elemental 01 - whirlwind Read Online Free PDF Page B

brother kind of has a temper.”
    Aira heard the wry amusement in Dylan’s voice and decided he was understating the fact. Maybe it wouldn’t be boring having the two men stay with her after all.
    “Would you like me to show you around?” She asked, wanting to make up for her outburst. Dylan nodded, actually looking eager for the tour.
    Aira led Dylan around the property, pointing out the different plants her grandmother cultivated and telling him about the summers she had spent there. Dylan listened attentively. They stopped at the pond, just like she and her grandmother had the day before. Dylan watched the water in pure rapture, and Aira smiled to herself. They talked about their families, about growing up as elementals. It was strange to Aira how quickly she felt comfortable with Dylan, the easy friendship that seemed to be developing between them already. Dylan paid attention to everything she said, listening silently as she explained why she was so upset about her grandmother’s machinations. When she finished unburdening her mind, he told her he understood her frustration, but he could also see why her grandmother was concerned. The world of elementals was not as safe as it had been even ten years before.
    “Powerful elementals are in high demand in some circles.” He said, without specifying which ones. “Also, many of the older families are becoming more conservative, and there’s a lot of friction between younger elementals. It’s been a really tense time for everyone.”
    Aira found herself persuaded by the reasoning of Dylan’s arguments, in spite of her lingering resentment of being treated like a child. She led him through the remaining gardens and back towards the house, and was in much better spirits when they walked through the door. Her grandmother was still seated at the kitchen table, while Aiden had made himself at home in the adjoining living room with a cup of coffee and a book. It was an oddly peaceful scene. Remembering Dylan’s approach, Aira felt ashamed of herself for having stormed out, and for the exhibition of her ill-controlled abilities. Her grandmother gestured for her to sit down at the table, and Aira found her seat with the cup of coffee she had abandoned still there. Dylan had explained why her grandmother had specifically requested the two brothers to be her bodyguards; and that they had grown up mastering their skills much in the same way she had, but with the added benefit of an interest in investigation. There were enforcers among the elementals, and he and his brother had been chosen by the ruling elite to be trained in that direction. Their abilities had been developed for the purposes of protection and attack. While Dylan was the calmer, more conciliatory brother, he was just as equipped to protect her as his fierier, more aggressive brother.
    “I apologize for leaving so rudely.” Aira spoke slowly, swallowing the well of pride and resentment she felt. “I should have excused myself, but I knew if I stayed I would have been tempted to argue and would have gotten angrier and lost control of myself.”
    Her grandmother stared at her sharply for a long moment, and then subsided. “I accept your apology,” she said.
    Aira heard the slight stir of movement behind her. A moment later Aiden came into the kitchen, seating himself at the table with a grace Aira couldn’t help but admire.
    “I assume from your long absence you were showing Dylan around the property?”
    Aira nodded. Her grandmother turned and favored Dylan with a faint, but genuine, smile. “Did she think to show you my pond?” She asked with understandable pride and comprehension for how much that particular feature would attract him. Dylan nodded, smiling broadly.
    “You’ve done a lot of really wonderful things around here.” Dylan said with polite enthusiasm. “Our Nana told me you were a master gardener, but I really had no idea of what that meant.”
    Aira found herself oddly charmed by how