Page 26 of Broken Lands

“What do you mean, who? Lincoln just asked me. Remember, you just threw me to the wolves and left me for dead!” I wasn’t angry with her, not really. Somehow, I knew she’d never leave me if I were truly in danger.

She shrugged, a playful smile dancing on her lips. “You have plenty of suitors. I was curious to see who would approach you first. My money was actually on Stefan.” Her tone was matter of fact, as if she’d been totally convinced.

“Stefan and I are just friends. Maybe not even friends. He hasn’t spoken to me since the library incident.” I pouted, my bottom lip jutting out, and even I was surprised at how sad I sounded—how sad that thought made me feel. I was angry at Stefan, but I still wanted him around. Wanted to feel him near.

“He will. He just needs time. He’ll explain himself soon. And if he doesn’t, I’ll give him a kick up the ass.” She giggled as she spoke the word ‘ass’, which made me laugh too. We spent the rest of lunch in high spirits talking about the dance until Bee had to leave and make her way to job placement. She had been tasked with helping maintain various gardens around Danann. It seemed to be a mammoth task and once that was vital to maintaining the power reserves of the Earth elementals. Without them, Danann would be as barren as the rest of the earth.

Deciding to start on our assignment before I met with General Brand this evening for fire tutoring, I headed toward the library.

Butterflies start up again in my stomach at the thought of General Brand.

Damn, these men have really done a number on me.

Chapter fourteen

Riley

Adingsoundedfrommy tablet, drawing my attention away from the heavy leather-bound book I’d been perusing. After Bee left for her work placement, I’d made my way to the library to start research for the assignment Professor Burns had set.

I’d chosen to focus on Goddess Avani. I was intrigued by her title‘Goddess of Growth and Mother of All.’What kind of connection might she have to Earth and its current state of decay?

I pulled my tablet out of my bag to check my notifications. To my surprise, the message that had come through was from ‘Colin Brand’. Not once had I referred to the General as Colin. It was strange to think of him that way. I didn’t hate it, it was just… different.

Colin

I’m free now if you want to start early.

Our tutoring session was scheduled for this evening at 7pm. It was only half-past three in the afternoon. If we met now, I might catch Bee for dinner and study with her later.

Riley

Sure. Still meeting at HQ?

Colin

Meet me at the stables in 10 minutes.

10 minutes! Shit! I wasn’t sure if I could even make it across the academy grounds in that amount of time! Quickly throwing my things back in my bookbag, I slung it over my shoulder, grabbing the heavy tome I’d been reading and carting it to the librarian’s desk. It was an effort to wait patiently as she checked it out for me.

When she was done, I stuffed the book into my bag and rushed out of the heavy double doors, through the dining hall, and out into the entryway. Pulling my tablet out again, I quickly shot off a message to let General Brand know I was on my way.

Making my way across the grounds and past the lake, I noticed there were surprisingly few students around this afternoon, just a couple of both water and earth elementals lingering in the gardens, using their magic to encourage the plants and wildflowers planted there to bloom and thrive, despite the lack of nurturing the land itself provided.

When I reached the path leading into the Academy’s mini forest, I stopped short. Right where my powers were awakened. It was the first time I’d been here since, and the blackened scorch marks spreading out from the path shocked me. The fissures leading out from the center where I had collapsed were deep and erratic, shaped like lightning bolts as they extended into the trees. A few of the trees had blackened trunks and bare branches, the leaves either having been burned away by my fire or blown away on my wind.

I’d assumed that other fae would have repaired the damage I’d left behind. A wave of guilt washed over me, settling in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t anyone else’s responsibility, it was mine. I caused this damage; I was responsible for fixing it.

My elemental powers were new to me. I hadn’t tried to work with Earth yet. Where was I supposed to start? I pulled my bag over my shoulder and placed it on the ground, off to the side of the path.

Stepping over the fissures and blackened path, I knelt in the untouched center of damage, placing both hands to the earth and willing my magic to my palms, not sure if that was how it was supposed to work. The only magic I’d used so far had been accidental, provoked by either fear or rage.

A slight tingle started in my fingers, but it slipped away before I could harness it. I closed my eyes, focusing on pulling my earth element out from my core, from the well in my chest to my hands pressed firmly against the forest floor.

Nothing happened.

My stubbornness took root, and I kept trying, straining to pull it from myself. I had to fix this. I couldn’t leave the land this way. She suffered so much already.

Still, nothing happened. Even the tingle in my fingers faded away. Tears welled in my eyes as I opened them and stared at my hands in frustration.Why can’t I make this work?

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