Page 38 of Commanding Flame and Shield
I held my other hand in the air for a moment, breathed deeply, summoning the limited moisture from the air, and a small pool of water began to flow from the open window behind me, spiraling into a dancing stream above my hand.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put it out.” I winked, before sending the water back outside. No point in mopping the floor tonight. He shook his head, not seeming to make any effort to hide the astonishment on his face. “I’m not the best with water,” I conceded. It had always been a point of frustration for me. “That title goes to Alec.”
Alec mock bowed to an imaginary round of applause, drawing giggles from Fae as she kissed his cheek. She tangled her fingers in his tawny hair, twirling strands around before releasing one and finding another.
“Alana and I prefer Earth, but it’s a bit messier to demonstrate,” Fae conceded, resting her cheek on Alec’s firm shoulder.
“I’ll take your word for it,” August said.Feel it into existence. Feel it into existence.
I smiled at his internal chant. He tried again, but nothing happened.
Alec winked at me, and my gaze flicked to him.Give him a word.
I nodded and turned back to August. “Sometimes it helps to push power through a word. For me, Latin seems to work best, something about my past lives probably. But there might be something that works better for you. English or French. Try it and say the word flame.”
“Flame,” he said confidently, flipping his palm open. Yet again, nothing happened.
“Elemental work was hard, even for the very best of us, August. Take your time here,” I assured him, not entirely sure we had time to take before he’d need every skill I could give him. “Try Ignus.”
“Ignus!” he said, tone demanding now. A tiny spark sizzled off his fingertips.
“Better!” I encouraged. He tried again, but with nothing to show for it, slumped back on the couch, looking defeated.
I felt the energy shift before I saw anything, and it was the way Alec’s hand flew to his dagger that got my heart racing. I saw the vision from a perspective that was not my own, but rather looking back at me. It was too late, crystal clear, and solidified, with no threads to pull on.
Oh, shit.
FIFTEEN
GUARDIAN
AUGUST
Frustration grew in my chest. Learning new things had always been frustrating for me. Learning new things I was not naturally good at? Not worth the time. Needing a skillset I didn’t possess, surrounded by superhuman celestial beings who all did it without effort—absolutely infuriating.
A sudden vibration pulsed through the air, and I pulled myself from my pool of self-pity to realize the energy had shifted. Alvara’s eyes were wide, and Aphaea’s were no calmer. She released her hold around Alec’s neck, right as his hand drew his blade from its scabbard. I jumped to my feet and turned over my shoulder to the closed door, only to hear a clatter of wood, and both women scream.
When I turned around, Alec had already cleared the room, and had Alvara’s back pinned to his chest. Her loveseat and the short coffee table had both been overturned. She was up on her tip toes, scrambling for her balance. Against her throat, was Alec’s dagger, his expression mirthless.
“Come on August,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Show us what you are!”
Stomach in my chest. Heart frantic. Sweat dripping. I looked frantically from her wide eyes to Alec’s cold and calculating ones. Right as I started to tell myself he wouldn’t actually hurt her, he pressed the knife further into her skin, and pulled her off her feet. She held her breath, hands clamoring for a hold on his arm. I wanted to scream, to roar at him, but my voice froze in my throat.
“Alec!! Stop this! What the fuck are you doing?!” Fae cried out, hands shaking as she drew her blade. What she would do with it…
“Come on August. What will it be?” He flicked his eyes to the fireplace, and back to me.
“What the fuck are you doing?!” I finally yelled. “Drop the blade. This isn’t fucking funny.”
“Do you see me laughing?” He pulled Alvara tighter to his chest, and she clung to his arm, trying to lift her weight, the blade right against her artery, her voice croaked out only his name.
“Stop it! Stop this!” Fae screamed again. Her hands trembled around her blade. No better ideas than I had, apparently.
“Whatareyou!?” He demanded again, eyes beating into mine.
That was why we were here. He didn’t believe me after all. Aren must have ordered him to get more information. Which I didn’t even have to give him in the first place.
“You wouldn’t dare!” I roared back at him.
