Page 79 of Demon Found

“Fuck it. Let’s go find the boys. They said they were sparring this afternoon. I’m ready for another practice session.”

“You sure? You were wiped out for days after the last one.” Naeve casts a longing glance at the pile of books we still have to wade through. Offering a friendly pat to our stack of research, I tow her by the elbow out into the wet day, ignoring her grumbles.

“My eyeballs are going to explode if I read one more sentence that begins ‘by the dragon’s ass.’”

“By the dragon’s end, not ass,” Naeve says. “Meaning by the last days of the dragons. I thought your Old Fae was adequate?”

“Nope. It’s definitely ass. Just think about it.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Wyverns aretechnicallya dragon species. And those I know areallassholes!”

Cackling, I sprint away from her. Shit, it’s good to be outside, no matter if it’s a miserable day.

Barreling into the deserted training grounds, I dump my bag in the locker room and strip quickly to my gym kit before heading out into the open air arena. I love this place, it’s awesome for our Magical Combat classes, but even better when there’s no one else but us here and I can let my aether out to play. Tingling runs over my arms and I hop from one foot to the other, my nerves building.

“Easy, firecracker. Going to put those out so we can get close enough to train?”

Grinning at Zephyr, I pull my flames back to myself. Each smidgen of progress with my aether is making it easier to manipulate my other elements. I’m no longer the dunce of every class, and dammit, I’m beginning to like that.

We share a brief meditation before we attempt a power share. I can nearly tolerate a whole five minutes of interlaced power now. Nearly. It’s still creepy as fuck, but Zephyr showed me how to build a wall in my mind, how to choose what to share. It gives me back control. I don’t like how they can still pull on my power, take some of my energy from me, but grudgingly I can see how it would be important in a life-and-death situation.

“No Chano?” Farrell breaks my concentration, and I pull away from Zephyr, scrubbing my hands to rid the itchy sensation skittering over my skin.

“You know he can’t.” Naeve glares at Farrell’s back. “Not out in the open like this. We agreed. If people realize we have a five-part allegiance, they’ll start to ask questions.”

“Right, let’s start where we left off the last time, Lorelei.” Farrell ignores Naeve and guides us into position. “I’ll provide the water and fire since Chano’sslacking, Zephyr obviously air, Naeve you’re on earth.”

We’ve discovered aether is about balance. Practicing works best with access to all four of the other elements. Even so, it’s freaking hard. But I can now cast two elements in the same moment. A little tingle of pride runs through me. It’s something only true aethers can do, something only I can do.

“Cast your fire and pull Naeve’s earth.”

Shitballs. Couldn’t we start with something easier? Like with the elements I possess. Scowling, I concentrate on forming a share with each of them first, picturing little tendrils reaching out, interlacing with their power, holding them tight to me.

On an exhale, I hold my hand out, touching Naeve’s arm, willing her earth into me. The resistance between us shudders, then splinters, cascading her power into me. A wall of energy hits me in the chest, and I double over, panting, trying to muster my own fire in the same breath. Slowly my flame sputters and flares to life while the cool damp scent of earth tickles my nostrils. That’s it, I’ve got it. I concentrate on the elements, distilling them, purifying, magnifying . . .

“Maybe stop now? Lorelei! Stop!”

Flinching, I pull back. My eyes flutter open as a giant molehill erupts from the arena floor. A molehill on fire.Shit shit shit. Wide-eyed, I can’t do anything except stare. It towers higher and higher, the flames starting to flicker from purple to white. It’s when they go white that things get out of control . . .

“Lorelei!”

Crap. This is on me. I shut off the energy streaming from Naeve to me, grunting at the effort, then concentrate on reining in my fire power. It’s like taming a warecat high on faenip. Sweat beads on my forehead with the effort. Naeve flops to the ground beside me, but I can’t do more than cast a frantic glance in her direction. She’s breathing at least. I have to focus. Finally, the last flames flicker back to purple, skitter over the ground and up my arms before dying out.

Sinking to my knees, I take in Naeve’s pale face and reach out a hand to her.

“Don’t take so much next time. I can’t do what you do. I can’t block you. I can’t stop you from taking more.”

Fuck. That’s a problem. Flinging myself on my back, I stare up at the blustery sky. I should be able to sense their energy levels, their emotions even, if I can get the hang of this blasted element. Still on my back, I reach for my tablet. It’s quite clear from our research that it’s possible—especially within my allegiance. The more powerful aethers could read anyone’s emotions, dammit.

“Enough for today,” Farrell announces. I sit up. He’s normally pushing, pushing, pushing. But he’s gray, drained, and breathing heavily. I glance at Zephyr. He’s on the ground, eyes unfocused, his chest heaving.

Shit, I pulled too much from them all. I’ve hurt them.

Chapter Thirty-nine: Lorelei

Naeveistakingforever.I pace anxiously outside the shower block, with my wet hair cooling my neck. She finally drags herself out, gray and worn, and wobbles slowly toward her clothes. Fuck, she might fall over any damn second.

“Food then bed.” I squeeze her arm as she pulls on her shoes with a grunt. “I’m sorry. I drained you, and I didn’t even know.”

She grimaces before hauling herself to her feet and throwing herself at me in a giant bear hug. I don’tdohugs, but it’s not exactly like I can tell her fuck off right now, is it?Sneaky bitch.

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