He complied, stroking a breeze through her hair and then down along my robe.
Silence fell.
The four of us exchanged elements, with Claire at the center. She took it all, energy vibrating around her in a powerful wave that reminded me of an impending inferno.
And then her eyes flashed open. “Exos.” She whirled in my arms, the look of victory on her face making me want to kiss her. “I feel him, Titus. I really feel him.”
Cyrus nodded as if he wasn’t surprised. “The elements are grounding you and building up the circle that binds all of us to you, including Exos. Your fae side craves the elements, craves completing what’s begun. Now where is he?”
Her gaze became distant, and a flutter swept through our connection. She turned to Cyrus, my arms still wrapped around her. “He’s safe. And close.”
Cyrus’s eyebrows lifted. “At the Academy?”
“No. But nearby.” Her nose scrunched. “Beyond the enchanted trees, I think. If I follow the link, I can find him. He’s calling to me. Strongly.”
None of us could disagree with that. Her need for all of us to be with her burned, and her connection to Exos was so precious, yet it had become so fragile. Even I could hardly feel the faint strand that should have been strong, a united front with Claire as our common anchor.
“Then let’s go,” I said, indulging in the deluge of magical energy that tingled against my skin. Every part of me thrived, flexed, and purred, ready to fuck or to fight. Perhaps both. And if I felt like this just being near Claire and four of her elemental mates, I couldn’t imagine how glorious she’d be when Exos completed the circle.
“No.” Claire’s blue gaze blazed with an authority I hadn’t seen in her before. Droplets teased along her hairline as she shifted her attention to Cyrus. “Exos says you need to distract Mortus. While he doesn’t think Mortus is the actual culprit, his essence is all over the cell. So he’s suggesting you distract him so I can reach Exos without interference.”
Cyrus hummed in thought. “Could be fun.” The bastard clapped me on the back, his water magic sizzling against my heat and sending a plume of steam into the air. He grinned. “Titus?”
Irritation prickled along my spine. Cyrus had far too much confidence in Claire. Yes, she was powerful. Yes, she was amazing, but if that bastard of a fae thought I’d let her leave my sight again, he was a moron.
“Fuck off,” I snapped, shoving him away and wrapping myself around Claire once more. I ran my fingers up her jawline and cupped her face. “I’m going with Claire.”
“Because that won’t draw attention at all,” Cyrus drawled, sounding unamused and somehow saying I was an idiot without even trying. “Everyone knows you’re one of her mates. Mortus will be watching you just as much as me. No, we’re going to have to stick together.” A gush of water pushed me away from Claire and doused me with cold reality, making me growl.
Ignoring me when I sent flames scalding over my body, he narrowed his gaze on the remaining two fae. “Vox. Sol. You’re our secret weapons. Mortus doesn’t know Claire has bonded to you, so he won’t be tracking you yet. Not like he’ll be doing with Titus and me, anyway. And besides…” He met my gaze once more. “We’ll keep him distracted, right?”
Vox stiffened. “Weapons?” he repeated, apparently focused on that part of the equation, not the ridiculous plan Cyrus had just crafted.
“Yes,” Claire agreed, a smile in her voice as she slid out of my arms to stand in the center of the ring, her back to me as she faced Vox and Sol. “My guardian weapons, right?”
The Air Fae’s obsidian gaze swirled with that ring of silver, a light breeze rushing from him to Claire as if she’d called for his magic touch. If he noticed it, he didn’t react. Instead, he nodded.
Finally. She’s tamed the Air Fae.
Except I still felt his resistance. Which meant Claire did, too.
“You’re really going to let her go off with two barely bonded fae?” I challenged Cyrus, not liking this idea one bit. Sol could handle it. Vox? I had my doubts. “This is reckless.”
Claire spun around, her eyebrow arching. “Let me?”
Growling, I couldn’t contain my flames anymore. A line shot across the floor, aimed at the source of my problems. Cyrus. If he wanted to force Claire to stay here, with us, where it was safe, I had no doubt he could. Letting her go off with Vox and Sol was a bad decision.
He swept his hand through the air, dousing my flames. “Stop. Coddling. Her.” His magic shoved me, sending me skidding back a few steps. “But I appreciate the challenge, Fire Fae. It gives me an idea as to how we’ll distract the masses. Let’s see what the Powerless Champion is capable of against a Royal Fae.” His blond brow arched high. “Unless you’re afraid?”
Sol’s entire countenance brightened. “Did you just challenge Titus to an elemental duel?” Then his brow furrowed. “Wait… We’ll miss it.” The big guy shrugged. “Ah, well, I must like you, Claire, because that’s a sight I’d love to see.”
Claire seemed conflicted, but a whisper through the connection from Exos put her at ease, and she shook her head. “You two behave,” she said, looking at me and Cyrus. Then she smiled at Sol. “And I like you, too, Sol.”
The Earth Fae seemed quite pleased by that pronouncement. “Yeah, totally worth missing the fight. We all know Cyrus will win anyway.”
“Hey.” A fireball formed over my palm. “I can take him.”
“Prove it,” Cyrus replied, sounding bored.