“I swear to God,if you apologize again, I’m going to hit you with another jaws creation,” Ella threatened as I finally returned home.
Dealing with Aflora’s little power display had cost me more than I wanted to admit. Mostly because of Emelyn. She’d gone to her father, which meant I’d been called into an emergency Council discussion regarding Aflora’s development. I assuredthem all that I had her under control and reiterated the complication of her status as the last Earth Fae Royal. Killing her now would provoke a war. They needed to come to terms with the Elemental Fae Council before that could even be considered as an option.
Several wanted to lock her up.
But my father stood by my side and reminded everyone that this task served as one of my ascension trials.
An ascension trial that was proving to be my most difficult test yet.
Aflora sat on a couch beside Ella, her shoulders caved inward as she held a mug of hot chocolate between her delicate hands. “I had no idea I could do that.”
“I know.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go to any more classes,” Aflora continued. “The power seems to be growing, not dying, and that can’t be a good thing.”
“Classes are a requirement,” I interjected, making my presence known since neither of them seemed to hear me walk through the door.
Aflora jumped, her blue eyes rounding as she looked up at me.
Ella didn’t react at all. So maybe she had noticed my arrival.
“How’d the meeting go?” Tray asked as he walked out of the kitchen with a beer. He did a good job of hiding his anxiety over what happened today, but I caught the hardening of his jaw as he took in Aflora’s close proximity to Ella. That wasn’t an incident any of us would soon forget, even if Ella seemed fine now.
“I have an upgraded collar for Aflora to wear,” I replied, pulling the item from my pocket to show him and the rest of the room. “But they’ve agreed to let her stay for now, as long as she continues to attend her courses as scheduled. Her independentstudy day will be with Zeph, where he will attempt to teach her more about defensive arts and control.”
“Bet he loves that assignment.”
“Actually, he volunteered,” I replied.
Tray’s dark eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “Did he attend the meeting?”
I nodded. “He served as a witness in her trial.”
“Wait, there was a trial?” Aflora asked. “Why wasn’t I allowed to testify?”
“Because you’re a female,” Ella muttered. “The Council is full of sexist assholes.” She looked pointedly at me and Tray with those words, the argument a common one between us.
“It’s how our world functions,” I replied, more for Aflora’s benefit than Ella’s. The latter already knew full well how we did things around here. “Only males are allowed to present to the Council. If you have something to say, you send your mate.”
Aflora snorted. “Because I can trust Shade to speak on my behalf.” She shook her head, giving me a look. “I’m technically a queen, Prince Kolstov. I speak for myself.”
“From what I understand, you still haven’t accepted your ascension, which makes you a princess,” I corrected. “And as I said, our Council does not allow females to attend our proceedings.” As I agreed with her concerns regarding Shade, I didn’t comment on that part. But I did feel it was necessary to add, “That said, Shade did speak on your behalf today. And he did well.”
Her lips parted. “What? What did he say?”
“It’s not important. What you need to know is, the Council ruled to allow you to continue attending classes, but they want you to wear this upgraded collar. Shade, Zeph, and I have also been charged with monitoring your power growth, so you’ll be partnered with at least one of us in each class.” I glanced at Ellaand Tray. “Do you mind giving us a minute to sort out the power exchange? Just in case there is a fallout from the swap?”
Normally, I wouldn’t mind their presence, but I wouldn’t risk Ella again.
Tray clearly agreed because he set his beer down without a word and walked to his mate, extending a hand.
“Really?” she said, giving us both a sardonic look. “Aflora’s not going to explode.”
Neither of us replied because we both knew that Aflora could indeed explode at any moment, and I was the only one powerful enough to handle the fallout.
“It’s fine,” Aflora murmured, pushing off the couch. “Let’s go to my room instead. I won’t fight the exchange.”
After her easy capitulation earlier, I assumed she’d say something like that. Because Aflora put everyone else’s safety above her own. This collar could very well suck the life right out of her, for all we knew, and yet she would willingly let me put it on her if it meant she’d suffer instead of those around her.
