Page 100 of The Lost Elemental

Phoenix moved in close on my other side. “Her aether status is clear. Aura’s meant for us and us alone.”

I couldn’t help but notice one of the foursome was remarkably silent. Not that it surprised me.

King Zephyr scoffed. “My son will mate Eva. A match that makes our kingdom strong. Not some mutt whose parentage we don’t even know.”

Kai let out a growl, and I reached out to snag his hand. “Don’t. I don’t care what he thinks about me.”

Headmaster Acker sighed. “To discover whether Aura is indeed an aether, we need to conduct some testing.” He sent me a sympathetic smile. “Until we can be certain you aren’t a Nova, we need to place you in a binding cell. It will keep your magic contained should anything go…awry.”

Phoenix turned towards Acker, flames lighting along his shoulders. “Those cells are barbaric.”

“They aren’t warm and cozy, but they will in no way harm her,” Acker argued.

“There are rats down there,” Atlas gritted out.

I shivered at that. I really didn’t like rats. But the longer this back and forth went on, the more likely it was for one of the guys to do something that would get them killed. I pushed to my feet. My legs trembled, but I stayed upright. “I’ll go.”

50

I tugged Kai’s sweatshirt tighter around me and tried to imagine it was him hugging me. Even as I tried to hold on to that image in my mind, I shivered. The dungeon was dank and smelled like musty sewage. Apparently, it was where they kept those who had attacked the campus or students who had gone rogue.

I guessed I qualified as the latter. I had certainly turned their realm upside down. Staring down at my hands, I tried to decipher who they belonged to. Nova or aether? Bringer of destruction or bringer of unity?

Neither was a destiny I wanted. My chest ached. I wanted to hear Atlas promising me everything would be okay. I wanted Kai cracking inappropriate jokes. I wanted Phoenix and his fierce protectiveness.

I pulled the sweatshirt up over my nose and breathed deep. It still smelled like Kai. That scent of salty air and the hint of something else. At least Headmaster Acker had allowed the guys to gather some clothes and toiletries for me.

But now I was completely alone. I almost wished for some criminal to be down here with me. Then I wouldn’t be losing my mind to the dripping of water and the scurrying of mice feet. I was going with mice, not rats.

Metal clanged and groaned. I quickly sat up straighter, squinting against the dim light of the dungeon. Every cell was open air, but the bars were infused with magic to keep all of our powers inside. It was a bummer because I wouldn’t have minded sending a stream of flames right up ole King Zephyr’s ass.

Footsteps sounded on the stone. Quite a few pairs, if I wasn’t mistaken.

“There’s no reason to delay the questioning,” King Zephyr barked.

“The rest of the kings haven’t arrived,” Acker argued.

A man I didn’t recognize slapped Acker on the back. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him on the up-and-up until Ash and Terra can get here.”

It was the sound of his voice, so similar to Kai’s that allowed me to recognize him. King Torrent had the same golden tan skin and light hair. Only his was interwoven with strands of silver. He beamed at me, tipping his head in the slightest bow. “Aura, it’s an honor to meet you.”

I bowed in return. “Your Highness.”

“Please.” He waved me off. “Call me Aenon.”

King Zephyr snorted. “She’s not an aether. We’ll prove as much first thing tomorrow morning.”

Aenon sent me a wink. “Don’t listen to him. We’ll have you confirmed and out of this hellhole before you know it.”

King Zephyr glared through the bars. “Who is your father?”

I reared back at the animosity in his voice. “I have no idea.”

“I find that very difficult to believe. I’m sure he visited you at some point.”

“Unless it was when I was a small child and I don’t remember, he never graced me with his presence.” I could’ve shared that I didn’t have any memories prior to the age of eight. That the fire had stolen them from me. But King Zephyr didn’t deserve that piece of information.

“What about the binding?” Aenon asked. “Do you have any memory of someone performing a ceremony over you?”