Page 84 of The Lost Elemental

As if this day could get worse.

“Don’t forget about me, Riv,” Kai said as he strode into the room.

Riven sent him an exasperated look. “There’s a reason Belthorn asked me to cover the class. You can’t even be bothered to show up on time.”

“Naw, Thorny’s just worried about me getting naked in front of the underclassmen,” Kai said, sending a wink in my direction.

Laughter erupted around the room, and I bit the inside of my cheek to hold mine in.

Drue sent a glare in my direction. “I can’t believe they haven’t sent you home already.”

Aiden leaned back in his chair, balancing on the back two legs. “It’s because she’s fucking my brother. Pays to spread your legs for a royal.” He sent me a wink. “Maybe you’ll give me a go later—”

Aiden’s chair was slammed back onto the floor, his head snapping forward.

“Were you talking during my class, Mr. Ash?” Riven asked.

“Fuck, Riven. I think you made me crack a tooth.”

“Then maybe you should pay better attention.”

Kai stalked towards Aiden. “Because if you don’t, accidents can happen.”

The girls in the class tittered as if this was the most exciting thing they’d seen in years. Drue sent each and every one of them death stares for laughing at something Riven had done. The girl really had taken a kick to the head. I wouldn’t be surprised if she started taking them out one by one.

Riven let out an ear-splitting whistle. “Focus. Even with your powers bound, those of you with water affinities will be able to do small acts of magic. Try to pull the water from the cup in front of you and move it from hand to hand. If you aren’t sure if you have a water affinity or not, just try. The practice can’t hurt.”

“But if you don’t have a water affinity, you aren’t half as cool as the rest of us,” Kai said with a grin.

Riven rolled his eyes and began walking us through a spiel similar to my other classes. Talk of feeling that water within us and around us, using that force to do what we wanted.

Kai moved towards me. “Want some help?”

I shook my head. I hadn’t had much luck in this class without Kai helping me, but I had to figure out how to access my power without one of the guys touching me. “Let me try it on my own.”

He nodded and moved on to another student who was already raising a ball of water out of his glass.

I stood beside my desk, trying to picture the water flowing through me. I didn’t picture a river this time but a small stream, one that was slow-moving, bubbling over rocks and fallen trees. Nothing happened.

A snicker sounded in front of me. “I guess you’re only powerful when you’re trying to murder innocent students.”

My eyes flew open at Drue’s words. “I doubt innocent is a word that could ever be used to describe one of your bitch squad. I’d say that’s justifiable homicide.”

Drue’s jaw went slack. “You did not just say that.”

Aiden chuckled. “Mutt girl has some spine after all. I like it.”

I glared at him and then turned back to my desk.

“Riven,” Drue singsonged.

He crossed to her desk. “What do you need, Drue?”

She batted her eyelashes at him. “I really want to stretch myself with this exercise. I want to be prepared when my powers are unbound.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Maybe you could help me? I was thinking of trying to combine water and air. Maybe creating a sort of funnel?” Drue laid a hand on his chest.