Pain.
Guilt.
So much guilt.
Gods, how was she not splitting at the seams?
“I meant to say, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” I amended, realizing the poor girl had likely been swamped with threats and cruelty. While I didn’t believe a daughter should be held accountable for her mother’s actions, I knew it was a popular opinion.
She narrowed her gaze at me, distrust in every line of her beautiful face. “Why is that?”
I didn’t have a good answer for her. For over two weeks, something had put me on edge, so much so that I’d sought out the latest Academy rumors, only to find that there was a Halfling on campus. Ever since I’d known about her, I’d wanted to find her. For what purpose, I couldn’t say; I just knew that I had to learn more about her.
That sounded so pathetic. I couldn’t tell her the truth, so I opted for what I was best at in these situations.
Divert.
Evade.
Escape.
The class assignment was to conjure air spirals, so that was what I did. The task was easy enough for a fae with my power and control. I let out a soft whistle, and a spiral of air scented with my innate gift colored the element blue. Each Air Fae favored different hues when they worked their powers, but mine seemed to fluctuate with my mood.
This shade of blue meant I was intrigued. And not in a platonic sort of way.
My power is attracted to Claire.
Fuck.
I glanced at the royal to see if he somehow knew. Maybe he could read my mind. I mean, who knew what kind of powers a Spirit Fae like him truly possessed.
However, he didn’t react other than to glance at the air spiral flitting around my hand before looking back to Claire.
Her wide gaze was locked on the spiral. I expected her to be afraid, but she seemed fascinated.
An unwanted heat crept over the back of my neck, making me grateful for my warrior’s tail and beard. Displaying her effect on me, even if she didn’t understand it, was far too intimate for two strangers such as us.
“Go on, you make one,” I offered, taking the opportunity to disperse the air spiral.
Her eyes snapped up to mine, making me suck in a breath. Her powers rested just underneath the surface as if they could burst out of her at any moment. So many elements tangled with the beautiful swirling power that was kindred to my own. I sensed her wavering control over her air element and tugged at the wild, snapping strands before I could stop myself.
Her chest leaned forward at the motion as if I’d pulled on her heart. “Oh,” she said, the sound more of surprised pleasure than pain. “That’s, uh, pleasant.”
“What are you doing?” the royal demanded.
Now that I had ahold of her wild power, I didn’t dare let go. Each strand was so frayed on the end that I wondered how she wasn’t in acute pain.
“Why didn’t you come to Air Quad sooner?” I asked before I realized that I was chastising an all-powerful Spirit Fae who could make me squawk like a chicken if he wanted to. “She needs guidance,” I clarified.
The royal straightened his spine and narrowed his eyes, then surprised me by uttering a single word. “Continue.”
“Does that feel better?” I asked, hoping Claire could sense what I was doing.
She shifted closer to me until our knees touched. Her skirt ran up her thighs from the motion, giving me a better view of her skin that glowed with power.
Not just power, but also the sweeping blue electricity that was scented with my magic.
Imagining her skirt inching up just a little more had the aura turning a deeper shade of blue that matched her eyes. She sighed, making me slightly dizzy. “Yeah. Actually, it does.”