Page 94 of The Last Aether

Something about the noise broke Riven’s control. He thrust into me deeper and harder, his tempo picking up speed.

I lost track of who was touching me where. All I knew was that I was awash in sensation. In hands and mouths and them.

Wind picked up in the room and the ground trembled beneath us. I swore I felt a mist of water in the air. I couldn’t grab on to any of it because I was falling. I didn’t try to stop myself. I spiraled in a cascade of silver and magic in the air.

It was as if I consumed every feeling and then burst apart into a million pieces. Riven thrust impossibly deeper, a guttural growl on his lips as he emptied himself into me.

I collapsed back onto him, Kai and Atlas at our sides. It was perfect, this moment together. Except for one thing. A part of my heart was missing. And I worried when Phoenix came back, he might never be the same.

52

The sound of footsteps had me looking up from my book. Next to me, Atlas went on alert. The guys hadn’t left me alone with the guard since we’d found out that someone had spiked their drinks the night of Aiden’s attack. It was sheer luck that Riven had only had a couple of sips and been able to hear my mind call.

Now I was always with one of the guys or in the royal dorm. I didn’t fight them on it. Not when we were all exhausted and doing our best.

Riven and Kai rounded the library shelves. I didn’t miss the dark circles under their eyes or defeated posture.

“Anything?” I asked hopefully.

Riven shook his head. “No sign of him.”

It had been a week since Phoenix had taken off after his brother and none of us had heard a word. Periodically, I would send mental messages to him, telling Phoenix that I loved him and begging him to come back. But I had no idea if they reached their destination. If they did, he wasn’t responding.

Riven and Kai collapsed into chairs opposite us.

I reached across the table, taking one of each of their hands. “What do you need?”

“Sleep,” Riven muttered at the same time Kai said, “food.”

“We can get you both of those things. Tonight, I’ll help Atlas in the kitchen, and you guys can just relax.”

Kai sent Atlas a wary look.

I scowled at him. “I’ll just chop and clean.”

“Don’t chop off a finger, please,” Riven grumbled.

“Hey, I’m getting better.” While we were waiting for word from Phoenix, I’d spent a lot of time in the kitchen with Atlas, wanting to stay busy.

I looked up at my gentle giant for confirmation.

He shifted in his seat. “You’re definitely getting better.”

My jaw went slack. “You’re lying.”

Kai snorted. “Of course, he is. He wants to get laid in his lifetime.”

I picked up my pencil and chucked it at him.

He caught it with one hand. “Uncalled for, Pip.”

“You could try being a little supportive. I’m learning.”

“I’ll be your own personal cheerleader, just as long as I don’t have to eat whatever you’re practicing on.”

I let out a huff of annoyance.

Riven simply shook his head. “You guys have any luck with the texts Quincy gave you?”