The Order of the Elements 01 - Breaking Point (35 page)

“Miss Phoebe was first, sir. Miss is very kind to me. Always asking me how my day is and how I am doing. Miss was not happy at all about my errand. Miss says I need a break. I don’t mind, though.” Link spoke of Phoebe with reverence befitting that of a god.

“Phoebe sent you? Is she awake, then? How is she doing? Can we go see her?” Feeling a little overly enthusiastic, Ethan nearly headed out the door right then.

Obviously Kali couldn’t have had that bad of an effect on Phoebe if she was not only awake, but able to calm the storm and worry about the tasks of a gnome, perhaps even teach it English.

Link shook his head. “Sir Dorian sent me with the message. Miss insisted that she was fine to walk, but Sir made her stay. Sir told me to tell you that you are allowed to see Miss Phoebe now.”

Of course Phoebe would insist on walking. Was there no end to her stubbornness?
Ethan internally sighed. “Thank you, Link, for the message. It was very nice to meet you.”

Link’s face turned beet red, and he jumped off the table and disappeared out the door in less than a second, holding on to his beret as he ran. Gnomes were able to move extremely fast. Jared and Evan both jumped up as the door slammed.

“What’s goin’ on?” Evan said, tensed for battle with his eyes still closed.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “Nothing. Dorian sent us a message saying we were allowed to go see Phoebe now.”

Lucy?
he added in his thoughts.

She was still half-asleep.
Got it. We’ll be ready to go in an hour,
she replied.

Evan shook himself awake and stretched. “Let’s just hope none of us run into Kali at the festival later.”

Ethan groaned. He had totally forgotten that the Earth Festival was today. He couldn’t even imagine facing everyone after what had happened.

Jared smiled. “Got to go, mate. It’s all for you now.”

Wonderful
. If there was one thing Ethan was looking forward to less than having to go to the festival today, it was having to go to the festival and be honored or whatever it was they would do. He briefly wondered if he could upset Phoebe enough to get a decent storm going. Dorian would probably kill him, but…
No,
he decided,
nothing would be worth causing Phoebe more distress.

Ethan slowly got dressed and ate breakfast before everyone was ready to go. Shade was irritated at being pent up for so long, so Ethan released him. He was just finishing growing in his golden flying feathers. They shimmered in the sunlight as he stretched. He was positively the most beautiful companion, or wild animal for that matter, that Ethan had ever seen.

Ethan, Jared, Evan, and their companions all headed out into the hallway to meet with the girls and their companions. Upon seeing one another, all five creatures flitted off to race each other to their destination.

Lucy was still very distracted. This was getting out of hand. Ethan quickly searched through his memories of the previous day for what he could have done that would make her quit speaking to him. The only thing he could think of was their match. He was going to have to challenge her to a rematch even though he didn’t really want to. Seeing her like that, thinking of her as the enemy, was very difficult. She was too beautiful, too perfect, and he loved her too much to be able to see her that way. But if it would get her to speak to him again, he would do it. That was ironic, considering how yesterday he would have traded the match for the silence. Now he was planning a rematch to end the silence. Whatever made her happy—happy and safe.

Ethan could not handle the distance between them. She was only two feet away, but it seemed like much more. He wound his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Her thoughts moved even faster, and she didn’t even look up at him. He had no idea what was going on.

Jared knocked on Dorian’s door. As soon as it opened, Cynthia edged in the door, as did Bree. Both headed for the large bed in the middle of the room, and Phoebe smiled widely. Bree jumped and shrunk to land on the bed next to Sapphire. Cynthia bounced on the bed and hugged Phoebe tightly. Dorian huffed impatiently.

“Oh, lighten up, Dorian. I’m fine,” Phoebe said as she peered around Cynthia.

Dorian didn’t say anything, but sat on the bed next to her and pulled her against his side. Phoebe settled herself there. She still looked very weak. Her skin was pale, and she had black circles under her eyes. Her movements were slow, and when she leaned against Dorian, she very much looked like she needed the support. Ethan smirked at the thought that she’d told the gnome she could walk. The rest of them settled along the edges of the bed, and Lucy leaned up to hug Phoebe before settling back into Ethan’s chest.

“So, how are you feeling? Did you get to take the elixir? And don’t tell me you’re fine; you can barely sit up,” Ethan said quickly.

Phoebe smiled. “I really am fine; I’m tired, but no lasting damage. The elixir helped a lot. I can’t feel anything, unless I try, of course, which is really nice. I don’t feel like I have a soap opera playing in my head anymore. Although, it tasted awful.” She shuddered at the memory of the foul-tasting liquid.

Ethan rolled his eyes. Evan opened his mouth, undoubtedly to ask what a soap opera was, before Jared cut him off. “So, that’s it then? That can never happen again? Or is it just less likely?”

Phoebe looked up at Dorian.

“It can if she lets it. Or if she quits taking the elixir and gets angry enough, it can happen again. The problem is we don’t know if it’s more likely to happen again after it’s happened once. Nobody has any experience with someone who’s been brought back as successfully as Phoebe has.” Dorian’s arm tightened around her.

“What happens now?” Ethan asked.

Phoebe frowned and Dorian replied. “She’s being pulled out of group training, of course. You all are. We have the scout coming out of isolation in another week or so, and I’m going to have him help me with your training.”

“I told you that’s not necessary. I don’t want special treatment, Dorian. I want to go back to regular training,” Phoebe said stubbornly.

Ethan immediately protested, and he wasn’t the only one.

“No,” he said.

“Are you kidding?” Evan exclaimed.

“Absolutely not,” Jared said firmly.

“It’s not a wise idea,” Lucy added.

“Are you trying to make us all overprotective freaks?” Cynthia said last.

“Overprotective freaks?” Phoebe asked as the corners of her lips twitched.

Cynthia nodded. “Can you imagine what going back to group training would mean? We would all be so busy making sure that the queen and her court don’t come near you that we wouldn’t have time to do anything else.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “You’re all being ridiculous. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

Ethan snorted. “Yeah, that’s obvious. First Kali melts half your skin off and then sends you into a blinding rage that we almost lost you to.”

Phoebe’s face fell, and she looked down at her hands. Dorian glared at Ethan and hugged her tightly.

Ethan, Lucy thought soothingly, Phoebe feels low enough. I don’t think bringing up her past failures against the girl she hates is going to make her any happier.

“I’m sorry, Phoebe. That’s not what I meant. We’re just worried about you, that’s all. You’ve been great; it just seems like something else keeps popping up to ruin everything. I didn’t mean Kali was better than you or anything. I just want you to be safe.”

“It’s okay,” she replied quietly.

Dorian kissed the top of her head before turning to the rest of them. “I think it’s time that Phoebe rested. You can come back after the festival.”

Cynthia and Lucy scooted up to hug Phoebe again, and Evan and Jared also gave her a hug before leaving. Dorian laid Phoebe back against the pillows and led them to the door to let them out.

Ethan turned to Dorian before leaving. “Please make sure she knows I didn’t mean it that way,” he pleaded.

Dorian nodded. “I think she knows that. She’s just feeling really powerless right now. She doesn’t like not feeling in control of what’s going on.”

Ethan nodded, and he and Lucy left the room. They headed down the stairs just a little behind everyone else. Lucy was still silent.

All right, I’ll give you a rematch, just try not to do anything that would make me hurt you, Ethan mentally sighed.

Lucy’s reply was slow. What are you talking about?

Aren’t you still upset about the match yesterday? Isn’t that why you haven’t been speaking to me? he asked.

Ethan could tell immediately that she had barely even thought about the match after it was over.
No, I just had other things on my mind,
she replied.

Now he was really curious. What have you been thinking about, then?

Lucy shifted uncomfortably in his arms. Nothing really, just about some things you’ve been thinking.

He was completely lost.
Like?

Lucy shifted again.

Lucy?

All right, fine. I couldn’t keep this up forever anyway. It’s very exhausting trying to block you. I have no idea how Phoebe did it.

Well?
Ethan asked when she didn’t go any further.

All right! she thought, exasperated. Yesterday you were just thinking about something that took me by surprise, that’s all. And you were thinking it again today.

This is like trying to get an answer out of Cassius. What is it?

Her control on her thoughts slipped, and Ethan saw her memories: his thought when he had called her “love,” his wanting to protect her and keep her safe, his thinking about how he loved her, all flashed through her head. They had reached the bottom of the stairs, and they stopped in the entrance hall before going outside. Her beautiful green eyes were guarded, like she was protecting herself from something.

“What is it? Is that wrong? Am I not supposed to feel that way?” They were alone, so Ethan switched their silent conversation out for an verbal one.

She thought for a moment before answering. “It’s not wrong, if you really do feel that way.”

Ethan finally understood why she had been holding her thoughts back. She was jubilant at the thought that he loved her, but she didn’t want to feel rejected or disappointed if he wasn’t sure.

“
Are
you sure?” she asked as she listened to his thoughts.

He could see she was hopeful; she wanted it to be true. He smiled and pulled her closer to his chest. The top of her head barely cleared his shoulder.

“Lucy, are you really so insecure? You see my thoughts, every one of them, and you don’t know that for sure?”

She blushed. “I just wasn’t sure if that was a random thought or how you really felt,” she answered sheepishly.

He coaxed her chin back up so she could look him in the eye. “Lucy Kendall, I do love you. I never would have imagined that would have caused you so much anxiety. Forgive me for not telling you sooner.”

Her answering thoughts and smile made his heart pound. She was truly happy that he was sincere. She reached up and stroked the side of his face. Her touch was so light it felt like feathers instead of her fingers. Ethan leaned down and brushed his lips on hers, and all thought was erased from both of their minds.

Her lips moved perfectly with his, like they were made specifically to match. For a brief second he almost laughed when he realized that was probably an accurate assumption to make. That thought passed quickly as Lucy’s hands locked around his neck, and she pulled herself closer. He hadn’t realized how much he loved her until that moment. He felt a breeze shift around them; her hair was caught in it as it swirled around. He was starting to get dizzy, and he couldn’t tell if he was breathing. His fingers tangled in her long, red hair, and all he heard was the sound of their hearts beating.

Lack of oxygen eventually won over, and they broke apart, breathing heavily. Lucy’s eyes were bright, and her face was flushed. She had never looked more beautiful. As the breeze around them calmed, Ethan saw beautiful flowers caught in the wind. He had kissed other girls, but never before had he felt that way. He had never so completely lost himself to someone else to the point that nothing else mattered. Right at that moment, absolutely nothing mattered but the green eyes staring back at him and the person they belonged to.

They had shared a connection—a connection based on admiration, need, companionship, and deep care and concern. Now they were bonded. Bonded so deeply that neither one of them could ever walk away from the other without it being too painful for words. An unbearable pain. A pain that he would never survive.

Just like the first time—when he had realized he was hers—he couldn’t explain how it had happened. But unlike last time, he didn’t care. Maybe he had never had a choice in any of this. Lucy had said he was always free to choose, but in a way, he had never needed that opportunity. From the moment that they met, nothing else mattered quite as much as she did.

His existence, no matter how shallow or pathetic it had ever been or might ever be, would no longer be possible without her. If her heart would ever stop beating, Ethan knew that in that same instant, his would too. Every beat of her heart matched every beat of his. Every breath of air that she inhaled was enough to fill both their lungs. They were no longer two separate moving, breathing, thinking people. They were one.

I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Lucy thought.

He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn’t even checked hers. I can understand your doubt. Even I didn’t realize how strongly I felt. It was never something I consciously thought about until now.

But the feeling has been there; that’s what counts, she replied.

Does it really count if I don’t know how deep, how perfect, how wonderful it is? Does it count if you don’t know how much you mean to me? Does it count if you don’t know with absolute certainty that I love you?

Lucy blushed and looked away. He caught her chin and brought her eyes back to his. The breeze had settled, and they were standing in the middle of a ring of fallen flowers.