Forgotten Elements

When I came out of the bathroom, I wasn’t surprised to see Ari lying on the oversized bean bag chair in the back corner of my room. She had changed into a comfy set of clothes, her light blonde hair a few shades darker from her shower.

“You were in there for a while.” The sly grin curled her lips as she stared at me, almost like she knew why my shower took so long.

Suppressing a groan, I hitched my towel higher as I headed toward my closet. “So, does this long shower have anything to do with the delicious sorcerer in our living room?” Ari’s tone was casual, but I knew her all too well to fall for that. She saw way more than she led you to believe, more than you wanted her to notice. It was sometimes a little annoying how much she paid attention.

This time, I wasn’t able to supressed my groan as I changed into a loose shift dress made out of a light and airy pastel blue material. I pulled a brush through my hair as I dropped onto my bed, wincing when I came across a knot.

It was common knowledge Parker and I had a difficult relationship. Anyone who spent a few minutes around us while we were together could tell he got under my skin. But it seemed only Ari had figured out the reason. She had realized that a good chunk of my frustration toward him was desire and sexual frustration-based. His cocky attitude also grated my nerves. No man needed that much confidence.

“Something’s happened between you, hasn’t it?” Ari sat up, excitement lighting her bright green eyes. How in the worlds did she gather that from a slightly longer-than-usual shower?

With how I sighed and dropped my brush on my bright blue covers, Ari had all the confirmation she needed. “Tell me everything. Obviously, you guys haven’t fucked yet.”

Laughing under my breath, I shook my head at her excitement. I gave her a brief rundown, starting with my fuck up with the other guy—the bitch thought that was hilarious, laughing until she cried—and how Parker wound me up just to deny me. Like an asshole.

A contemplative expression filled her face as she rubbed her chin. “I never pegged him as the type to leave a woman unsatisfied”—Ari’s gaze flicked to me, and she tilted her head to the side—“or maybe he wants to punish you for making him wait for so long.” She shrugged as brushed a damp strand of hair from her face.

I knew better than to ask this question, especially with how wound up I’d been lately, but it was like I couldn’t help myself. “And what type do you think he is?” I wasn’t ashamed to admit I’d considered what he was like in bed many times over these past months.

Ari’s smirk grew, as did the mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, I don’t have to guess; I’ve heard rumors about him.”

My heart pounded as I struggled to keep my face blank and breathing even. “From the women he’s slept with in town?”

“Nope. I overheard some sorceresses from the Blue Moon Court talking about how gorgeous he was, and I struck up a conversation with them. According to what they’ve heard, Parker has a talented mouth.”

My entire body flushed as the flames simmered in my core, and a throb began between my legs.

Dammit! I knew this topic was a mistake. The last thing I needed was the new mental image of Parker between my legs, my hands buried in his curly, dirty blonde hair as I gave it a sharp tug and his tongue licked up my—

Nope. I couldn’t let myself go there.

I squeezed my legs together, but it did nothing to quench the newly burning flames. Ari pressed her lips together in an attempt to hide her grin but failed miserably. “Oops, my bad, I guess I shouldn’t also mention he’s been known to engage in—”

“Nope!” I didn’t need yet another new mental image to drive myself insane.

Ari giggled, throwing herself back on the chair. “Girl, you’ve got it bad if you can’t even hear about his sexual prowess without getting horny. You need to get laid and fast. I don’t care if it’s with him or someone else. Clearly, your hand isn’t doing the trick.”

She had a point, but it was a little more complicated than that. “Have you already forgotten about what happened last night? What if that happens again?”

“Bite your hand.”

I shot her a bland look, silently telling her how unhelpful she was.

“I’m just saying you need to get railed before your retreat. You don’t want to spend the next two months alone in nature, feeling horny with no reprieve.” Ari rolled off the chair, heading toward the door, only to pause with her hand on the doorknob. “You could always take him up on his offer and beg. A night with him will help rid you of all that pent-up frustration. Maybe then, you’ll be less cranky.”

I threw my pillow at her, and she easily dodged it. “You’re no help.”

She laughed as she left my room before I could throw anything else at her.

She’d been right about my needing to let off some steam and soon. The day after tomorrow, I would head to the Earth Court for the rite of passage. When an elemental turned twenty-eight, we were required to spend two months in solitude, communing with the elements.

Once a year, they would open a rift to a neighboring realm. Those who had turned twenty-eight within the past year would head into the realm and were meant to spend the entire time in complete isolation. We weren’t allowed to engage with each other or those who lived in the realm.

The retreat, as most of us called it, was a way for us to commune with nature in a way we hadn’t been able to with all the distractions our realm provided. According to what I’ve heard about the retreat—which wasn’t much—we were supposed to traverse all over the lands and connect to every part of the realm we could.

Every once in a while, an elemental would choose to remain in the realm after the retreat ended and moved into one of the villages on the islands that were forbidden to those participating in the rite. There weren’t too many living in the realm, maybe a thousand in total, and it was supposedly a big realm.

All my life, I’d been excited about the rite, to finally get to experience the realm I’d grown up hearing stories about. Not only that, but I’d have a break from Parker. It would be nice to not see his stupidly handsome face and have him stirring up my body. But even so, I was still nervous. What if something went wrong while I was gone? I wouldn’t have my wristband with me as we were supposed to leave it at home.

We’d each be given a crystal for communication that was to be used only in the case of an emergency, but I’d been told it would be harder to connect between the realms, and the connection might be finicky. But anything was better than nothing.

I just hoped I wouldn’t have to use the crystal. It had been quiet these past few months, and hopefully, it would remain that way.