could someone do that?”

“Because he’s an evil fucker,” Phoenix growled. “The day we get to finally end him will be one of the happiest of my life.”

“Watch it,” Atlas hissed. “You never know who’s listening.”

“Not here,” Kai assured him. “I swept for bugs yesterday.”

“Bugs?” I asked.

Phoenix jerked his head in a nod. “There are always people trying to find out what happens inside these walls.”

“Or trying to break in to take one of us out,” Kai muttered.

My breaths started coming faster. Possibilities piled on each other, one after the other. “What is this? Some secret superspy realm?”

Atlas’s lips twitched. “Superspies?”

“You’re all talking about assassins and bugs and who knows what else. That doesn’t sound like spies to you?” My voice grew in hysteria with each word.

“Pip,” Kai said, so much affection in his voice. “This is just what it means to be royal. We’re used to it.”

“Well, I’m not royal. It’s the last thing I’m used to. Where I’m from, as long as you steer clear of the gangs, then you’re just fine.”

Phoenix trailed a hand up and down my spine. “We’ll make sure you’re safe.”

I looked up at him. “But who’s going to make sure you’re safe?”

“We look after each other,” Kai said.

Atlas nodded. “We always have.”