Page 16 of The Last Aether

Quincy rubbed a hand over his face. “Uproar. All the kings were in residence at one point, demanding answers.”

“Were there any signs of the assassin? Anything on the security tapes?” Phoenix asked.

“Nothing. The cameras were disabled before he even entered the building.”

Atlas let out a low, rumbling growl. “He had someone helping him.”

Quincy nodded. “It’s looking that way. Did you see anything about this person, Aura?”

“Not really. He was wearing a hood and it was dark. I’m fairly positive it was a man based on build, but I could be wrong.” I kept hearing those words in my mind: “You’ll never live to rule.” But each time, they were echoed in someone else’s voice. Drue. King Zephyr. Xena. Aiden. This list went on and on of those who would want to hurt me.

Quincy turned, beginning to pace back and forth. “The next four years will be a challenge.”

Phoenix stiffened next to me. “We’ll be at her back.”

His pacing stilled. “As much as possible, yes. But Aura will have to fight her own battles to prove she can rule.”

“Do I have to? Rule, I mean.”

Quincy’s expression softened. “You were made for this. The Universe has spoken and chosen you.”

“I’m not who they want,” I whispered.

“But you’re who they need.”

A shiver ran through me at his words.

Quincy clasped his hands in front of himself. “Aura, you bring with you a perspective completely unique from the rulers here. You didn’t grow up in this world. You’re free from prejudice and assumptions. You haven’t been raised your whole life to be a political pawn.”

“Hey,” Kai mumbled.

“None of that is on any of you.” Quincy’s gaze settled on Riven for a moment, punctuating his point. “But Aura will see things you don’t.”

Like the pressure this quest for multiple strong affinities put on people. How the search for more power and control could twist everything.

Quincy turned back to me. “And you will need your bond to help you learn our ways in history. If you can all work together, you’ll be unstoppable.”

“As long as no one picks us off first,” Riven muttered.

“You are at risk,” Quincy admitted. “More so than you ever have been before, but that just makes it all the more important for you to work as one. Don’t let anyone exploit fractures in your connection.”

The sun shifted in the sky, glinting off the wide windows. Riven’s gaze snapped to them, focusing on the forest. His eyes widened in panic. “Get down!”

Everything somehow happened in slow motion and in a split second all at once. There was a blur of movement around me. The shattering of glass. A force hit me from behind and then I was falling, a scream on my lips.

10

I hit the floor with a force that knocked the wind out of me. Everything slowed. Blood roared in my ears. My pulse pounded in my neck.

Then I was being rolled over. Hands skimmed my body. “Are you hit? Are you hurt?”

Riven’s voice didn’t carry with it the cool, calm, and collected tone it usually did. It was laced with panic. Fear.

It was so shocking, I couldn’t get the words I needed to leave my lips.

“Aura,” he pressed.

“I-I’m okay.” I groaned as I sat up.