by Lexi C. Foss
The room was empty.
Claire was gone.
Claire
Five Minutes Earlier
Perfect.
Everything was perfect.
And yet, I still had that strange nagging suspicion that I was missing something. It’d crept back up my spine on the way to the bathroom, and as I stared at my reflection in the mirror once again, I felt it hitting me square in the chest.
What is it? I demanded.
No one stood nearby, the restroom empty.
I hiccupped again from the bubbly brew Vox had given me. The pear-like taste still lingered in my mouth. So good. I wanted more. Just as soon as I figured out this sensation of loss.
Gripping the counter, I studied myself. “You’re losing your mind,” I muttered. “Here you are at a beautiful ball with two gorgeous men, and you’re talking to your reflection.” Good thing no one else was in this bathroom to hear me, or they would have agreed.
“Claire…”
I jumped at the sound of my name, spinning around and searching for the source.
No one.
Nothing.
Not even the beat of the music from the ballroom reached me here.
What the hell?
Had I imagined it?
I crouched down to look beneath all the doors, wondering if I somehow missed a person, when I heard my name again. It came on a whisper against the back of my neck that sent me rotating upward onto my feet.
Vacant space.
“What the fuck?” I demanded, the hairs along my limbs standing on end.
It had to be an Air Fae of some kind playing a trick. But why?
I narrowed my gaze on the exit and marched toward the door, fully expecting to find some asshole in the hallway. But it was as empty as the bathroom.
“Claire…”
I blinked to my left, toward the source of the murmur. “Where are you?”
No answer.
Fine. Someone wanted to play with me? They’d deal with the full weight of my elements.
The door closed behind me as I wandered down the stone-walled corridor toward what appeared to be an open terrace. Earth and fire swirled around me, ready to engage my command on a second’s notice.
But as I stepped out onto the cobblestone patio, I found a myriad of unoccupied benches and a garden beyond them. The floral scents called to me, hypnotizing my senses and shrouding me in the comfort of home.
I remember this, I thought, delirious and lost in a memory of my grandmother’s garden. She loved Oriental lilies, would tend to them every summer and fill the house with the ones she pruned.
Who knew the same flowers grew here? I meandered toward them, curious. Because I hadn’t seen these anywhere on campus.
“Claire,” a feminine voice said, clear now.
A chill skated down my spine. I knew that voice. Had heard it in my dreams.
I spun around, a scream lodged in my throat as a ghostly image of my mother appeared with her hands raised in the air. “I don’t want to hurt you,” she said urgently. “Please, just hear me out.”
“Hear you out?” I repeated, my voice squeaking at the end.
I needed to run.
To fight.
To do something other than stand here and gape at her.
Yet my feet refused to move because, holy shit, my mother had appeared in spirit form. I tried to engage my own element, to battle her in whatever way a Spirit Fae fought, but my heart refused me.
Exos!
“Please, Claire,” my mother whispered. “Everything you know is a lie. You can’t trust Elana. She’s the one who—” Her essence flickered, disappearing into the night, and with her the scent of my grandmother’s favorite flowers.
I spun around, searching for whatever trick she’d set up for me, only to find myself alone beneath the moon.
“Claire!” Exos’s voice thundered through the night as he pushed through the doors I’d touched only moments ago. I collapsed at the sight of him, my knees hitting the ground as if whatever spell I’d fallen under had been lifted.
And cried out in surprise.
Not because of the impact of my legs against the cobblestone, but because of the very real memories assaulting me. My grandmother. Her flowers. And the sense of dread and loss piercing my heart.
My mother was alive. And she appeared to be trying to communicate with me in spirit form. Her words reverberated in my head as all my mates were suddenly there, surrounding me with questions, but their voices were lost to the wind of my thoughts.
You can’t trust Elana.
That statement resonated the loudest. Because I felt the truth of that claim all the way to my very soul. Something wasn’t right with that woman. I sensed it when she called upon the dead. An eerie, violent energy that no one should possess or use.
I didn’t sense that from my mother. Her features and tone and words resembled concern and fear, not anger and harshness.
Everything you know is a lie.
Not everything, I thought back at her, taking in the horrified expressions of my mates. I know them. I know their love.
But something told me that wasn’t what my mother meant.
Strong hands on my shoulders shook me. Cyrus. I met his cool blue eyes, noted the irritation in his gaze, and narrowed my eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He snorted and released me. “She’s fine.”
I shook myself, taking in all five males yet again. Sol and Vox look horrified. Cyrus appeared pissed off—no shock there. Although, Titus seemed just as angry. And Exos, well, his expression radiated tired patience. “What happened, Claire? What would possess you to walk out here alone and unescorted?”
My eyebrows rose. “Are you implying that I can’t wander around by myself?” Totally not the point, but a worthwhile question.
Cyrus gestured to my body on the ground as if to say, Do I even need to answer that?
Right. One moment of weakness and the men all turned me back into a damsel in distress. I supposed I did look rather ridiculous on the patio ground in this gown. But I’d just seen an apparition of my mother. I was due a bit of a freak-out.
Everything you know is a lie.
With those words ricocheting through my mind again, I shoved myself upward—without the assistance of my mates—and brushed my palms against my gown. “We need to talk,” I told them all.
“Really?” Cyrus deadpanned. “I had no idea.”
“Stop being an ass,” I said, not in the mood for his brand of tough love.
“Stop being a brat,” he countered.
My eyebrows rose. “Are you serious right now?”
“Deadly,” he snapped. “You can’t just go wandering around on a whim, Claire. Unless you’ve forgotten the threat of your mother’s existence? That she nearly killed you and Exos?”
“I’ve forgotten nothing.”
“Could have fooled me.” He folded his arms. “What the fuck were you thinking wandering out here alone?”
There it was again, the subtle hint that I couldn’t protect myself and needed their help to stay alive. “Following a voice,” I replied. “Which happened to belong to my mother. Except she appeared as some sort of ghostly spirit thing. And I’m fine, by the way, thanks for asking.”
“I can see you’re fine, Claire. Your mental state, however, remains to be seen.”
My lips actually parted, his insult a slap against my face.
“Cyrus,” Exos muttered.
“What? You all agree with me. What she did was careless and stupid. Acting in this manner puts not only herself in jeopardy but also the rest of us. What would happen to the Spirit Kingdom if she died, Exos?” he demanded.
“Not the time, brother.”
“Not the time,” he scoffed. “Well, we had better pick a damn time because our little queen is just wandering around without a care as to herself or the impact her demise would have on the rest of us.”
“What the hell are you talking about?�
�� Because he clearly meant something beyond the typical grief that accompanied death. “Also, I’m fine. I can protect myself. Thank you.”
“Can you?” he countered, stepping into my personal space, his icy eyes glistening with power. “Can you really?”
“Cyrus,” Exos hissed.
But his brother ignored him, as did I. Instead, I sent a wave of power into Cyrus, forcing him back several paces.
He wrapped a cord of liquid rope around my waist to yank me along with him. I stumbled, found my footing, and severed the thick substance with a sweep of air mingled with fire. Then called upon the earth to break through the stone and wrap around his ankles.
Cyrus countered by creating a geyser that held him a foot off the ground, the hot spring too powerful for my tree roots to break through.
So I smiled, whirled my finger, and called on my water and air. Together they formed a tornado that nearly took Cyrus down. But he leapt forward, wrapped his arms around my waist, and misted me back to Spirit Quad, where I found my back pressed up against a wall.
I growled as his lips claimed mine. If I couldn’t feel the very real worry traversing our bond, I might have bitten him. But sensing the weight of his fear had me melting into him on instinct, my need to convince him that I was fine outweighing all the words he’d said.
Because he was right.
Going out there alone had been a really stupid thing to do.
I knew that, especially after everything that had happened.
My arms wove around his neck, holding him to me as he devoured my mouth with his own. Cyrus’s kisses were all-consuming heat and adoration, and I returned every ounce of that emotion with my tongue.
It wasn’t until I felt the others approaching that we finally broke apart, Titus’s fire a burning flame against my soul as he glowered at my water mate. “I hate when you do that.”
Cyrus wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me at his side. “I would apologize, but I wouldn’t mean it.”
“So much for a fun night at the ball,” Sol muttered.
My heart sank. “Oh, Sol…” I walked across the courtyard into his open arms and hugged him tight. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin our evening. I just…” I glanced backward at Cyrus. “I wasn’t thinking. I heard my name and followed it.” Which could partly be blamed on the alcohol, but also on my curiosity. “It didn’t sound like her until I was outside and surrounded by the lilies.”
“What did she say?” Exos asked, his voice holding an edge to it.
I sighed. I’d let them all down, something I secretly vowed not to do again. Not when it resulted in all these disappointed expressions. “I’m sorry,” I said again, this time to all my mates. “It was a stupid thing to do.”
“Yes,” Exos agreed. “Now I want to know what she said.”
I swallowed, glancing around, and dropped my voice to a whisper meant for their ears alone. “She told me that everything I know is a lie and not to trust Elana. Then she disappeared before she could elaborate.”
Cyrus snorted. “Well, that’s informative. I haven’t trusted Elana in nearly twenty years.”
My brows rose. “What?”
“Instincts,” he replied. “I’ve never bought into her holistic-fae approach. It’s always felt too contrived, and I swear she’s hiding something.”
“Yet you told me to accept her mentorship.” I frowned. “Why?”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, little queen.” He winked at me. “Remember that.”
“She’s definitely hiding something,” Exos added. “But I don’t think she’s evil.”
“What did she have you do the other day that made you so uncomfortable?” Sol cut in. “The day I picked you up from her house?”
“Can we do this inside?” Vox interjected, sounding tired. “Sound carries out here, and I don’t want to waste energy on covering a conversation that could happen in the dorm.”
I nodded and followed them all into the common area inside the dorm. Cyrus took the chair, Titus across from him in the opposite recliner, while Vox and Sol took over the couch with me between them.
Exos was the only one who remained standing. “What did Elana teach you?”
I cleared my throat and glanced at Sol, who gave me a reassuring nod. “Tell him.”
“She, uh, conjured a spirit. A dead fae.” I twisted my hands in my lap, wincing. “I didn’t…” I swallowed and tried again. “It didn’t feel right, but I thought it was just my mood. You know, with my mom and all that.”
Cyrus’s face told me my reaction had nothing to do with my mother and everything to do with Elana. “She raised the dead?” His icy gaze narrowed at Sol. “And you knew about this?”
Sol appeared just as uncomfortable as everyone else in the room. “I only knew Elana introduced her to the other half of her ability. I didn’t realize that meant raising spirits from the ground.”
“You should have told me.” Exos sounded frustrated. “That’s not how spirit magic works.”
“How would I know that?” I countered, my shoulders falling. “She’s my mentor and the damn Chancellor. She’s supposed to be good. Right?”
Cyrus and Exos shared a look, both of them shaking their heads. “Yeah, she should be good, but lately, there have been signs of her hiding something.” The statement came from Cyrus, his gaze still on his brother. “She manipulated water at the last Council meeting.”
Exos’s brows rose. “And you’re telling me this now?”
“Been a little busy, brother.”
“Clearly.” He ran his fingers through his blond hair, cringing. “Disturbing the rest of a spirit… What was she thinking? Did it say anything to you?”
My mouth went dry with the memory of the male’s head appearing, his stark sense of pain. “Not really. He seemed, well, preoccupied. Like he couldn’t focus. And I think he was in agony.”
“Sounds about right,” Exos muttered. “Why would she teach you something like that?”
If I had the answer, I would have given it, but his guess was as good as mine at this point.
“Has she done anything else? Made you uncomfortable in any way?” That came from Titus, who had been quiet and observing from his chair.
I shook my head. “Nothing I can think of off the top of my head, but I’ve never been very comfortable around her. I always assumed it was her position of power and the fact that she could banish me to the Spirit Kingdom with a flick of her wrist.” Which reminded me… “What happened to Ignis and her friends?” They were the mean girls who tried to make it appear as though I had no control over my elements. “If Elana isn’t who we think she is…”
“Then she may have manipulated them into their dirty work,” Exos translated. “Yes. I thought it might be the work of your mother after we realized she’s still alive, but Elana would be more than capable of that.”
“So what happened to them?” I pressed, frowning.
“I don’t know. Elana was the last to be seen with them.” He frowned. “And I didn’t sense their presence in the Spirit Kingdom, which is strange since I bound their power. I should have a link to them, but I don’t.”
He shared another of his cryptic glances with Cyrus. “It’s a good thing school is out of session for a few weeks,” Cyrus mused at him. “Gives us time to sort this out.”
“Yes,” Exos agreed. “But where? We can’t afford to separate. Not now.”
Cyrus nodded. “Agreed. The Water Kingdom will be too chaotic with my father breathing down my neck.”
“And they can’t go to the Spirit Kingdom,” Exos added.
Both of them looked at Titus. His auburn brows rose. “I don’t have a palace, if that’s what you’re asking me.”
“What are you asking?” I interjected, trying to follow their cryptic conversation. We went from Elana to, well, I wasn’t quite sure.
“For a place to spend the holidays,” Vox explained. “I’m the best candidate.”
Everyone l
ooked at him, but it was Cyrus who grinned. “Indeed you are, Vox. Thanks for volunteering.”
A hint of frustration and fear blossomed in my bond with Vox, but he didn’t let it show as he nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“What about Elana?” I demanded. “And my mother?”
“We’ll figure it out,” Sol said, lacing his fingers with mine and giving me a gentle squeeze. “Together.”
The others nodded their agreements. “And we’ll make it a little easier for Ophelia to reach out again,” Exos added.
Cyrus seemed to tense but didn’t argue or comment.
“Do you think that’s a wise idea?” Titus asked, sounding wary.
“Only one way to find out,” Exos replied. “But my instincts tell me it’s the only way. We need answers, and it seems Claire’s mother is the guardian of those answers.”
My heart skipped a beat, the idea of seeing her ghostly form again didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. But Exos was right. She might be able to tell us more.
Like where the hell she’d been these last twenty years.
Or why she’d tried to kill me.
I shivered, the memory of my near death too fresh to ignore.
Sol kissed my shoulder, his touch surprisingly soft with his big form. “It’s going to be okay, little flower. I promise.”
My throat constricted, his words exactly what I needed but also reminding me how horribly wrong our evening had gone. “I’m sorry about the ball.”
His lips quirked up. “I’m not. We danced, you were beautiful, and now we’re home. The perfect experience, if you ask me. Minus one minor detail.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” I wondered, feeling his amusement warming our connection.
“You’re still clothed.”
Those three words captured the attention of the entire room.
And lit my body on fire, diminishing all the sense of dread clouding my spirit. “What are we going to do about that?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.
“We’re going to remove your dress,” he said, his palm circling the back of my neck. “And then we’re going to devour you, Claire.”
Claire