Page 3 of The Lost Elemental

Hurrying back into my room, I shucked my pajamas and tossed them into a pile on the floor. Donning underwear and a bralette, I pulled the dress over my head. The fabric was the perfect amount of worn, soft and molded perfectly to me. I stopped in front of the mirror, trying to smooth down my hair. The strands had a natural wave that could go a little crazy at times. This would just have to do for now.

A car door slammed out front and I knew Lainey was here. Just like I knew she’d ask me at least a dozen times if she should’ve gone with another outfit. She might even threaten to pull over at a store on the way for a quick change.

I grabbed my purse and headed for the stairs. The front door opened and then closed with another slam. “Aura! Hurry that cute butt up! I need to go get me some hot elemental boyfriends.”

2

I didn’t miss Charlie’s exaggerated gagging sounds coming from the kitchen. “Gross, Lanes,” he called.

Lainey grinned at the bottom of the stairs. “You can’t rain on my parade, shrimp. I’ve been counting down the days until I meet my destiny of hotness.”

I hurried down the stairs and followed my best friend into our tiny kitchen. “How many boyfriends are you going for?”

“At least five,” she said matter-of-factly.

Charlie made a barfing motion into the pancake batter as Mom shook her head.

I choked on a laugh. “I thought the most was four and that was only for their queen.”

Lainey sighed. “What a life. It’s too bad the aethers don’t exist anymore. I think I’d be great at that.”

“I’m pretty sure you don’t have a single elemental gift, let alone all four.” Aethers had been the only ones who had ever had all four affinities and when they had died out, that magical unity of combining the elements and kingdoms had gone with them.

She whipped around, pointing a finger at me. “Bite your tongue. I feel some magic in my bones. I only need a low reading to get tossed into one of those academies and get my harem of hotties.”

My mom coughed. “Lainey…”

“Sorry, Mrs. C. I’m just excited.”

Normally Mom would simply laugh at Lainey and join in the fun. Instead, she bit her lip and turned back to the pancakes.

Lainey grabbed my hand. “Let’s go. I want to get a good seat.”

Mom’s head snapped up. “Don’t you want to stay for pancakes?”

“I got us egg sandwiches in the car,” she said, tugging me towards the door.

“Sorry, Mom. Put the leftovers in the fridge and I’ll heat them up for dinner.”

“Aura—” my mom started.

I dashed out the door after Lainey. “We’ll talk tonight before you head to work.”

Lainey ran down our cracked front steps. “What’s with your mom? Sad about you graduating?”

I slid into the passenger side of Lainey’s third-hand Honda. “I think so. She’s not crazy about her firstborn growing up.”

Lainey turned the key in the ignition. It took a couple tries, but the engine finally caught. “My mom made me pose for a photo today. Like one of those first day of school deals.”

My gaze swept over my best friend as she drove towards the other side of the city. “I bet you weren’t wearing that in the first grade.”

Lainey’s hand skated over her black miniskirt and torn-up tights. “Should I have gone for the purple?”

Leaning over, I gave a smacking kiss on her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“No, I look hot as hell and ready for my—”

“Hottie harem,” I finished for her.