He was goading me and I knew it. But I couldn’t resist an opportunity to put the bastard in his place. “All right. You’re on, jackass. But don’t get too cocky. I’ve never lost in the arena.”
The only place in all the realms that I felt at home, other than in Claire’s arms, was in those bloody, dusty pits where the crowds chanted my name.
Cyrus wouldn’t know what fucking hit him.
Claire
They’ll be fine, I told myself for the hundredth time. Exos had promised as much when he suggested I let them burn off some steam and have some fun.
Hopefully, he was right.
I am, he murmured now, his voice a caress against my spirit.
Energy hummed over my skin, causing my lips to curl as I walked with Sol and Vox through the outskirts of the forest that lined the Academy. I felt invigorated, full of life, happy. All strange sensations for someone who had almost died, but for the first time in my existence, I was at ease.
Balanced, Exos whispered. You’re balanced, Claire.
Yes, I agreed, feeling the veracity of his proclamation in my blood. My links to all the elements had grounded me, providing me with a newfound existence.
Except for that sense of unease coming from air.
No, from Vox.
I glanced at him as we walked, noting his stiff posture. There weren’t any threats nearby. Titus and Cyrus were making sure of that by causing diversions on campus. I just hoped they were getting along.
Well, while the Air Fae didn’t seem thrilled by our new connection, Sol appeared to be content enough. The ground wasn’t even shaking beneath his steps. If anything, he appeared lighter, too.
His lips curled as he caught me looking at him. My cheeks pinkened a little, embarrassed to be caught staring, but it really was a wonder to see him moving so fluidly over the grass.
“You haven’t broken anything,” I murmured.
He chuckled. “No, and it feels damn good.” He rolled his shoulders and glanced up at the sun overhead. “Actually, I feel incredible.”
“Me, too,” I admitted, smiling in earnest now. “Like I could fly.” I skipped into the field on a whirl, the elements dancing to my steps and stirring a mixture of power into the atmosphere around me. It left me sighing in fulfillment.
Apart from my link to Vox. That felt brittle, as if a slight miscalculation in movements would shatter the tentative link.
I frowned. “What’s wrong?” I asked, suddenly feeling very conscious of his discomfort. “Have I hurt you?” Because I knew I’d drained the others while trying to climb back into existence. Poor Cyrus had taken the worst of it, then nursed us both back to health in the waves of passion.
Did I just pity the man for having to fuck me all week? I thought, snorting to myself. Yeah, t
hat’s a hardship.
Although, I’d been pretty demanding.
But none of that was the point right now.
What I wanted to know was why Vox hadn’t looked at me once since we started this walk. Why his shoulders remained tense. Why his mouth was compressed into that hard line. Why he still hadn’t answered me despite my asking him a direct question.
“Vox,” I tried again. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He kept moving, ignoring me completely.
Our link determined that single-worded reply to be a lie.
I blinked at Sol, arching a brow. “You’re okay, right?”
“Never been better, little flower,” he replied, his brown-green eyes gleaming with adoration. “I mean, the last week wasn’t easy, but having you back, it’s like…” His lips slid to the side and he shrugged. “It’s like you returning has completed a part of me I didn’t know was broken.”