Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 195876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 979(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 653(@300wpm)
"I'm not here to fight," I say, holding up my hands. "Just looked like three people picking an unfair fight.”
The earth with the shaved head comes closer. "All we wanted to do was send a message. But maybe you can save us the trouble. Tell your fire boyfriend that we know what he's planning. Malakai knows, too. You think you can trust those Red Kingdom sympathizers? They'll cut your throat the second they get the chance."
Cade student edges closer to me, his elemental—a small fire fox—materializing at his feet.
I assess the three earths carefully. They're big, but size isn't everything in a fight. Especially not against someone trained by Raith.
"We're going to walk out of here. I'd suggest none of you follow," I say, sliding my feet into a ready stance that looks casual but isn't. "Okay?"
"She suggests we don't follow," one of the earths says. "Sounds like a threat, doesn't it?"
"Sounds a lot like a threat," the earth with the hammer agrees.
"It's not a threat. We're just going to walk away, and you're all going to let us."
"Or what? Your flying fish will slap us?"
The leader laughs, a harsh sound that bounces off the high walls. "Your boyfriends aren't here to protect you, Thorne. Malakai and Serena both want you dead, so maybe we could do them a quick favor. Wonder how long it'd be before someone found your bodies in here. Maybe a week? Maybe—"
The training room door flies open with enough force to slam against the wall, making all of us jump. Framed in the doorway stands Raith, his face cast in shadow, eyes burning with cold fury. His fire panther, Pyrin, slinks in beside him, flames rippling across his muscular form with every step.
The atmosphere in the room changes instantly, like the air before a lightning strike.
"Hollow," the earth leader acknowledges, his bravado faltering slightly.
Raith's gaze sweeps the room, taking in the fallen weapons, the fire student's bloodied neck, and me standing between them all. Something dangerous flashes in his eyes, and I feel a chill despite the heat that rolls off him in waves.
"Cade," he says to the fire student, his voice deceptively calm. "Outside. Now."
The student—Cade—doesn't hesitate. He scurries past Raith and disappears into the corridor.
"You three," Raith continues, his attention fixing on the earths. "What part of 'leave my people alone' was unclear?"
The leader straightens, though I notice his hand has a slight tremor. "We were just—"
"I know exactly what you were 'just' doing," Raith cuts him off. "And I know who put you up to it. Tell Malakai that if he has a problem with me, he can face me himself instead of sending you to do his dirty work."
"You calling us his fucking lackeys?" the second earth demands, hands clenching into fists as his stone bear grows larger behind him.
Raith doesn't even blink. "I'm calling you stupid. There's a difference." His voice drops even lower. "Fucking with my people when I warned you. That is very stupid. Now get out while you still can."
For a moment, I think they might be foolish enough to challenge him. The leader's eyes dart between Raith and me, calculating odds. But then Pyrin growls—a sound like wood cracking in a bonfire—and the decision is made.
"This isn't over," the leader mutters as they file past Raith.
"It never is," Raith replies, his tone flat.
Once they're gone, Raith turns his attention to me. He doesn't look pleased.
"What the hells were you thinking?" he demands, closing the door and stalking toward me. "Three earths? Alone?"
"I was thinking Cade looked like he needed help," I reply, bristling at his tone. "And how the are you always showing up when I'm in danger?"
"Typhon told Pyrin what was happening. I left channeling class as soon as I heard."
"Typhon..."
"What use are allies if you don't call upon them in times of need? Of course, I could have ripped them all to ribbons, even in my kuratokken form. But I imagined the sight of the fire touched would send them scattering. My assessment was correct, as usual."
"So you can show up when Typhon calls for you, but you stand me up for weapons training?" I ask.
Raith runs a hand through his dark hair, leaving strands standing on end. "I was busy. But I had one of my people stand watch while you trained. I always do when I can't be there."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
As much as I want to be mad that he's assigning people to stand watch over me without even running the idea by me... I find I’m both flattered and even a little bit charmed. "Well," I say, trying to stoke the anger I know I should feel. "I don't need you treating me like some damsel in distress, because I'm not."
"I know exactly how capable you are. But I don't expect my enemies or yours to fight fair. That means I want to be ready to punch back if they come for you."