Page 181 of Never Kiss a Fae

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, that’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.