Frustration flooded Isla’s body. Was he insinuating that she was lying to them or was some sort of threat? She jumped up, her body skating along Rynn’s rigid form. “Look, I don’t know you, and I don’t know why your abilities aren’t working, but—no, Rynn, don’t tell me to sit down—” She stepped from Rynn’s grasp as he reached for her, moving until she stood inches from Aidan.
Looking up into his stern face, Isla balled her fists at her side.This was probably a big mistake.“I’ve had to deal with multiple attacks on my life, I haven’t seen my family in over a week, and the only reason I’m not home right now is because I’ve been told that I need to stay here to helpyou,” she pointed a finger at Aidan, “with your sorry problems. You talk to me for five seconds and have the nerve toaccuseme of something?” Her chest stilled as she glared at the fire elemental.
It was so quiet in their little circle, she could’ve heard a pin drop.
Yes, this was it.She was probably about to die a very fiery death.
Aidan’s eyes searched hers for several long moments. She didn’t blink, didn’t breathe as she wondered why in the world she’d thought yelling at an already angry, all-powerful immortal was a good idea.
He raised an eyebrow. “Alright. Fair enough.” His shoulders relaxed a fraction, and Isla breathed for the first time since she began her tirade.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Kai flick her fingers at Aidan. “Is there something else you’d like to say to her?” Kai asked, blinking at him with pursed lips.
His mouth twitched in faint amusement. “I’m sorry I reacted so harshly,” he said to Isla.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” she responded shakily.
This time, he barked a laugh. “I think I like you, little island.”
Isla smiled tentatively and sat again, Rynn sticking close to her chair as Aidan took a spot next to Kai.
“If we wanted to besureshe was immune to our powers, I could always try a little bit of…” Kai trailed off, twisting her fingers through the air as if that finished her sentence.
Isla’s face scrunched in response. “What can you do?”
One side of Kai’s lips pulled up as she shrugged. “I can be very persuasive.”
A grunt came from beside Isla. “She can influence the mind to do or think what she wants them to,” Rynn answered.
“So…mind control?” Isla narrowed her eyes. That didn’t sound like the same friendly ability Rynn had.
Kai waved her hand. “No, notmind control.” She shot Rynn a look. “Why does everyone say that?”
“Because you control their minds,” Jade deadpanned.
“Okay, well, I cansuggestthings from my mind to someone else’s and make them want to act on it. I would never force them to do anything too dangerous. Truly, Isla, it’s not that big of a deal—and it’s rather easy, I promise.” Kai smiled brightly, her words sweet and soothing as they washed over Isla.
She sat there for a moment, looking between all of the elementals as they stared at her. “Are you going to try it on me?”
Aidan’s booming laughter shocked her. “I think she already tried, friend. I guess the great sea temptress isn’t as mighty as she thought,” he said jokingly, leaning over to Kai and planting a kiss on her cheek. Kai ignored him and continued staring at Isla, her face falling slightly, her forehead creasing.
“It feels like—” Kai started, then snapped her mouth shut and swallowed. “Never mind. It was worth a shot,” she said, the strange look that had passed over her features shifting back to normal.
Isla didn’t know why their abilities weren’t working on her; maybe something had happened when they were awakened? Surely, there was nothing special abouther. That wouldn’t make any sense.
She turned to the earth elemental. “Jade, what about you? What’s your—”
“Well, now that this ridiculous display is over with, you said there was something you needed to tell us?” Jade asked Rynn, cutting Isla off. “Does it have anything to do with this fun development?”
Rynn glanced at Isla, asking with his eyes if she would rather tell the story, and she shook her head. He nodded and sat as he answered. “It could relate to that, yes. After I took her back to the cave I have been staying in to help her heal from the attack, Isla had a vision of a man she does not know. He came to her in a dream, telling her he had been watching her and that she needed to come with us when we leave Aataran.”
Isla broke in. “He also hinted that he tried to use some sort of mind power over me, but it didn’t work—just like you said yours didn’t.” She gestured to Aidan and Kai.
Kai’s face lost its color, her eyes widening as her mouth dropped open slightly. Aidan leaned forward in his seat and put a hand on hers. Even Jade looked concerned.
Rynn’s eyes flickered between the three of them. “It appears that you have a story to tell, as well.”
“What did he look like?” Kai whispered.
