“Knock, knock.” Leo poked his head in, his crazy blond curls bouncing into his piercing blue eyes. He stepped into the room, utterly breathtaking in nothing more than a simple dark gray long-sleeved shirt and the world’s best-fitting jeans. How did he find pants that cupped every inch—and I do mean every delicious inch—so perfectly?
“Where are the guys?” he asked.
I shrugged and went back to attempting to apply my face without making me look like I used a Sharpie. “They aren’t with you?”
“They all teleported here. I, well…”
“I know. You hate teleporting.” I ignored the jolt of nervous uncertainty that the ones who usually popped in at a moment’s notice hadn’t popped in yet.
“Because I told you to grab something before we left,” Bryan grumbled as he pushed through the door, Rob behind him. The two largest guys of the group took up half the room when they stood shoulder to magnificent shoulder. While Bryan was in his usual casual attire of a plaid flannel draped over a loose T-shirt and jeans with a plethora of pockets, Rob was in Council uniform. Although my fire elemental could make wearing a paper sack look good, I hated the fancy black suit on him. He knew it and had his black blazer draped over his arm to soften the effect.
“What?” Rob shrugged, his mouth full. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “I miss the burgers here.”
I turned to face the guys. “Where’s Clay?”
“He had to help set up for the party. Since Lulu is MIA, he’s actually having to work.” Bryan grinned, taking more than a little pleasure in that fact.
“It makes sense why Dean Carter volunteered the grounds for the party,” Leo stated. “The academy is the largest warded area in the state. According to Clay, they’re expecting people from all over the place. I guess they even invited the Council members from other countries.”
“Why?” I went back to staring at my reflection, contemplating my choice in eye shadow. Maybe I should tone it down. It wasn’t a party party. It was a fake party honoring a fake prophecy in celebration of a fake heroic effort. I did a lot of real heroic shit, and not once did they offer to throw me a party. Or even a pat on the back for stopping a dark elemental from destroying our world. Yet they threw Sammie a party for finding a ward.
But hey, I’m not bitter.
“What’s with the rage of storms in your eyes, babe?” Leo stepped up behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders, his gaze on my reflection.
“It’s just a stupid party.” I threw my mascara. It joined the eye liner in the sink and rolled to a stop.
He kept his focus on me as he snaked his arms around my midsection and nuzzled against my neck. “It’s okay to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” I lied.
“If you say so.” He delivered a staccato of kisses to my throat before stepping out of my reflection.
“Listen, Katy. You don’t have to do this.” Bryan regarded me earnestly.
Both fire callers erupted in protest. Rob, I’d expected as much. He’d use any excuse to lose his temper. Leo, however, still took some getting used to. My usually cool, collected water elemental might not have as short a temper as Rob, but he wasn’t that far off.
“If I don’t,” I countered, glancing at him through the mirror, “who will?”
He set his jaw and shook his head.
“Ready?” Rob checked his phone. “I’ve been instructed to deliver you promptly at seven sharp.”
“Deliver me? Am I a package or something?”
He grinned, sending his dark gaze into a wicked glimmer. “Yeah, you are.”
“That was such a Clay thing to say.” I half expected him to waggle his eyebrows. With a deep breath, I turned and nodded, ignoring the gnawing in my stomach. “Let’s do this.”
“We’ll be with you the entire time,” Leo stated the obvious.
I had to remember why I was about to challenge the prophecy in front of the elemental community. If I didn’t, if I allowed her to lead our world down the path it seemed to be heading, my world as I knew it would be no more. Hell, with what I was about to do, my world as I knew it would be no more. This was a no-win situation for me. It’d save my world, but destroy me.
Rob stopped me from leaving the room by picking up the metal ring contraption I had sitting on the counter. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What’s an outfit without the proper accessory?” I waited for him to snap the elemutus around my neck. It wasn’t heavy, but it was awkward. He clicked on the row of LED lights, creating a soft white glow that I’d gotten used to since I’d had to wear it this past week to convince the Council my powers had been muted.
“Remember the plan.” Rob held out his arm.
“How can I forget? We’ve only walked through it about a million times.” I looped my arm in his to have him escort me. As a member of the Council, he had certain perks, such as the authority to interrogate elementals and his own heavily warded cabin in the woods. An in when it came to Council business, like when they’d added a second tester at Leo’s tribunal.
Speaking of…
“Are you sure you don’t want to withdraw your request for final tribunal now that you’re a trio?” I asked him. He gave me a look as if I’d just asked him if he’d killed anyone lately. “What? It’s a legit question.”
“Why would I withdraw?” Leo responded harshly. “Becoming a trio doesn’t change the fact I’m ready to graduate.”
“Dude,” Bryan cut in. “Fire just came to you. You should stay and learn the 3Cs of your new element.”
He glared at Bryan, who shrank back in response. Not out of fear, not Bryan. Nothing scared that mammoth of a man. Well, except the void. Then again, the void scared
