Elemental Fae Academy: Book One Read online

  Royal bastard.

  “River,” Claire said, ignoring my banter with Exos. “I’m so sorry for losing control like that. Thank you for helping me.”

  He ducked his head as his face turned pink. “It was nothing, Claire. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more.” He glanced at me. “I’m not like your other mentors.”

  Her grin widened. “No, I suppose not.”

  “Yes, as I said, we need to find a suitable mentor for air.” Exos glanced up at the sky that had been green and angry just moments ago. “We’ll be meeting the candidate I have in mind tomorrow when we visit Air Quad. He’s in your first class.”

  Claire blushed. “Just a mentor, right?”

  Exos grinned and brushed his lips against her temple. “That’s not up to me, princess.”

  She leaned into him, her comfort with his presence evident in their interaction. I waited for the spike of jealousy to come, but it didn’t, surprising me. Over the last two weeks, I’d sort of learned to accept her bond with Exos. Maybe because it was different, more subtle and mischievous. While with me, she burned with passion and need.

  Intriguing.

  Exos folded his hands behind his back and straightened, the Royal Fae returning for duty. “The candidate will be tested, of course.” His gaze locked on Claire. “As will you. Do you feel truly prepared to face the fae and the Academy tomorrow?”

  She smiled and slipped her arm through his, forcing him to buckle against her. “You’ll be with me.” Her gaze fluttered my way. “I just wish Titus could come, too.”

  “He has classes,” Exos reminded her. “Don’t you, Titus?”

  I sighed. “I do.”

  As much as I wanted to be by Claire’s side night and day, Exos was right. I had my own classes to attend now that I had permission to resume my academic schedule. So I buried my feelings and the need to protect her, finding the strength in myself to give my trust over to Exos to do that for me.

  No matter what conflicts there were between Exos and me, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Because his feelings for Claire rivaled my own.

  He’d give his life to protect her.

  Same as I would.

  So, this new Air Fae had a lot to live up to. And, as Exos planned on testing him, all I could think was, Good fucking luck, buddy.

  Vox

  “You’re the one in charge here,” I reminded myself, not caring if anyone heard me. Sometimes I needed a little pep talk before approaching Sol in the morning. The damn Earth Fae liked to forget that I was his mentor and he was only permitted in the guest room as a boon. He didn’t get along with the Earth Fae—or any fae—but that was why I was his mentor. He needed me.

  Right now, he was pissing me off.

  Rolling my shoulders back, I inhaled a long, deep breath, held it, and then released it in a drawn-out gust that rattled his door.

  Or, should have rattled it.

  The damn Earth Fae had made a wall of stone around himself. I could feel it. A weight in the air made me want to sneeze, and my nostrils flared.

  “Sol!” I shouted, then reduced myself to beating against the door with my fists. “You’re going to make me late for class!” I couldn’t just leave him in the Air Dorms unattended. He had to leave.

  “Not going!” came the muffled reply of my earthy subordinate. “There’s a wild Halfling on campus today!”

  As if I didn’t fucking know that. That was precisely why I needed to be bright and early for class.

  I’d heard a rumor that she would be starting on Air Quad today, which meant I didn’t have time for Sol’s shit. No way was I going to miss this.

  I stroked my short beard while I contemplated the best way to beat Sol at this idiotic game. He rarely walled me out like this, but when he did, it really drained my air magic to force him out. My powers needed to be at their height today.

  Running my fingers to the back of my neck and securing the loop at my warrior’s ponytail, I decided on a new tactic. “Are you telling me you’re afraid of a girl?” I leaned in closer, knowing that Sol was right on the other side hanging on every word. “Or are you afraid of the royal?”

  A hiss of sound, then a grating of stones as the wall shifted. I grinned.

  “Not fucking afraid of that dirtbag!” was the reply.

  I let out a low whistle, my powers over air sending the shrill notes vibrating through stone. “Oh really? Because it looks like you’ve spent the majority of your power making yourself a bunker in order to stay away from the royal. That’s not the Sol I know.”

  I waited, then grinned when the stones shifted again and the slightest sliver of light came through the door. “Nice try, windbag. Not coming out.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you have any more intelligent insults? Come on, Sol. The Air Quad is the last place you want to be today. They’re saying the Halfling will be starting classes here, and if you want to be out of sight, then going back to the Earth Quad is your best bet to stay out of their path.”

  The wall crumbled, leaving the door to break off its hinges. I jumped back just in time for it to slam down on the place I’d been standing, leaving a very large and pissed-off Earth Fae on the other side. He wore his standard Earth Fae trousers that had gotten wrinkled from him sleeping in them, along with the loose tank around his broad shoulders. He intimidated most fae, but I knew Sol. He was all bark and no bite.

  “You know why I can’t go back there,” he said, his words grating against the marble floors.

  Not this again.

  I threw my hands up and let them fall, releasing a gust of wind that blew away the dust from Sol’s tantrum. Every time I indulged him and let him stay in the Air Quad, he thought he could just wall himself up here and not face the world.

  Most fae would have kept their distance from Sol, but my powers made me fast and lithe, enough that I could move out of the way of his brutish strength as needed. Fighting an Earth Fae head-on was the mistake of many. I knew how to dodge, escape, and survive. It was what made me stronger than Sol in any match.

  Moving to him, I rested a hand on his shoulder, only to brush aside the loose pebbles that had gathered in the crook of his collarbone. “Listen, Sol. Let’s make a deal. I’ll find out the Halfling’s schedule and make sure you won’t be anywhere near her or the royal guarding her, all right?” I gripped him and gave him a light shake. “Oh, also? Use what I have taught you. Don’t wall yourself up when they come at you. Evade their attempts to rile you up. You can do it.”

  Sol set his jaw and looked like he was going to punch me. I angled my feet just in case he did, but then his face erupted in a wide grin and he crushed me to his chest in a hug. “You’re right, Vox. You’re right.”

  “Too… tight. Can’t… breathe,” I managed to squeak out of my crushed windpipe.

  Sol laughed and released me, setting me back down. I was a tall fae, but Sol was a titan.

  Coughing, I patted him on the arm again. “Okay, so, off with you.”

  I knew the Earth Fae didn’t want to leave. The Chancellor had forced us into this collaboration, avid about multi-element partnerships, and Sol and I certainly had our ups and downs. I might be good for him, a little bit of air in his stubborn sails, but I was also a member of this Academy and needed some time on my own.

  “Fine, Vox,” Sol said reluctantly and marched past me, sending the walls shaking. He had so much trouble reining in his gifts. It was what made other Earth Fae afraid enough of him to bully him.

  I could relate.

  I had a history of my own, but I did better than most keeping that under tight wraps. It would take a tornado to reveal what had driven me to the Academy in the first place.

  When blessed silence engulfed me after Sol’s departure, I let out another long breath, wishing I could spend some time in meditation before starting the day. Today, however, there was no time for contemplation or reflection.

  Excitement drifted through the air, palpable and enticing. Whatever energies this Half
ling brought with her, it was realm-changing, and I wanted a front-row seat.

  In spite of Sol’s delay to my morning, I still arrived early to my conjuring class. This being a more advanced class, I didn’t expect to see the Halfling. It made me want to wander outside and see if I could spot her.

  “Did you hear we have a new student?” Aerie asked me, one of the Air Fae who often indulged in the latest gossip.

  “Quit stirring up motes,” I replied. Everyone on campus had heard about the new student. I didn’t live under a rock.

  “She’s tried to kill Ignis twice now. First with her little show of fire power. Then by trying to drown her and Sickle and several others in the Fire Dorms. If Sickle hadn’t been there, she would have killed Ignis. I saw it all. Well, the first incident, anyway. The second one, I was in the Air Quad.”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Sounds terrifying,” I said, placating her. Last thing I wanted to do was goad a fae known to stir up trouble.

  “It was!” She kept jabbering, but other students thankfully indulged her bullshit, giving me a chance to meander away.

  Pretending to be engrossed in a piece of lint on my suit, I brushed it off before I took my seat, a floating pedestal three desks down that gave me a perfect view of the door. I liked to see who came in and out. Conjuring took place in an enclosed orb where anything summoned—intentionally or accidentally—couldn’t escape. It left the doorway as the sole entrance and exit.

  With the clock nearly at the late-morning dial, the students started to stream in. Dark hair and uniforms made all the Air Fae look almost the same, but I could spot the small traits that set them apart. They liked to keep their hair short, which was why I’d let mine grow out. The last thing I wanted to be was just another Air Fae.

  Then, there she was. I’d been talking myself out of the possibility of seeing the Halfling up close, but she was actually here. A bright glimpse of sunlight and golden hair as she eased into the room with her hands clasped in front of her thighs. The standard Academy uniform clung to her curves, which were far more sensual than an Air Fae’s and immediately made my eyes wander from her head to her toes. I could write a song about her grace, undoubtedly innate in the lithe movements of one who wielded the element of air, but there was so much more to her that had me mesmerized.

  A flash of dangerous dark-blue eyes broke me from the spell. Exos, the notorious Royal Spirit Fae, instantly took note of me and glowered. “Eyes to yourself.”

  An order.

  I wasn’t used to those, but I knew better than to challenge the royal, especially after what he’d done to Sol. The Spirit Fae could manipulate one’s very will, and I had no interest in testing the strength of this particular royal’s ethical qualms about doing that inside the classroom.

  The Halfling fidgeted while the Air Fae took their seats. I tried not to watch her, but it was damn near impossible. She was so utterly fascinating with her round ears and beautiful blonde hair.

  Everyone took their assigned seats, leaving the usual circle of empty pedestals around me open. The Halfling took one of the chairs closest to me before glancing between Exos and me, murmuring something I couldn’t hear—which was impressive, given that air currents normally obeyed me and I could hear any whispered secret within my vicinity.

  “Yes. That’s him.” The royal nodded, his words soft as he sat behind her, providing him with a clear view of her back and the entryway.

  “Hi,” the Halfling said, startling me when I realized she was actually talking to me.

  “Oh, uh, hi,” I said, resisting the urge to glance at the powerful Spirit Fae that was just at the edge of my sight. I didn’t care for his proximity, but based on the light tremors of power in the air, that was exactly what he wanted—for everyone to feel uneasy.

  Definitely a warrior.

  The Halfling smiled shyly, and it felt like sunlight was exploding all around me again. A warm breeze swirled around her that immediately called to my innate element, coaxing me to lean closer, so I did.

  The royal cleared his throat. “Distance, Air Fae.”

  Before I could reply—and with what, I had no idea—the professor entered and tapped a staff against the ground, sending light bursts of air fluttering through the enclosed room.

  Professor Helios, one of the more ancient Air Fae, was considered a master of conjuring. He wore his dark hair long, a customary style for one of his age. The thick strands swept around him on an invisible breeze, giving him the illusion of floating. Lengthy robes added to the effect, and he surveyed the class with his inky eyes. Most Air Fae had darker-hued eyes, but not dark enough to overtake the pupil. Professor Helios, however, was powerful—and old—so he had an eerie kind of gaze that made it difficult to look directly at him.

  He wasted no time and conjured an air sprite to his side. The Halfling let out a soft gasp that made something in me unhinge, but I managed to keep myself in one piece.

  The small creature immediately began chittering and buzzed around the Air Fae’s head.

  “Class, as you can see, we have a new student,” Professor Helios said with a sweeping motion. Wind was normally invisible, but when scented with power, it could send color through a controlled breeze. Helios’s power was dark, and a shadow swept over the Halfling, making her stiffen. The royal subtly reached out to stroke his fingers through her hair, whispering secret words that I couldn’t hear.

  Strange. Exos was a Spirit Fae with an affinity for fire, not air. I should be able to hear them.

  Unless…

  Oh.

  Now I saw it. He and the Halfling had initiated a courtship bond. That was what allowed them to speak to one another beyond my intrusion. Fascinating.

  An odd surge of jealousy burst through me, causing me to frown. I had no interest in starting a courtship bond with any fae, much less the fabled Halfling. But there was something about her air that called to me.

  “Vox,” Professor Helios barked, the slice to his words cutting across my ears and making me wince. “You will partner with the Halfling for today’s exercise.”

  A collective gasp, both of shock and relief, swept through the rest of the class.

  I hadn’t realized I was staring, but the Halfling caught my gaze and offered me a slight smile. Wait, does she know who I am already? That the professor had just assigned me to her?

  “Vox?” Professor Helios repeated, impatience coloring his tone. “Do you think you can bring our new student up to speed?”

  “Yes,” I said, clearing my throat as I undid the top button to my suit jacket, hoping I’d feel less suffocated. “Of course.”

  Professor Helios stabbed his staff into the ground twice, signaling that today’s exercises were to begin. “We will pick up where we left off last time. Conjuring figments of our imaginations are great displays of power, and useful, but it all starts with a flicker of our element. Today you will conjure controlled spirals of air at your desk.” The creature complained as it flitted around his staff. The professor ignored it. “Keep them controlled, or else this little figment of my imagination will punish you.” The air sprite cheered its approval at being involved.

  The Halfling’s eyes went wide. “Punish?”

  I smirked. “Don’t mind him,” I said, turning to face her as I tried my best to ignore the narrow-eyed royal behind her. “Professor Helios just likes to rule by fear. Thinks that’s what’ll motivate the students. If you mess up, the worst the air sprite can do is bite you.”

  She let out a soft gasp. “Bite? Like a mosquito?”

  I raised a brow. “Not sure what that is, but yeah, let’s go with that.”

  “Vox,” the royal said, startling me. I shifted on my floating pedestal to give him more of my attention. Sunlight struggled to shine in through the translucent barrier to the classroom, but it seemed to bow and waver uncertainly around him, his power a little too wrong for this place. He shivered as if sensing how much he didn’t fit in here.

  “I asked the professo
r to pair you with Claire. Consider this an audition.”

  Claire. I’d only heard her referred to as “Halfling” on campus, but I rather liked her unique name.

  However, what I didn’t care for were Exos’s words.

  “An audition?” I frowned. “For what?”

  He didn’t elaborate, instead reaching out to the Halfling to stroke her wrist. “Air was one of the first elements she manifested. After fire, of course. We’ve been working on controlling her elements, but with her access to all five…” He shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid.

  Gods. All five elements in one beautiful, fragile package? I couldn’t even begin to imagine how this Halfling had managed to stay in one piece this long.

  He couldn’t possibly mean for me to be her mentor during her classes on the Air Quad. I must have inferred that wrong. After mentoring Sol for so long, I should have felt like I was capable of anything, but this? Surely not.

  My hesitation didn’t go unnoticed. Claire moved away from me, just the slightest fraction that most wouldn’t have caught, but I did.

  “Exos, if he’s not comfortable partnering with me, we can find another,” Claire mumbled. “Or I can work alone.”

  Her uncertainty and distrust gave me pause. I didn’t know what she’d been through, but I’d never seen such torment in someone’s eyes.

  Okay. I could handle one class. Maybe not an audition for the future, but today was fine. We’d discuss the rest afterward.

  “Claire, is it?” I asked, closing the gap she’d created and rolling my hands on my knees so that they were palm up. A nonthreatening posture to help her feel at ease. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say.

  Heat flared on an invisible breeze that made her golden hair fly back over her shoulders, and her vibrant blue eyes danced with the dangerous spirit powers that sang with the royal’s. I sensed that she couldn’t manipulate will—or perhaps the royal kept that part of her powers dampened—but a wave of nausea swept over me as she shared a taste of her emotions through the fragile look she gave me.