Page 8 of The Last Aether

I struggled to make it there. It took two tries to get the water on. I turned it as cold as it would go and stepped under the spray.

The shock of freezing water had me gasping. And it was only then I realized my pajama top was still on. I wrestled with it, trying to get free. It was trapping me the same way the beam had. No air could make it into my lungs.

I dropped to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. Sobs tore through me, one after the other, tripping over each other in the effort to get free. My teeth chattered together in violent bursts of movement between sobs.

A second later, the shower door was ripped open. Atlas’s large frame filled the space, and then he was lifting me into his arms. He swiftly moved the water to warm as he cradled me to his chest. “Aura,” he whispered, so much pain in that one word.

I wanted to tell him that I was okay on my own, that he didn’t need to see this. But I couldn’t get the words out, only more sobs.

Atlas lowered us to the shower bench, cocooning me in his warmth. He rocked back and forth, whispering sweet nothings into my ear. The one thing I could pull out was him telling me that he was here. That I was safe.

I didn’t know how long the rocking lasted, but eventually my tears slowed, and embarrassment set in. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you dare apologize for feeling. This is too much for anyone to handle alone. But don’t shut us out. We want to shoulder it with you.”

“I wasn’t trying to shut you out—”

“You were. I understand why, but the only way we make it through this is together.”

I lifted my head, taking in the beautiful man in front of me. His heart was so pure and there was so much goodness in him. “Okay. I’m scared.”

His forehead dropped to mine. “I know you are. And I hate it so fucking much. But we’re with you. We won’t let anything happen to you or each other.”

I wanted to believe that. So much that there was a physical ache inside me. “We’re a mess. We can’t all be in the same room together without people fighting and someone storming out.” How were we supposed to have each other’s backs with that going on?

“You mean, Riven storming out.”

I let out a sort of humming sound that wasn’t agreement or disagreement. To be fair, Kai had stormed away at one point too. But we had talked it out, made forward progress. With Riven, I wasn’t sure that was possible.

Nuzzling into Atlas’s neck, I breathed deep. “Riven doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“He had to have true want for the bond to snap into place, Aura.”

“He didn’t want me to die. That doesn’t mean he wants to be linked to me for all eternity.”

Atlas sighed. “Riven’s history is complicated. It’s not easy for him to care.”

An image of Eva and Riven, their heads bowed together at the dining table, flashed in my mind. “He cares for others. Just not me.”

God, it hurt to say those words. To hear them out loud and from my own mouth.

“He’s scared. His dad has tried to destroy every good thing he’s ever had in his life. If King Zephyr finds out about the bond, even worse that Riven is attached to you, it’ll be bad.”

A deep ache swept through me at the childhood Riven must’ve endured. “I don’t want to force this on him.”

“You’re not. It’s like I said. This is going to take time. We have to give ourselves that chance.”

I let out a shuddering breath. I was so tired of trying with Riven. But what other choice did I have? “I’ll do whatever I can.”

Atlas grinned against my hair. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you.” My hand landed on his chest, and I looked down. “You’re in your clothes.”

His lips skimmed my temple. “Wasn’t going to waste any time getting to you.”

Everything in me twisted at that. Three little words on my lips. I wanted to give them to Atlas, yet something held me back.

Atlas stood, taking me with him. As I found my feet, he peeled the pajama top off me. His fingers closed around the hem of his T-shirt and his eyes met mine. “Can I?”