Exos met my gaze, his blue eyes simmering. “Just because I’ve tagged you for her team does not mean you may speak out of line.”
“My job is to protect her. Consider that my current goal.” I narrowed my eyes. “Unless you think threatening her life is something I should be overlooking?”
His lips actually twitched. “You are to protect her from others, not from me.”
“Maybe she needs protection from you the most,” I countered, flames inching beneath my skin.
Elana coughed, dispelling the mood with a wave of her hand. “I think a tour is a great idea. Claire can remain here tonight, then Titus can provide a tour in the morning of Fire Quad. And we’ll work out dorm arrangements afterward.”
Meaning she wanted to see Claire’s reaction to the world before she assigned her sleeping quarters.
“Assuming that is okay with you, dear?” Elana asked, her benevolent gaze finding Claire. The woman was the peacekeeper of our race for a reason, and it showed as she smiled. “Would you like to see the Academy? I think you might find it enlightening. And Titus could take you to the game this weekend, to see the competition of elements. Assuming he’s up for it.”
I hadn’t planned to go, but if it was something Claire wanted to see, I’d take her. “Sure.”
Claire glanced sideways at me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “Y-you’re a student.” Not a question, but a statement.
Still, I nodded. “First year, yep.”
“A-and I would be near you on the tour?” she asked, her throat working over each word. I rather enjoyed the hopeful glint in her eyes.
“I’ll happily show you around campus.” I reached over for her hand. “It’s really beautiful. You’ll love it. Lots of trees and flowers and nature.”
She nibbled her lip. “Fairies?”
I chuckled. “No. Those are just here.”
“Anything else magical?”
“All sorts of elemental magic, sweetheart.” I squeezed her hand. “We’re fae. We live and breathe our powers. But the purpose of the Academy is control, so you won’t have to fear anyone or anything. Everyone is learning.”
“Like a university,” she said, repeating Elana’s sentiments.
“Yeah, except we learn how to hone our gifts for the betterment of society, while you attended college for, like, a job. And half of the crap you all study is worthless.” River’s cheeks pinkened as Claire met his gaze. “Sorry, I’ve studied some of the Human Realm. It’s, uh, fun to me.”
“What kind of fae are you?” she asked, eyeing him with curiosity. “I can’t sense your energy like I do Exos’s and Titus’s.”
Her words had my gaze snapping up to Exos, who merely smirked. Those words, so innocent on her lips, meant far more than she realized. If she sensed Exos the way she did me, it meant he was a potential mate for her as well.
And the slight curve of Elana’s lips confirmed she knew it all along.
As did the startled expression River wore.
Fae mated once, for life. But only with one person and always of their element.
That Claire had found a potential connection with two fae, of different elements, was unique. No, it was unheard of.
Maybe she meant she felt Exos’s aura the way I felt other Fire Fae who were a potential match to my own magic?
“I, uh, control water,” River said, swallowing. “I’m a Water Fae.”
“Oh,” Claire murmured. “So would you be on the tour?”
He snorted. “Not of the Fire Fae Quad, no. We keep our own quadrants. Too many complications when you mingle the elements.”
Her brow furrowed. “But… but I have some?” She looked to Exos. “R-right?”
“You have all five,” he confirmed, not meeting her gaze yet somehow knowing she’d leaned on him for the detail. “Which is why I suggested the Spirit Quad.” Now he raised his gaze to mine. “Because it would be too dangerous to assign her another place to stay.”