Page 12 of The Last Aether

Phoenix shook his head. “You’re damn lucky I have a powerful earth affinity or you two would’ve turned this house into rubble. We don’t have the protection spells on it yet.”

The slight blush on my cheeks turned to an inferno.

“Phoenix…” Atlas growled.

Kai just laughed, moving to me and scooping me into his arms. “Feeling better, I take it?”

I burrowed my face into his chest.

“Come on, Pip. Don’t be embarrassed. I’m just jealous I wasn’t in there with both of you.”

My skin heated at his words, my mind conjuring an image of myself between Atlas and Kai.

He nuzzled my neck. “It really was unfair—you know water’s my thing.”

“Don’t make her feel bad, she’s already worried we’ll be upset with her over this kind of thing,” Atlas said.

Kai stilled, his hand slipping beneath the towel that held my hair and kneading my neck. “Pip. It’s not like that. I mean, I’m greedy and I want you any way I can have you, as often as possible, but I love that you were with Atlas.”

Phoenix moved in so that I was cradled between them both. “He’s right. We’ll give you a hard time, but it’s all in jest. We want you bonding with all of us.”

“That bond increased her healing,” Atlas informed them.

Phoenix’s brows rose. “You’re feeling better?”

“Of course, she’s feeling better. She’s in an orgasm haze,” Kai clipped.

I wiggled out of his hold, so I was standing on my own two feet. “The pain in my chest is gone.”

Kai shot Atlas a grin. “Healing sex magic. I like it.”

Phoenix smacked him upside the head and then turned to me. “It makes sense. The closer we are, the stronger our gifts. That would include healing.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip as my gaze drifted to Atlas. “You don’t feel out of control, right?”

He shook his head. “The bond helps ground us. There will still be surges but hopefully no true destruction.”

My stomach pitched, and I tried to sense into my own reserves. As far as I could tell, things felt okay. Maybe because all the energy had gone towards my healing. Whatever the reason, I was grateful.

Phoenix’s thumb traced circles on the small of my back. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

“It just takes time, right?” I said, finishing his common refrain.

“Exactly.” He shared a look with Kai.

Something about it made tension sweep through my muscles. “What happened?”

“Nothing. It’s just—we have to go back to Kingwood. The kings are growing restless, and the royal guard has assured your safety and protection on campus.”

I knew we would have to eventually, but I wasn’t expecting it quite this soon. “Do I have to go back to the dungeon?”

“Hell no,” Atlas growled.

Kai grinned. “No cells for you. No dorm either. You live with us now.”

My jaw fell open. “I what?”

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