And then, right before my eyes, the burns healed, the skin regenerated, and his shoulders looked as if they’d never been touched.
My mouth fell open. The blisters on his beautiful face faded, and he took in a deep breath before fluttering his eyes open. He glanced up at me with those bright and brilliant blue eyes. When he smiled, I fell onto him to hug him.
“Hey babe,” he whispered and wrapped me in his arms. He kissed the top of my head. “What’s going on?”
I laughed through my fear. “You’re going to be okay.”
“I told you it was nothing.” Leo held me in that gorgeous gaze. I took his hand in mine and pulled it to my cheek. He glanced around at the room, and then down at the bed. “Where am I?”
“The infirmary.”
“Why?”
“It’s a long story,” I told him. “Let’s just say you won’t have to worry about a fever anymore.”
16
I stood on the side of the field as day four of tribunals commenced. The Council had finished with the second years and moved on to the remaining students without separating them out by years. Only the first and second years had been called out specifically.
The first years understandably had the highest number of magically enhanced elementals. The second years only had a handful, but it still sucked watching them being dragged off the field by members of the Council. They’d been at the academy for a year or more, had lived with their powers without issue all that time. They didn’t deserve to be labeled dark and imprisoned. None of them did.
Now it was the upper-level students’ turn. Dean Carter announced the names of those about to be tested.
Vanessa Graves, as beautiful as ever in her blue blazer and short skirt that looked freakin’ adorable on her. Of course. She wore her black hair pulled away from her face, sitting in a perfect high ponytail on top of her head. Her striking blue gaze scanned the crowd of Council members. When two stepped forward, I rolled my eyes. I should have known she’d be paired with Weak 1 and Weak 2, courtesy of Daddy, I was sure. I’d watched them since the beginning of tribunals and not once had to help any students battling them. I’d had to help them a couple of times, however. They’d take it easy on Ness for sure, so I didn’t bother watching, knowing they wouldn’t need me.
Jessica Bailey, even though she’d dropped out, was still required to be tested. She bounced onto the field in her usually springy way, which was nice to see, I had to admit. A giant pink bow held her hair back in a high ponytail, which was also nice to see again. God, what was happening to me? Why would I feel any sense of happiness seeing her? She’d treated me worse than Vanessa had the short time we’d roomed together. Once she and the two Council members moved away from the crowd, Dean Carter stepped forward to announce the next name.
Bryan Gunderson, my earth elemental extraordinaire, walked onto the field, practically casting a shadow with his massive shoulders. It didn’t surprise me that the Council paired him with Brooks, another massive man, and a blonde woman with glasses I recognized from the warehouse when we’d searched for Bryan. They moved to the corner of the field.
Clay Williams waved to the crowd as he took the field, blowing kisses like he’d just been announced as the guest of honor. It surprised me when my mom stepped forward. Why would she test my boyfriend? I tensed and waited for her to turn to me, but she never did. She waved for him to follow her and the unibrow pixie chick I set on fire to the opposite side of the field from me. Dammit. I’d have to leave it to the healers on that side to monitor the battle, since I had plenty to monitor on my side of the field.
A few more upper-level students were called and paired up with Council members. Once everyone was in position, the next round of testing started.
Fireballs flew. Airfields went up. Water streams like firehoses made it look like the Bellagio fountain. I darted my attention between Bryan’s test in front of me, which he handled beautifully, and Clay’s test on the other side of the field. I couldn’t see him, only giant flames as they got sucked into a tornado. I really hoped it was Clay’s calls and not my mom attacking him with a firenado.
I redirected my attention to Bryan. He’d just created a crater that swallowed Brooks. The man cussed and called air to lift him out of the hole before conjuring a fireball in each hand. Glasses hit Bryan with a blast of water that knocked him back. He recovered just in time to block the fireballs Brooks hurled at him by using an airfield. It went back and forth like that several times, Brooks and the woman attacking with something Bryan easily deflected, so I went back to seeing if I could spot Clay.
When I did, I sucked in a breath. He was covered in dirt. I wasn’t just talking dirty. He was literally covered in a thick layer of earth, his opposite. My mom moved closer, pulling roots from the ground to snake around him while Unibrow hit him with fire. He called air to counter, which stopped the fire but not the earth. Using his primary, he finally blasted through the earth trap, sending dirt and splintered roots flying in all directions. My mom hit him with more earth, cocooning him in topsoil. He staggered, fighting off the opposing element and losing. When he dropped to his knees, I braced myself to race over and protect him as I’d done for Leo. Yes, it was against the rules. Screw the rules. If one of my guys needed me, I’d be there.
A whistle blew and a white flag
