Page 14 of The Last Aether

Sparks lit around him. “You almost weren’t.”

The little flashes of flame had anxiety pricking my insides, but I breathed through it. This was Phoenix. He would never hurt me. I leaned into it. Into him. “I’m right here.”

He pulled in a long breath, his mouth finding mine in a deep kiss. “Scared the hell out of me, Pip.”

An invisible fist gripped my heart at his words. “I’m sorry, Phee.”

“It’s not on you,” he growled. “It’s on those Network assholes.”

“But they lost their chance,” Atlas said, squeezing my hand. “We’re ready now.”

“Not if you’re fucking around,” Riven muttered.

“Lay off,” Kai bit out. “Just because we want to lighten the mood once in a millennium doesn’t mean we aren’t serious about protecting Aura.”

A little of the tension went out of Riven’s shoulders. “I know that. I just want us focused. We have no idea what we’re walking into. And we have to watch each other’s backs too. The Network could come for us just as easily.”

Nausea swept through me as I gripped Phoenix’s and Atlas’s hands harder. “Please be careful.”

Kai shifted in his seat, turning to me. “We know how to handle this stuff. It’s been happening forever.”

“Not like this,” Riven warned.

Phoenix scowled at him. “Stop trying to freak her out.”

“I’m trying to prepare her.”

The SUVs ahead of us slowed to a stop in front of Crown Hall. Men dressed in black spilled out of the vehicles. Some positioned themselves pointing out towards campus, others moved to surround our SUV.

Students moving between classes stopped to stare. I didn’t miss Drue and Xena huddled together with the rest of their so-called friends. Drue sent a look in our direction that should’ve killed me where I sat.

Atlas squeezed my hand. “Ready?”

“No,” I answered honestly.

Phoenix nuzzled my neck. “We’ll be right by your side.”

I swallowed and gave a nod. “Let’s go.”

Atlas opened his door and we followed him out. In a flash, I was surrounded. Riven led the way towards the dorm, Phoenix and Atlas on either side of me, and Kai behind. The royal guard filled in around us.

Two more guards were stationed at the front door. One of them, a tall man with dark hair and eyes, nodded at Phoenix. “We’ve swept the building. No intruders, no listening devices. Quincy is waiting for you in the living room.”

“Thanks, Egan,” Phoenix said, clapping the man on the shoulder.

Another guard with light blond hair stepped forward. “We should take up stations inside.”

“No,” Riven clipped.

A hint of frustration passed over the guard’s expression, but he nodded. “As you wish.”

I didn’t take a full breath until we were inside, away from all the probing stares. Just a couple of minutes and I was already exhausted from trying to decipher who was friend or foe.

Kai shut the door behind us and locked it.

“Aura,” Quincy called.

The worry in his voice had me hurrying towards the living room.