I paused as I deliberated the next question. “Do you think he’s dark? He used forbidden calls in training, saying I needed to learn how to defend myself from them since the dark elementals use them. But in all the battles last year, Alec never used one on me. I’ve only known Spencer a week and he’s already used two. And in the same lesson.”
Thinking back to my botched attempt to use magic to control my water element last year, I reasoned, “I know using magic doesn’t automatically make you bad, but he’s done some pretty craptastic stuff during trainings. I don’t see how any of what he’s doing is training me. If anything…” I hesitated as my theory continued to form. “It’s like he’s testing me for weakness.”
The wind whispered through the trees, dancing around me. Even if Cressida didn’t hear me, my element did and seemed to agree. Carefully, I held up my hand and called air, relieved when it answered. “Hello, there. I’ve missed you.”
The element spun around me like an excited dog seeing its owner after a long time apart. I smiled and called fire, blending the elements in a gentle tornado of wind and fire. Remembering I was standing in the middle of a thick grove of trees, I killed my calls before I started a forest fire.
“Well, I should get back before the guys send out a search party,” I told no one in particular and returned to the cabin. Bryan and Rob were both up and sitting at the two-person dining table, glorious cups of steaming coffee in their hands. There was a third on the table, which I promptly snagged and brought under my nose, inhaling deeply before taking a sip.
“Where’ve you been?” Rob asked.
“Went for a walk.” I took another sip. “I think my air is back. Same with my fire.”
“I guess milk isn’t the only thing that does a body good.”
I rolled my eyes at the cheesy line. Clay wasn’t the only one with the wit and sarcasm to come up with them.
Bryan’s cheeks colored. “Real nice, bro.”
Rob laughed and stood to get more coffee. He lifted the pot. I nodded even though I’d barely gotten a sip and joined him at the counter while Bryan covered his cup with his hand. Placing my back to him, I regarded Rob and whispered, “Did you tell him about the job?”
He shook his head.
I widened my eyes and nodded for him to do it, hating that I was the only one who knew. Secrets were never my thing. If it were up to me to keep it, I’d fail. Epically. “Tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Bryan asked as he bounced his gaze between us. “What’s going on?”
“Rob has something he wants to tell you.” I pushed him toward the table when he remained silent too long. He shot me a look. I smiled in response and pushed again. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No,” Rob groaned and nodded at the only other chair. “Have a seat, Reed. You need to hear this too.”
“I already know.”
“Not everything,” he responded, which immediately put me on edge. There was more? Oh, happy freakin’ day. I took a seat and waited impatiently for him to explain. He leaned against the counter and stared into his coffee cup. “I’m going to work for the Council.”
“Dude, that’s great.” Bryan grinned, clearly happy over the news. He stood and pulled Rob into a bro hug, slapping his back.
“Wait for the punchline.” I kept my attention on Rob as they broke their embrace.
He went on. “It starts right away.”
Bryan stiffened and whipped his head to regard me. “You knew about this?”
“He told me last night.”
“It’s not like we didn’t see this coming.” Rob set his cup on the counter. “I’m almost twenty-four. I should have left the academy long before now. Stace offered me the job. I accepted.”
“Doing what?”
“Patrol,” I answered when Rob didn’t.
Bryan looked ready to pull him into another bro hug. His expression brightened. “You’re going to be a hunter? That’s pretty awesome.”
“No.” I smacked the table, punctuating my firm disapproval. “That’s not pretty awesome. He’s going to be putting his life on the line every day.”
“How’s that any different than you being the prophecy?”
Well, that shut me up.
Bryan dumped the rest of his coffee down the sink and set the cup on the counter. “Proud of you, man. Going to work for the Council is major. Being part of the patrols is even better. Only the strongest callers get to be on the frontline like that.”
Was I the only one who saw this for what it was? Rob purposely hunting for dark elementals, purposely working for the very governing body we questioned all the time? I hated the idea. Clearly, I was in the minority.
I stood and took my coffee with me to the living room, ignoring Rob protesting for me to stay. It wasn’t that big of a cabin, so I’d still hear him. “You haven’t told me anything I didn’t already know.”
“Stace offered to rent this place to me.”
I spun around, spilling coffee all over my hand. I licked it off my fingers as I stared at him. That part of the story, I didn’t hate. “For reals?”
“That’s the part I didn’t tell you last night.”
“What’d you say?”
“Yes, of course. All employees on patrol are required to live in warded places, and since this place is already warded, saves me some time.” He glanced around the cabin. “It’s small, but it works.”
I sank onto the couch, pouting. I wanted this place, dammit.
“Wow, look at you adulting.” Bryan slapped Rob on the shoulder. “I’m heading to the academy. Some of us still have classes to pass.”
“Low blow, bro.” They laughed.
“Congrats again, Rob.” Bryan moved into the living room
