Page 40 of Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three

“It would be improper for me to spend yet another Festivus season on campus or in another realm,” I said to him now. The sooner he accepted I was here to stay for a few days, the better.

My mother nodded with eager agreement, her white curls flowing over her shoulders as an effortless wave of her power swept around her gentle form. “I agree, Notus. It will do our standing well to have Vox home.”

“And your intended mate? A Halfling? What in the Four Winds were you thinking?” My father—Notus—snapped, his black eyes going wide. He cared so much about what the other royal Air Fae lines might think.

Elements forbid I hadn’t brought home a privileged Air Fae brat. Because that’s who I’ve always dreamed of mating. Not.

My father scoffed, adding, “No. It’s worse than just the Halfling. We now have to deal with multiple bond-mates like some kind of barbaric Spirit Kingdom family. How many did you say there were?”

“Give the boy a break,” came a scratchy voice from the hall. My grandfather, the one who had brought shame to our family, entered with a smile. His notorious jagged scar tugged across his left eye, running through a milky white iris that served as a reminder of his sin. “I’ve settled the Halfling with the best view of the spire.”

He had secured this particular spire in his youth in one of the more desirable crags that overlooked the clouds and distant cliffs below. It contained strong winds meant to power a family’s elemental well—or push unwary guests off the edge to an early death.

I swiped my face with my hand. “You can’t leave her out there by herself,” I said, worry creeping into my voice. “She’s not from here.” And my mate had a tendency to wander off alone.

“Of course she’s not from here!” my father bellowed, his temper spiking again. “She’s not fae!”

“Half-fae,” I corrected.

He scoffed. “It’s more shame that you bring on this family, Vox. I won’t tolerate it.”

As much blustering as my father wanted to do, this was my grandfather’s house. When he passed, then my father could have a say in such matters, but until then, I never paid him much heed.

“Sounds like you need to go burst some wind,” Malichi grumbled, waving away my father’s rage. He swept a frail arm around me and tugged me along with him. “Come, boy. Your grandfather has missed you.”

We left my parents behind bickering over the baggage. Father threatened to toss it all over the edge of our property, and Mother began the tedious work of soothing him with promises that Cyrus and Exos were powerful royals that could offer a boost to our reputation. He’d come around, but this was precisely why I hadn’t brought all my other bond-mates right away. My family needed time to adjust to the idea.

“What’s it like?” my grandfather asked, his good eye sparkling with delight. “Being mated to a Halfling?”

Shrugging his arm from my shoulders, I wrinkled my nose at the cool, nostalgic breeze that swept scents of clouds and mist through the wide halls. Sunlight streamed in from skylights that lined every corridor, making the spire feel like there was no place to hide from watchful eyes.

I hated being home.

“You’ve been mated before, Grandfather,” I said, not wishing to discuss Claire with the Air Fae. “You don’t need me to tell you what it’s like.”

He chuckled. “That’s not what I meant, my boy.” He swirled an invisible breeze around his finger. A subtle practice act of what was left of his power that he insisted on keeping up, even though the Air King had taken away his access to the source of our element. “She has access to all five elements, so I hear. Do you feel them, too?”

I tilted my head in thought. Yes, I was connected to the other elements because of Claire and my bond-mates, but it didn’t give me power over them in the way my grandfather likely hoped. “Only Claire has that power,” I assured him. “Don’t get any funny ideas.”

He dismissed the breeze, sending his beard puffing from the tiny shock wave. “Can’t blame an old fae for trying to think of ways to redeem the family line. If our own royals won’t speak to us, then maybe your bond-mates have some connections.”

I wanted to tell him that was impossible. Exos and Cyrus had their own problems, and Sol definitely had other, more important things to worry about than my “family honor.” Our royal line would never be anything but a shameful reminder of what happened when powerful Air Fae lost control. It was what we deserved until we could prove otherwise.

The extravagant display of wealth when we reached the viewing platform reminded me that my family was hopelessly vapid and could never meet my expectations.

Claire, however, stood on the very edge with her arms spread and her hair flinging in the violent wind.

My heart leapt in my throat and my tongue went dry. “Claire?” I said, hoping we wouldn’t startle her over the spire’s cliff. “Don’t you think you’re a little close to the edge?”

She spun on her tiptoes, teetering in a way that made me dizzy. Wind swirled around her, and I realized that she leaned back, staying aloft by invisible threads of power that kept her from falling. “Vox! This is amazing!”

While she did indeed look amazing, my hands clenched with the need to grab her and tug her away from the cliff. “Claire…”

My grandfather chuckled. “Fine mate you’ve got yourself there, my boy.” He gave me a lewd wink. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy the view.” He waved a hand as he turned. “And don’t worry about your parents. I’ll talk to them. This is still my home, and we are more than equipped to handle a few guests for the festivities. You just enjoy yourself this evening.”

My grandfather shuffled away while my gaze remained locked on Claire. I extended a hand. “Claire, I know you’re powerful, but you can’t fly. Come here before you fall.”

“Oh, Vox,” she said with a soft pout, allowing me to take a breath when she stepped away from the edge and walked into my waiting arms. She wrapped herself around me and gave me a tender kiss. “You never told me how much magic there was here. I can feel it everywhere. It’s incredible.”

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