Page 6 of The Last Aether

Phoenix’s eyes flared. “Physically?”

I nodded. It was as if there was some tether connecting us now. I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned into the sense. The moment I did, I could see everything as clear as day. Silvery strands of light that tied us all together. As if we formed our own star glimmering in the darkest night sky.

But those strands of light were chains. I would always feel Riven no matter where he was. Always be reminded that I was tied to him even though he wanted nothing to do with me.

Something in my chest jerked as the front door slammed, and Riven headed outside. Sweat broke out on my brow as he moved farther away. That burn picked up in my rib cage, and I struggled to catch my breath.

Kai’s hands were on my face then. “Aura, what the hell is happening?”

My eyes fluttered open. “Hurts.”

Phoenix pulled out his phone, tapping the screen. “Get your ass back inside.”

There was a short pause.

“I’m not trying to get you to play ‘Kumbaya.’ You’re hurting Aura.”

Another short silence.

Phoenix’s voice lowered. “When you put too much distance between you, it causes her pain.”

A moment later, the worst of it lessened. My breaths came easier.

Atlas brushed the hair out of my face. “You’re okay?”

I nodded. But it was a lie. I was so far from okay it wasn’t even funny. I wanted to go home. To my familiar room. To Charlie’s incessant chatter. To my mom’s hugs with her faint lavender scent filling my nose.

I jerked in Atlas’s arms. “My mom. Charlie. Where are they? Did the kings get them?”

Kai squeezed my thigh. “Riven got them. He put them in one of our safe houses as a precaution.”

“They’re okay?”

Phoenix shoved his phone into his back pocket. “I sent four guards I trust with my life to watch over them. No one else knows where they are.”

I worried a spot on the inside of my cheek. “We’re not going to be able to keep them from King Zephyr forever.”

Phoenix lowered himself to the end of the bed. “Not forever, but for now. With the assassin attack, our actions are justified.”

I arched a brow. “Does King Zephyr agree with that?”

Kai snorted. “He threw a shit fit, but there’s nothing he can do. Two of his own guards were killed by the attacker. As your destined bond, we have the right to protect you and your family.”

“I want to see them.” Even with the lies and half-truths, the only thing I wanted right now was for my mom to wrap me in her arms and tell me everything would be okay.

The guys shared a look.

“What?”

Atlas stroked my hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. “The fewer of us that travel to the safe house, the better chance we have of keeping your mom and brother safe.”

“But no one knows where it is. Can’t we go at night or something?” My desperation bled into my voice.

Kai skimmed his lips across my temple. “We’ll figure out a way for you to see them. But we have to be smart about it. Right now, everyone in the four kingdoms is looking for us.”

My stomach tied itself into intricate knots at his words. “Everyone?”

Phoenix’s thumb swept back and forth across my calf. “Most are curious. Some even hopeful. They want a change from the division we’ve been living in for the past several centuries.”