Page 92 of Elemental Fae Academy: Book Three

She began to nod just as Titus

and Sol entered the dorm.

“Fucking Mortus,” Titus said by way of greeting, rubbing his temple. “I left him in the care of some of the other Fire Fae, but we’re going to have to do something about him. The guy has absolutely no recollection of anything after mating with Ophelia.”

My eyebrows rose. “What?” That was news to me, but the lack of surprise from the others suggested they already knew.

“Did he say what the last thing he remembered was?” Claire asked.

Titus shook his head. “His last memory is of his time here. As a student.”

Exos whistled. “That was over two decades ago.”

“So he’s been under Elana’s control all this time?” Claire looked stricken. “That’s horrible.”

“It’s the power of a Spirit Fae,” Sol muttered, collapsing on the sofa. “How’s your mom?”

Cyrus finally parted from his texts and rested a fist on the table. “We’ve stabilized her for now. She’ll remain in a coma until she’s recovered enough to break free of what Elana did to her.” He shrugged. “We can cure her body, but she’ll have to be the one to cure her mind.”

Claire shivered and leaned into my chest. “How much do you think she can tell us about Elana?” Her fingers slipped under my shirt and ran slow circles around my abdomen as if the contact gave her comfort. I released a sliver of my connection to the source into Claire’s touch, attempting to rejuvenate what she’d depleted.

“She’ll have many of the answers we seek,” Cyrus confirmed. “But it’ll take time.”

“If that’s even possible,” Exos added with a frown. “Two decades of torture. Do you really think she can bounce back from that?”

“Only one way to find out,” his brother replied.

Which meant we were going to have to wait, and time was the one thing we didn’t have on our side. I pressed a light kiss to Claire’s hair. She smiled up at me, no words needed to express that she knew we were all here for her, that I loved her.

“Let’s hope she wakes up soon,” Titus said, joining Cyrus at the table.

Claire frowned. “And what are we planning to do in the interim? Just wait for Elana to attack us again?”

“Yes,” Cyrus said, his tone that of a king. Final and with no room for argument. “Except this time, when she returns, we’ll be ready for her.”

Titus smirked as a flame danced across his fingertips. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

Cyrus smiled. “I’ve been speaking it for years, Fire Fae. You just weren’t very adept at listening.”

“Sounds like you want to start sparring right now, Water Prince,” Titus drawled.

“Now you’re just trying to seduce me,” Cyrus replied, closing his textbook. “But we can dance tomorrow, Powerless Champion. See how you hold up with your element.” He waggled his brows in challenge. “You’ll need it, after all.”

“So will all the others,” Exos interjected.

“Sounds like we have a new course for the Academy,” Titus said, grinning. “One I’ll very much enjoy leading.”

Cyrus snorted. “More like co-leading.”

“Sure.” Titus grinned. “We can call it that.”

“Regardless.” Exos stood, interrupting their little bickering match. “When Elana returns, we’re taking her down,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “Together.”

“Together,” everyone agreed.

Part IV

“At the core of every element is a light so bright it blinds those with unworthy intentions. I can only hope it finds my heart pure and gifts me with the strength to survive. For a war is on the horizon. One we all desperately need to win.”

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