Seize the Day

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Elemental.

That one word rang through my head like the cacophony of a thousand bells.

I was in shock, and Titus must’ve seen it because he came rushing over to me, ignoring the spirit hovering in the air. “Lannie, are you okay?” His hand lingered in front of my cheek—hesitating—before he wrapped me in a tight embrace.

I was on the verge of tears at that point; not because I was a terrible hugger, but because both of the prince’s parents were gone forever. Even though Philippa wasn’t his real mother, I knew he loved her like she was. “Titus, Philippa was—”

“I know,” he whispered into my hair. His voice was quiet and fragile, his body tense. “I was in the garden before I came here.”

I couldn’t keep the sobs from racking my body. “I’m so—so sorry.” Titus held me tighter; I would have collapsed from exhaustion had he not been there to support me.

“It’s okay.” Titus was shaking—I knew he was trying to keep his emotions contained. “I’m sorry. This was all because of me. I’m so sorry…”

“No, it’s not,” I whispered. It wasn’t his fault that one of the most powerful creatures in Etheia was after him. He never asked to be the Sylph Queen’s son. “I’m your bodyguard,” I sniffled, keenly aware that I was getting snot on his fancy jerkin. “I should have protected you.”

He chuckled softly, releasing me from the embrace. “I think you got that part down.” He indicated to Eden, who was standing impatiently in the center of the throne room.

“Are you done now?” Her penetrating voice bounced off the walls, a sharp annoyance clinging to the words. Eden gracefully set her feet on the marble flooring and made her way toward us, her clothes and hair billowing around her as if she were underwater. “It’s about time.” Her angular features were set into a grimace. “Now that I have some semblance of freedom, I’d like to finally explain myself.”

Make this Odelia #3, I thought, brushing the tears from my eyes as the spirit continued. “My name is Eden,” she said. “I am the water Elemental, first protector of Etheia. Or second,” she admitted. “We have not decided on that one yet.”

The other thoughts that came with Elemental were: You’ve got to be kidding me.

And: Just kill me now.

There was no way in Aria that an Elemental, one of the original four protectors of Etheia, resided within me. They were supposed to be gone.

That was weird.

Gross.

Impossible.

But if she was the water Elemental… My eyebrows rose. That was why Mother’s pendant reacted to water—and why Mayra poured tea on me.

Mayra! I suddenly remembered and bolted over to the collapsed witch. She was barely conscious, moaning incomprehensible words. I tore off a piece of my wet dress and wiped the blood from her forehead. Mayra turned to me and frowned.

“Where’s the prince, Lilly?”

I bit my lip to keep from correcting her. All she cared about was Titus. “Why do you care about him so much?” I heard steps from behind and saw Titus approaching us. Eden stayed where she was with her irritable, beautiful self.

“I—” The witch paused a long moment, then sighed. “Because he is my sister’s son.”

I gaped at her. “You mean you’re his aunt?” How could these two be related and—