Page 55 of The Last Aether

Eva released my arm in a flash. “I-I was just trying to get her to listen—”

“She doesn’t have to listen to you, Ice Queen,” Kai gritted out.

The ground shook as Atlas strode forward. “You don’t touch Aura. Ever.”

Riven moved through his friends, putting himself between Eva and Atlas. “What the hell is going on? Everyone just take a breath.”

That protective stance hurt. Even knowing it was one built over years of friendship and having each other’s back.

Phoenix’s eyes sparked and flashed with fire. “Your girlfriend held Aura’s arm so tight she drew blood.”

I glanced down at my skin and saw a few drops of red.

Riven’s gaze zeroed in on the same thing and he turned on Eva.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” she stammered. “I was just trying to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing to you. What—”

“Stop.” Riven cut her off. “You don’t have to protect me, not from Aura.”

Anger flared in Eva’s eyes. “She’s the most dangerous person to you and you know it.”

“Enough, Eva.” Riven pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know you’re doing this out of some misguided sense of care, but you have to stop.”

Eva’s focus shifted from Riven, and she glared at me. Then she turned on her heel and left.

Riven cursed. “I need to make sure she doesn’t do something stupid.” He sent a pleading look in my direction. “Can we talk later? Please?”

I shrugged. Because I wasn’t sure he’d even be around to do that talking.

Fatigue slammed into me. I was exhausted. So tired of fighting everyone from every side. The words that tumbled out of me were more instinct than anything else.

“I want to go home.”

Only I didn’t have a home to go to anymore.

31

Pushing open the door from the academic building, I sucked in a deep lungful of air. As if that would somehow cleanse away the shitstorm of a day. No one had tried to kill me today, at least there was that.

Probably because of my shadows. I didn’t turn around to look at my guards, but I could feel them there. Egan and the air guard whose name I’d learned was Carn had stuck by my side in every class, even the ones my bond were in. After yesterday, no one was taking any chances.

A heavy weight settled on me. That oppressive blanket that made it feel as if the walls were closing in because too many eyes had been on me for too long. I longed to run into the woods surrounding the academy, to be fully and completely alone.

Memories of yesterday flashed in my mind and I shoved that idea away. Instead, I took another deep breath and started for Crown Hall. Maybe I could find an empty corner of the house to hide in for a while.

I glanced over my shoulder at my stoic companions. “Thanks for watching out for me today.”

They both nodded, but it was Egan who spoke with a dip of his head. “It’s our honor, Aether.”

A lead weight settled in my stomach. There was too much pressure in that handful of words. A hope that I wasn’t sure I was capable of living up to. But I would have to try.

More of that exhaustion set in. Maybe what I needed was a nap. I trudged up the stone path to the dorm.

When I was just steps away, the front door opened and Riven emerged. He scanned my face, worry creasing his brow as he did so. He stepped forward and looked as if he might try to pull me into a hug, then stopped himself. “You look tired.”

I bit back the snarky retort on my tongue and went with honesty instead. “It’s been a long day.”

He nodded, shuffling his feet. Then he lifted his head to the guards behind me. “Give us a minute?”