Page 51 of Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three

But he once more continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “You will stop your folly at the Academy and focus on your studies. And if you don’t listen to me, then you’ll force me to do what needs to be done.”

Excommunication.

The irony.

“I’m not ending my relationship with Claire,” I replied, keeping my voice calm even while my heart raced. “So do what you need to do, Father.”

“Don’t be a fool!” he roared.

“Oh, so you heard that,” I said, mostly talking to myself. “Good.”

“You don’t understand, Vox,” my mother cooed. “We’ve been given responsibilities again in the kingdom, and that includes watching for threats—threats like the Halfling. It’s a preliminary step, but if we prove our loyalty, we will continue to climb and maybe reinstate our family name.”

Which was all they ever cared about.

I fought not to roll my eyes. “Claire isn’t a threat—”

“I’ll not have you ruining everything with this ridiculous fancy of yours!” My father clenched his fist around the jagged jewel in his palm. “Your mother is right about one thing. The Halfling has no place in our family.”

“Maybe she’s not the only one who doesn’t belong in this family,” I returned, my own element swelling in my chest with an uncharacteristic rage that only my “well-meaning” parents could incite.

A pained look crossed my mother’s expression. “Vox, sweetheart. You don’t mean that.”

“Oh, no, actually, I do.” I swept my hand, releasing a sliver of my power that sent the Christmas tree bowing and prayer orbs flinging to the ground. “I’ve tolerated the two of you and your ridiculous ambitions all my life. I’ve kept my head down and done my best to redeem the family by subduing my own power, but now I realize how fucked up that is.”

“Vox!” my mother cried, covering her mouth.

“You will not speak to your mother that way!” My father flung his free arm wide, sending a gust meant to slap me and sting my flesh like he’d done so many times before.

I’d always endured his punishment.

But not today.

I retaliated and opened the gates to my element—gates I’d kept locked for far too long. The force was strong enough to send the gem hurling from my father’s grip until it jammed into the ceiling.

Fear should have trampled down my spine, but all I felt was invigorated. Finally, I was embraci

ng my true path.

No more webs meant to lock down my ability.

No more internal chastisement for unleashing too much energy.

No more bowing to those who pretended to be my betters.

My father wanted to own my every action. Well, no longer would I allow it.

My mother screamed when my control slipped and twin tornados released into the room, sending furniture and drapes catapulting into the air.

My father blocked the worst of the debris with the last of his power, enduring the onslaught and keeping him and my mother safe. My parents stared, dumbfounded, until the winds dissolved, sending the wayward items clattering to the floor.

The mixture of hope and horror on my mother’s face said it all.

I possessed more power than they realized because I’d hidden it, kept it bottled up inside and refused to allow it out to play.

Until Claire.

She’d unraveled my power, our mating bond emboldening my royal ties to the source—royal ties I’d spent two decades blocking.

---