He grimaced. “I am, but I’ll never vie for the throne.”
“No, you won’t,” I agreed, sensing his power level. It was impressive, yes, but nowhere near that of the ruling king. “And you?” I glanced at the Earth Fae, whose presence rumbled the earth with slight vibrations. “You’ve not been assigned to Claire?”
“No,” he gritted out, not looking at me.
I nodded. “Well. It seems my brother was more concerned with bonding than establishing appropriate guardians.” My gaze fell to the Water Fae. “Your power is no match for Claire’s.”
He shook his floppy hair, his demeanor underlined in fear and frailty. “I’ve only helped temporarily; Exos has not assigned a water mentor to her yet.”
Because he was too busy getting his dick wet.
When I found my brother, I’d throttle him. This behavior wasn’t like him at all. Sure, he’d entertained females before—several, in fact. But not like this.
And to bond to one?
I sighed, irritated beyond measure. Perhaps fate had worked in our favor, because the Halfling’s life obviously required order.
As if hearing my thoughts, she appeared in the living area in a pair of jeans and a tank top, her close proximity to Titus telling. She trusted the Fire Fae more than anyone else in the room, which I expected considering their bond.
“All right, let’s get a few things straight,” I said, needing to seize control of this tenuous situation. “Vox? Your consideration is over. You’re officially one of Claire’s guardians and her air mentor.”
The Air Fae bristled, clearly not used to taking orders, which confirmed my suspicions. “Surely there’s another who could—”
“I sense your power, Vox,” I said, cutting him off. “You’re a suitable match and you will begin immediately. Starting by relocating to the Spirit Quad. Tonight.”
“You can’t just decide that for him,” came a rumbling voice.
I turned all of my attention to the source of rebellion, finding an insolent Earth Fae staring me down. I hadn’t received this much resistance since, well, since Exos turned down the crown. I’d slipped into my royal role after a volatile calamity hit our people and they needed a leader. I wasn’t questioned—ever.
“And who are you to question my authority?” I snapped, storming up to him and letting my spirit energy roll over my skin. Thanks to my secondary affinity for water, a wave was exactly what it looked like, and I didn’t pull back the cascade of power that washed over me. I didn’t get angry often, but my brother was missing, unconscious, and our only hope of finding him before something worse happened rested in the incapable, beautiful hands of a Halfling who didn’t have proper guidance. Or a suitable guard.
Brown eyes that swirled with the copper of the earth narrowed up at me, followed by a rumble of power that soothed my inner ire.
Well, hello there, traces of a third royal line.
Maybe my brother wasn’t such a moron after all.
“Sol, Your Highness,” he grated in reply.
My spirit energy probed him, causing him to flinc
h.
I immediately withdrew, sensing the damage in his spirit.
By the Elements…
This Earth Fae had been hurt by my kind, and badly, too. Raised scars tore across his core, a place only a fae of my skill could sense without being bonded.
How are you alive? I wondered, awed. These wounds came from the womb, meaning Sol had lived with this pain his entire life. Most fae would go mad from such an assault, yet he remained intact. Strong, even.
Yes, you’ll do just fine.
But I couldn’t establish my authority over him in the same manner as I had with Titus and Vox. No, commanding a fae like Sol would backfire in an instant.
I took a step back, giving him room and noting the cracks along the ground that had formed beneath our feet. Yes, this one was strong, and the way he’d stood up for Vox was a testimony to the fae’s character.
“Sol,” I repeated his name, making sure to slightly bow my head. Earth Fae reacted to subtle body language. I wasn’t going to try to control him. Only a moron would try to squeeze blood from a stone. No, I had to nudge this fae in the direction I wanted him to go and allow his own momentum to do the rest. “Why are you being mentored by an Air Fae?”