Elemental Fae Academy: Book Two: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance

by Lexi C. Foss

  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.

  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.”

  “That’s exactly how I feel,” I marveled, relieved he sensed it, too. “Exos says it’s because I’m balanced. Like all my powers are finally aligned, allowing me to see them all clearly.” I created a butterfly in my palm to demonstrate and encouraged it to flutter away with a slight breeze. Only, it turned into a gust that caused me to grimace. “Okay, so not perfect, but you get the idea.”

  Sol held out his hand and created a pile of dirt, then threw it at Vox, who was walking several steps ahead of us.

  “What the fuck?” Vox snapped, turning around to glare at the giant.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Did that hit you?” Sol asked with false innocence.

  Vox narrowed his silver-rimmed gaze and sent a gust of wind over Sol’s shoulder, which only seemed to enrage him more.

  “You missed,” Sol said, a study in nonchalance.

  “Uh, guys…,” I interjected, wanting to steer us back onto the path of finding Exos. With every step, his essence grew closer. This was definitely the right way, even though I had no idea where we were in this field. It was somewhere beyond the enchanted forest, in what Cyrus had called “neutral territory.” Apparently, these lands separated the Academy from all the kingdoms, which left them often vacant and not commonly traversed. Hence the overgrown grass, which really resembled out-of-control weeds.

  Another whirl of wind went sailing through the air, knocking me on the shoulder and causing Sol to growl. The earth shook beneath us as he retaliated in kind and sent the Air Fae to his ass.

  My eyes widened.

  I was used to Vox schooling Sol in powers. Not the other way around.

  “I see,” Vox said, jumping up to his feet in a lithe motion and wiping the dust from his pants. “So you get a little control and turn your back on the one who’s been helping you for the last two years. Fine. Maybe I should just go and let you two chatter on about your newfound balance.”

  Wow, I’d never heard Vox like this. He sounded so bitter and almost cruel. “Seriously, what is your problem?” I demanded. “Is it because I forced the connection on you?”

  I didn’t remember doing it, had no say in my elements trying to save my life, but I could understand that upsetting him. I just hadn’t realized how much it would bother him.

  “I mean, I’m sorry. To you both, I mean. I… If I’d known what was going to happen…” Would I change it? I bit my lip. No, my elements all said in unison. No, I wouldn’t change it at all. Which meant my apology really meant nothing because it lacked truth.

  Well, this is fun. I wiped my palms against my jeans and stared off into the distance while the two males observed me in silence. Really helpful, guys. Although, yeah, they deserved an explanation. Not that I really had one, but I could at least try.

  I cleared my throat, opening my mouth but then closing it, and considered how I wanted to say this.

  Then I caught sight of Vox’s irritated expression.

  And Sol’s hurt one.

  Right.

  No more thinking.

  “I-I don’t remember what happened,” I started and immediately regretted the words as their faces fell. “But I understand why it happened,” I quickly assured them. That seemed to intrigue them both. “When Exos first brought me down here, I was a mess. He told me fae existed, that I had access to all these elements, things kept happening around me that I didn’t understand, and I kept feeling these inappropriate feelings for multiple men.”

  I shivered as I recalled those early days between Titus and Exos, and felt their responding warmth through the bonds.

  “It had terrified me,” I admitted. “Where I come from, you don’t date more than one guy. There are actually some pretty horrible names associated with human women who date around. And that’s the world I grew up in.” This was something Cyrus seemed to understand more than the others. He’d made a comment about it before the death fields, one that resonated with me.

  “I don’t think you’re a whore, little queen. But I know all about the social standards on Earth and how they’ve programmed your mind.”

  He was right.

  My upbringing dictated my outlook.

  But now that I felt the connections, allowed my fae half to reign while healing my body, I understood.

  “Things are different here,” I continued, swallowing thickly. “My feelings for you all are more accepted. And so, it makes sense to me why my elements reached out to you both. My energy recognizes both of you as potential mates, and moreover, I’ve developed a trust with each of you. So in my time of dire need, my elements called to yours.” The connection couldn’t be entirely one-sided—something Cyrus’s bond had taught me. So if Vox and Sol hadn’t craved the link on some level, they wouldn’t have been open to it, and they certainly wouldn’t have reciprocated.

  I met Vox’s gaze, noted the closed-off nature of his expression, and sighed. “If you don’t want this, I’ll understand, and we can end our bond after the preliminary time requirement.” Which, I knew, was around a month. “I won’t push you into something you don’t want.” I glanced at Sol. “Either of you.” I pinched my mouth to the side, debating what else to say. “I can’t really apologize because I acted on instincts alone, and, well, I don’t regret it, even if I probably should.”

  “You better not,” Sol said, folding strong arms over his muscular chest. “Because I don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” I asked, confused.

  “Regret it,” he clarified. “Once I realized what was happening, I let you in. It felt right.” He lifted a shoulder. “And it still feels right. I don’t need to know more than that.”

  So accepting and honest. Sol might be a giant of a man, but inside existed the biggest of hearts, and I felt it now, beating in time with my own.

  None of this was what I expected for myself.

  But something happened to me this week. I just woke up ready to embrace it all. No more chaos. No more fighting. Just feeling and reality and an unequivocal need to accept it.

  That’s your inner fae, Claire, Exos murmured, his presence thriving around me. You’re finally allowing her to breathe.

  And it feels amazing, I admitted, smiling. But Vox didn’t seem to agree.

  “Tell me what you need,” I said to him. “An apology? A better explanation? I can’t promise either, but I can try.”

  “Is this still about the ball?” Sol demanded, his dark eyebrow arching. “The fact that she asked me and not you?”

  Irritation tainted the air surrounding Vox. “It’s not the ball. It’s everything. She mated with Exos and Titus because she wanted to. Even with Cyrus, it seems. And she at least asked you to the ball. I’m just a mentor, the one she latched onto in a time of need. Which I get, and it’s fine, and it’s my own damn fault for not embracing the connection sooner. But it is what it is. Can we find Exos now?”

  His assessment left me reeling.

  Because, for one, I didn’t mate with Exos because I wanted to. It’d been on accident. Same with Cyrus. And I hadn’t chosen Vox only out of need. Although, I could see why he felt that way.

&nb
sp; Who knew the Air Fae was so emotional? Exos drawled. Kiss him, Claire. That’ll solve it.

  I nearly fell over. What?

  You heard me, princess. Kiss the man. Exos spoke the words as a demand, but a hint of amusement underlined them.

  I don’t—

  Claire, male fae thrive on action. And all of yours thus far have Vox feeling left out. Just kiss him. Trust me.

  Had my behavior made him think I wasn’t interested? Maybe. I had been quite reluctant. A brat, really, considering how patient all these men were with me.

  All right. Time to fix that. To put all the confusion to rest and move forward.

  I stepped closer to Vox, caught the wild frays of his energy, the uncertainty swirling around him, and the general hurt beneath the surface. My element reached out to soothe his, to brush the harsher strands and mingle our elements in an intimate manner. “Vox,” I murmured, moving into his personal space. “I initiated the bond with you because our powers are a match. And”—I took a final step—“I like you.” Perhaps we weren’t at the same level as I was with Exos or Titus, but I sensed the potential. If he’d let me in and gave me a chance.

  Which meant I needed to show him my interest, to ground him the way he’d grounded me last week. I went to my toes and brushed my lips over his. Just a tender stroke, one meant to entice and invite, and wrapped my arms around his neck. The second kiss was a little more forceful on my part, begging him to react. And by the third, his lips finally reciprocated, the shock of my touching him receding into a passionate flurry of wind.

  “Claire?” he questioned, his mouth against mine.

  “Vox.” I smiled. “Please kiss me.” I could feel his desire to thrumming through my veins; otherwise, I would have backed off by now. But it was a tangible presence, tangling with my aura in the most alluring of ways.

  Vox and I were more alike than he likely wanted to admit. He seemed to fear his magic overruling him, just as I had feared my fae half.