“I want all eyes up here.” Gone was her warm smile, her pleasant, smooth tone.
The room fell silent as we eagerly awaited her announcement that this was some big joke and we were all welcome to the relief class of our choice. Or maybe that was just me. When she removed her black robes to reveal the Cat Woman one-piece she wore during tribunals, the students murmured and shifted in their seats.
“You were each hand chosen to be in this class for a very specific reason—you have all shown signs of having more than the power to control the elements.”
That silenced the entire room. We were all now completely focused on her, me included.
“Arts & Crafts is short for Dark Arts & Witchcraft. This isn’t a relief class. It’s a defense class.”
A collective gasp filled the classroom before most erupted in excited chatter. I looked at Leo, who looked at me. We’d both failed epically at attempting a spell last year that backfired on us. I still had a hard time controlling water as a result.
Bryan hardened his expression as he glared at Professor Layden. As if feeling the weight of that lethal stare, she jumped her attention to him.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Gunderson?”
“Screw this,” he muttered and rose, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t come to Clearwater to learn about the dark arts.”
“This class is not to learn about the dark arts,” she countered, her lisp giving her a slight hiss at the end of her comment. “It’s to teach you how to defend yourself against them.”
He hesitated as he worked his jaw.
She went on. “We will learn how to enhance our powers through our primary. This is especially true for earth elementals, as you have the greatest power of all.”
“How’s that?”
“Stick around and find out,” she said with a knowing grin.
9
Arts & Crafts was both amazing and terrifying.
Professor Layden showed us several simple spells that called on our natural ability to control the elements to make us even stronger, which was the amazing part. I couldn’t wait to try it out on my arrogant handler and shut him and his attitude the hell up.
Trevor hadn’t picked up on the spells as easily as others and screwed up his incantation. It triggered second-degree burns on his hands and arms. Bryan pushed earth to him, using their joint primary element to overpower the spell. If he hadn’t done that, Trevor would have continued to burn from the inside out until he wound up a pile of ash.
That was definitely the terrifying part.
Bryan took Trevor to the infirmary and stayed with him to make sure the spell didn’t make a return appearance and finish the job. Leo couldn’t control fire, so he wasn’t allowed on the training field on Tuesdays. And, since the guys refused to let me train with Spencer on my own and Clay wasn’t currently talking to me, Rob joined me on the field as we waited for my oh-so-spectacular handler.
The field looked good, thanks to Mr. Sandstrom, the head groundskeeper, calling earth and repairing the damage I did yesterday. The makeover of the gigantic, perfectly groomed lawn was so much better than the patchy weeds we’d had before.
Groups of fire elementals scattered all around the large field, their handlers training them on how to control their call. Clay took Rob’s charges so I wouldn’t be left alone with Spencer, which both flattered and annoyed me. I loved that my guys worried about me, but for the love of Pete, man. I did know how to take care of myself, last night’s attack aside.
Clay had barely left my side since it happened until our little fight in primary. We’d spent the night in his room, holding each other and replaying the scene. I was still convinced Alec von Leer hadn’t died after all and was behind the attack. Clay wasn’t convinced and kept pointing out the flaws in my reasoning. When he couldn’t come up with a defense to something, he always resorted back to the default answer.
“Alec died last year, Montana. Quit trying to find things that aren’t there.”
I’d given up arguing and had finally allowed the exhaustion to drift me off to slumber town. Clay got the hint when I stopped responding to his questions. I’d snuck back into my room this morning and gotten ready for the day before Jess woke.
“Where is he?” I asked when I didn’t spot Spencer on the field.
Rob removed his red blazer and laid it on the grass before rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Maybe he got smart and went back to England before I send him there in a body bag.”
Enough was enough. I swung around and got right in his face. “What is your deal?”
“I don’t like the guy.”
“You’re not even giving him a chance.”
His eyebrows shot up in question. “This from the person who doesn’t even want to have coffee with the guy? Something change, Reed?”
Not him too. Why were my guys being such assholes lately?
“There you are,” Spencer said as he walked up. He slowed as he spotted Rob, and his smile grew forced. “And you brought one of your babysitters.”
I dropped my jaw. “He’s my boyfriend.” I didn’t need no stinkin’ babysitter.
“He’s the wrong one,” he fired back.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rob doubled up his fists. Apparently, Spencer had that effect on more than Clay.
“I told Katy to bring the earth boyfriend.”
“Why?”
“So I can show them how to create fog.”
Rob made a face and darted a look my way. “Fog?”
“Magic fog.” Spencer’s lips twitched. Talk about assholes.
“You weren’t there.” I began to understand why the guys always made fists when talking to him. My fingers curled tight as I prepared to pounce. I really, really wanted to punch him right in his
