Page 41 of The Last Aether

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I looked from where Professor Belthorn had disappeared into the sea of students and then back to Kerry. “What was that?”

Kerry stared down at her hands. “I felt something when you were telling me what to do.”

“Felt something?”

“Like there was power flowing through me.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Kerry glanced over at me. “It’s almost like you gave me a little of your power.”

My fingernails dug into my palms. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“I’ve never heard of anything like that ever happening before, but I swear I felt it. Your power flowing through me.”

I quickly scanned the surrounding area. Aiden was hovering, still a little too interested for my liking. I climbed to my feet and pulled Kerry with me. “Come on, let’s change and we can talk on the way back.”

We hurried to the now-abandoned changing tents and donned our uniforms. By the time we got out, everyone was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked for Aiden and came up empty.

“Searching for Kai?” Kerry asked.

I shook my head. “Aiden. He was kind of lurking.”

Kerry twisted her fingers together as we walked. “People are curious about you. None of us have ever known an aether. The most we might ever have contact with is someone from the aether line, but even they are rare now.”

But Aiden wasn’t curious. He was looking for a way to hurt Phoenix through me. But I kept that thought to myself.

“I can imagine how hard it must be to play second fiddle to someone as powerful as Phoenix,” Kerry said softly.

I didn’t want to feel the empathy that pricked my stomach. The truth was both Phoenix and Aiden had been through a trauma. They’d lost their sister in a horrendous way, and it had marked them, turned them dark. But Phoenix had used that darkness for good. Aiden, I wasn’t so sure.

“He’s cruel,” I said quietly.

Kerry’s eyes lifted to meet mine. “Aura, everyone here can be cruel. Not to be would show weakness, and that’s one thing the elemental world won’t tolerate.”

My heart ached for my friend. She’d been kicked around and looked down upon by so many of these elementals. And she’d been dealing with it her whole life.

“I think that means it’s that much more of a miracle when someone shows kindness amidst the temptation for more.”

The corner of Kerry’s mouth pulled up. “I think those people are very rare.”

But I wanted to be one. Someone who could help balance the scales. Who wouldn’t only elevate those with powerful elemental gifts, but also those who thought in unique ways, who cared for the people around them.

We walked in silence for a few moments before she spoke again. “You have to tell your bond what happened today.”

“I will.” I wanted to talk to Quincy as well. Maybe there was something in one of his books that could tell us more.

I worried the inside of my cheek. “Please don’t tell anyone what we think happened.”

Kerry’s gaze jerked to me. “Of course, I won’t. Not after what Professor Belthorn said.”

“Thanks, I just—”

She pulled me into a quick hug. “It’s been a lot these past couple of weeks.”

My throat tightened as I fought to keep the tears at bay. “A little too much when you’re just trying to keep your head above water.”