Page 78 of Conquering the King of Storms

“No, she doesn’t.” Ayla didn’t entertain that thought.

I was done with her attitude, honestly. My voice was sharp too when I countered, “The last few months haven’t been easy for any of us, okay? We’re all doing our best, so stop treating us like the enemy. If you don’t want to be with us, then leave. We’re all just trying to survive in a world that clearly wasn’t designed for human women.”

Ayla didn’t respond, but I didn’t really expect her to.

I walked over to Dove and held a hand out for her. She took it silently, and I noticed her lower lip quivering a little.

“Hey, little bird,” I whispered, using the nickname I’d heard some of the other kings call her. “What’s going on in your mind?”

She bit her lip. “I want to be a wind fae,” she whispered to me.

“Why?” I squeezed her hand lightly.

“It’s what I am?” The words came out as a question.

“That’s the best part of life, though, Dove. We get to change. Nothing is permanent except the love we have for the families we choose. It’s scary, but it’s exciting too.” I kept my voice soft as I spoke.

“I like Storm’s magic. I can fly with it if I try really hard.” She bit her lip harder, to stop it from quivering. Her sadness was breaking my fucking heart. “And there’s some kinds of fae that the other ones don’t like.”

“Hey, you’ve got uncles with every element. They all like each other, right?”

She made a face. “Usually.”

I laughed. “That’s how most people feel about their families, I think.”

She shrugged.

“I bet it would be fun to be a water fae. They can probably breathe under water, right? I’m sure there are some cool creatures beneath the waves you could swim out and see with Flood, if you were a water fae.”

Her eyes brightened slightly. “Telutas. He loves them.”

That caught Ayla’s attention, and I noticed she hadn’t gone out into the water yet.

“And if you’re an earth fae, I bet Quake would take you out into caves, to see some animals and gemstones and other pretty things that you couldn’t see if you weren’t one,” I added.

Her expression brightened further. “Jellevuhas. He says there’s nothing prettier except me.”

“And probably Margo, now,” I teased.

She giggled. “Probably.”

“I’m sure there are even cool things in the fire fae lands, as terrible as those burnt mountains sound to me.”

Her giggle turned into a laugh. “They have beastmen there! Flame says they make the best friends, other than our family.”

“There you go, then. Whichever element chooses you, you will love being a part of it.”

“Alright, let’s go.” She didn’t hesitate anymore, taking my hand and tugging me out into the water with her.

As we waded in, I watched the lake around us for any sign that the element was choosing one of us. Though I still hadn’t seen anyone become a fae, I had to believe there would be a sign of some sort.

A peaceful feeling engulfed me, but I didn’t see any kind of visual proof that the water was claiming us.

Ayla and Flood followed us in, but the water didn’t seem to respond to them either.

When a few minutes had passed,all four of us walked back out of the water. Sirus looked kind of relieved, I thought, and I understood why. His magic had little effect when there was water involved; that was why it scared him so much when I disappeared beneath the surface on the beach that first day, and in the cave too.

Margo and Quake were sitting on the beach when we walked out of the water, and Quake’s eyes were still glowing.

---