things to say to Cassie, to ask her. I hardly knew where to start.
Without any other ideas, I went with the obvious. “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or should I start guessing?” Cassie didn’t laugh. Things were worse than I thought. “Seriously, Cass, I’m worried. Are you all right?”
Cassie had always been one for drama, so when her voice came out tired, nearly resigned, my insides coiled. “Take your pick. Nothing is going as I hoped. Mom isn’t doing well, and I don’t think I’ll ever have anything to offer Finn.”
I pulled my friend to a stop. A closer inspection showed dried tears on Cassie’s cheeks. Regret filled my throat. I should have made time to see her sooner. With all the decisions the fae wanted me to make, it had been hard to even have time to sleep. It didn’t help that Heath was gone. I hoped with all my heart he would return soon. Nothing would be right until I could see him. He’d know how to help Cassie. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to say. When I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, they began to shake.
Waiting for Cassie to spill was no easy feat. Platitudes trickled into my mind, but I wouldn’t let them sneak past my lips. “I asked Heath to look for Gibbit. Maybe he’ll know how to help your mom.”
A sharp sniff came from Cassie before she spoke. “When is Heath supposed to be back?”
Anxiety crept along my nerves. “I expected him already.” Cassie stared as if expecting more, her glacial eyes creased and her mouth tight. “He promised he wouldn’t try anything stupid, but I’m not sure he and I have the same definition for the word.”
Cassie’s lips turned with a hint of a smile. “He could find trouble in a convent.”
I grinned. “I know, right?” Getting Cassie to talk was the hardest part, hopefully. “So ... what did you mean about Finn? He adores you.”
A red scarf fluttered around Cassie’s neck. Closing her eyes, she trapped the two ends between her fist. “He lost everything because of me. He was lord of fire. Now he’s nothing.”
I jumped right in, not willing to let her keep going down the depressing path she was on. “How can you say that? Finn doesn’t care about politics at all. To be honest, I don’t think a single fire lord does. It’s too stifling for them.”
Cassie hardened her mouth. She hugged herself, making me want to protect her. “He’s not happy. I can tell.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Really? Have you suddenly acquired mindreading? The only reason Finn isn’t happy is because he knows you aren’t.”
Cassie turned toward the water, her hands dangling by her side. The soft tone of her voice barely carried above the tumbling of the river. “I’m not good for him. I’ve taken his status, and he’s losing power every day.” I stepped closer to hear better, my heart breaking for my friend. “Like I said I have nothing to offer him. I can ’t help with his new duties ... I can’t do anything.” She spun to stare at me. With a jerk, her hand shot to her throat. “What am I going to do, Rayla?”
5
Travis
A BIG PART OF ME WANTED to quit right now. Even though the fire inside me freaked me out, if it so happened I did have abilities with more elements, it would be worse. Having Ainessa out of the picture with no way to get back in became my priority. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I would do it in a heartbeat if it meant she’d be gone from my life for good.
Zach had called the other lords into a huddle, making me wonder if he’d ever played football. I could go for a game about now. Truth was I could go for anything else about now. They took their time deciding on a plan, but I wouldn’t care if they kept going with the fire testing. The way I saw it, the more power I had, the longer I’d stay here. Definitely not what I wanted to do. My only hope was to fake it. At least with fire, I could learn to wield it. If I were like Rayla and had ability with all five elements, it would take
Without any other ideas, I went with the obvious. “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or should I start guessing?” Cassie didn’t laugh. Things were worse than I thought. “Seriously, Cass, I’m worried. Are you all right?”
Cassie had always been one for drama, so when her voice came out tired, nearly resigned, my insides coiled. “Take your pick. Nothing is going as I hoped. Mom isn’t doing well, and I don’t think I’ll ever have anything to offer Finn.”
I pulled my friend to a stop. A closer inspection showed dried tears on Cassie’s cheeks. Regret filled my throat. I should have made time to see her sooner. With all the decisions the fae wanted me to make, it had been hard to even have time to sleep. It didn’t help that Heath was gone. I hoped with all my heart he would return soon. Nothing would be right until I could see him. He’d know how to help Cassie. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to say. When I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, they began to shake.
Waiting for Cassie to spill was no easy feat. Platitudes trickled into my mind, but I wouldn’t let them sneak past my lips. “I asked Heath to look for Gibbit. Maybe he’ll know how to help your mom.”
A sharp sniff came from Cassie before she spoke. “When is Heath supposed to be back?”
Anxiety crept along my nerves. “I expected him already.” Cassie stared as if expecting more, her glacial eyes creased and her mouth tight. “He promised he wouldn’t try anything stupid, but I’m not sure he and I have the same definition for the word.”
Cassie’s lips turned with a hint of a smile. “He could find trouble in a convent.”
I grinned. “I know, right?” Getting Cassie to talk was the hardest part, hopefully. “So ... what did you mean about Finn? He adores you.”
A red scarf fluttered around Cassie’s neck. Closing her eyes, she trapped the two ends between her fist. “He lost everything because of me. He was lord of fire. Now he’s nothing.”
I jumped right in, not willing to let her keep going down the depressing path she was on. “How can you say that? Finn doesn’t care about politics at all. To be honest, I don’t think a single fire lord does. It’s too stifling for them.”
Cassie hardened her mouth. She hugged herself, making me want to protect her. “He’s not happy. I can tell.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Really? Have you suddenly acquired mindreading? The only reason Finn isn’t happy is because he knows you aren’t.”
Cassie turned toward the water, her hands dangling by her side. The soft tone of her voice barely carried above the tumbling of the river. “I’m not good for him. I’ve taken his status, and he’s losing power every day.” I stepped closer to hear better, my heart breaking for my friend. “Like I said I have nothing to offer him. I can ’t help with his new duties ... I can’t do anything.” She spun to stare at me. With a jerk, her hand shot to her throat. “What am I going to do, Rayla?”
5
Travis
A BIG PART OF ME WANTED to quit right now. Even though the fire inside me freaked me out, if it so happened I did have abilities with more elements, it would be worse. Having Ainessa out of the picture with no way to get back in became my priority. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I would do it in a heartbeat if it meant she’d be gone from my life for good.
Zach had called the other lords into a huddle, making me wonder if he’d ever played football. I could go for a game about now. Truth was I could go for anything else about now. They took their time deciding on a plan, but I wouldn’t care if they kept going with the fire testing. The way I saw it, the more power I had, the longer I’d stay here. Definitely not what I wanted to do. My only hope was to fake it. At least with fire, I could learn to wield it. If I were like Rayla and had ability with all five elements, it would take
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