Except she didn’t use her fire magic at all, and instead she yelped in pain.
I stormed to her side, knocking over the dining room furniture in my way.
“Claire!” Vox yelled, sending his wind magic to push the flames down, working at them until they were sufficiently extinguished.
Claire hissed and stumbled into me, holding her arm as angry red splotches streaked across her skin.
I blinked. It burned her?
How was that even possible? She was one with the elements. Flames played over her skin all the time.
My chest began to burn, my lungs refusing to work. Panic, I recognized. I’m… panicking.
Shit!
The rest of our mate-circle practically ran into the kitchen, having overheard the commotion.
“What’s wrong?” Cyrus demanded, his authoritative tone requiring answers. He rushed to Claire’s side and saw the damage for himself. He glared up at me as if I were to blame. “How’d this happen?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I hadn’t acted, leaving an opportunity for Claire to be injured. “It’s… it’s my fault,” I finally managed to stammer out, my heart cracking in my chest. I failed my mate.
“It’s nobody’s fault,” Claire interjected. “Well, nobody’s fault but mine.” She hissed when Cyrus sent tepid water over the burn, then relaxed as her skin began to magically heal through whatever royal voodoo he used to help her.
Titus frowned. “You need a Healer, Claire.”
She shook her head as fresh tears came, causing my gut to twist in agony right along with her. “Claire—”
“I don’t want to go back so soon,” she said, cutting me off. “We’ve only been here a few days and—”
“Why didn’t you use your magic?” Titus asked, his tone harsher than usual. He never interrupted Claire, but the anger in his gaze burned like hot embers. However, his rage didn’t appear to be for her so much as for himself. It was his element that had caused her harm, and he hadn’t been watching over her when it’d happened.
That was something I could relate to.
She bit her lip, then looked down.
“What is it, little flower?” I pressed, cupping her chin and lifting her gaze to look at me.
Her resignation stared back at me.
“My powers…,” she began, then the tears came again. She sniffled and straightened, as if determined not to cry. “Nothing’s wrong. I would know if something was wrong. I didn’t want to worry you, I just...”
“You’re rambling,” Exos said, crossing his arms. “Start from the beginning, Claire. What’s wrong with your powers? They’re not working, right?”
“Not working?” I repeated.
“We talked about the possibility a few nights before leaving for the Human Realm,” Titus explained. “But I think this is sufficient proof of our suspicions.”
“You suspected her elements weren’t working and didn’t tell me?” My eyes widened. “What the fuck, Titus?”
“You were with Claire when we discussed it,” Vox murmured. “And then I forgot to tell you about it. We were so consumed by the trip that…” He trailed off, his silver-rimmed black irises catching mine. “I’m sorry, Sol. I’ve been distracted.”
“We’ve all been distracted,” Exos murmured, his gaze on a trembling Claire. “When did you lose access to your elements?”
“I-I haven’t been able to access the source since I became pregnant. And sometimes… I think… I think sometimes power is sort of coming out of me without my permission. Like the fire cupcake.” Her hand fell to her stomach, running over it with a large, circular caress. The motion seemed natural, protective. “I think the faeling is blocking my powers somehow, but you said strange things could happen, right? I’m a Halfling, and nobody knows what to expect during a half-human, half-fae pregnancy.”
Titus frowned. He liked this just about as much as I did. “You should have told us.”
Her lower lip quivered, and I wrapped my arm around her, wanting to soothe her and throttle her at the same time.