Okay…I was going to die, this was so awkward.
“So, we match?” I tried.
River’s face finally changed into a sneer. “No, we don’tmatch. I have more affinities than you.”
I barely held back my laugh. “And yet we’re still in the same class,” I said slowly. After he didn’t reply again, just keptstaring, I continued, exasperated. “So…you have more than air and water?”
“I’m a full elemental affinate,” he said a little robotically. “I can do air, water, fire and earth.”
“Cool,” I replied a little sarcastically. “Well, let’s try them out.”
River scoffed. “I’ll hurt you.”
This time, I couldn’t hold in my laugh. I slapped a hand over my mouth, my shoulders shaking as I tried to stop myself.
I couldn’t help it. The idea that a full elemental could do anything to me was funny, even if it shouldn’t have been. He thought I only had two affinities, so–
Actually, why the fuck had Coach paired us up?
I finally settled, and River was looking at me with a weird mixture of concern and…awe? His lips were slightly parted, his eyes wide as he watched me.
I cleared my throat, looking away and breaking the moment. “Anyway,” I said softly.
River’s gaze hardened like he’d just realized how he was looking at me, and he turned away sharply. “I need a new partner.”
I scoffed. “We haven’t even done anything yet!”
“What are you going to do, Aria? Drown him?” A grating voice sneered.
With an audible groan, I turned to face…holy fuck.
I’d thought Carla looked bad, but I’d been wrong.Antonlooked like shit.
“Are you okay?” I asked on reflex.
Anton glared at me like he hoped I’d disappear.
“What is your fucking problem?” I asked next. “What the fuck did I ever do to you?!”
Anton was in my face a moment later. “I knowwhat you did. Everyone will know soon. You’re amurderer.”
My heart leapt and I pushed him back with some air, but because he was practically skin and bones, he nearly stumbled. His eyes widened, and he raised his hands to…
I didn’t actually know Anton’s affinities. I tilted my head curiously, and my affinity seemed to do the same.
“Stop!” Carla Martin of all fucking people threw herself into Anton, and this time, he did stumble and they fell onto the mat.
Anton shoved Carla off of him, and then as he turned back to me, his eyes…began to glow fucking red.
My affinity was awake in an instant, and on reflex, I grabbed my right hand with my left, pointing it downward like that would keep it from doing whatever it fucking wanted.
But in the next moment, the red glow faded, and Anton turned his glare behind me.
“River,” he hissed.
Of course they knew each other.
“Chill out, Davie-kins,” River said, mocking Anton’s last name.
