Page 46 of Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three

“Here,” Cyrus murmured, triggering a mist that joined Titus’s element.

Vox’s hair began to blow as he focused on the whirl of magic, and the foundation of the room rumbled as Sol engaged his own element.

Exos grinned and held his palm over Titus’s, then slowly closed the gap between them.

If it hurt, they didn’t show it. Instead, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves, their magic mixing and blending until they released it all at once, leaving me winded in their wake.

And then Titus revealed what they’d created—a tiny ring glimmering with all the colors of the elements.

Much fancier than the ones I’d crafted.

“I need to up my game,” I marveled as Exos plucked the item from Titus’s palm.

My Spirit Fae grinned, holding the item out for my review. “Here’s a piece of all of us, Claire. Just for you.”

“Always for you,” Cyrus whispered, his lips against my ear.

With tears in my eyes, I slipped it over my finger and smiled. “It’s perfect.”

“Merry Christmas,” Exos mused.

“Merry Christmas,” the others echoed.

Peace slid over me, making me feel at home and alive all at once. “Happy Festivus,” I replied.

This was the way life should be.

Happy, loving, filled with joyful moments.

But deep down I knew this would be short-lived, could feel a darkness calling for my attention. Yet I shoved it away, promising to acknowledge it another day.

Because something was coming.

I could feel it in every fiber of my being, and the look Exos gave me over the cheerfulness in the room told me he felt it, too.

Exos

A soft cry stirred me from my rest.

Claire.

I sat up, searching for her in our makeshift sleeping quarters. She lay absolutely still between Vox and Sol, her eyes closed and her little hands curled into her chest.

Then she whimpered again, not out loud, but into my mind.

A bad dream, I realized, creeping over to her.

Cyrus stepped into the room with an arched brow, my brother having chosen to stand guard for the night while everyone else rested. We agreed to alternate evenings. The Air Kingdom might be safe, but something lurked on the horizon. Claire’s other mates couldn’t feel it, their lack of a connection to spirit impeding their ability to sense the darkness looming over all of us.

A tear leaked from the corner of Claire’s eye, her expression otherwise soft.

I gently clasped her ankle, searching for a connection to her mind and found the source of her pain.

Ophelia.

She stood alone in a cold cell, shivering and mouthing unin

telligible words to Claire.

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