elemental 03 - whitecap Read Online Free PDF Page A

about healing—he was intrigued by that aspect of his alignment, more so even than the possibilities of attack and defense that came along with water. 
    As if on cue, when her grandmother finished bringing the meal to the table, Aiden appeared. 
    “Never late to a meal, are you bro?” Dylan said, smirking. Aiden wore pajama pants but no shirt, and Aira forced herself to look away from his lean chest and toned stomach, to ignore the sudden welling of lust she felt. 
    “Hasn’t caught up with me yet,” Aiden responded, pouring himself coffee and sitting down next to Aira. She was uncomfortably aware of the heat that radiated from him, and shifted to the side slightly, trying to get her incipient lust under control. As they ate, Aira’s grandmother told the two brothers she needed them to run an errand for her; Aira knew by the diplomatic tone her grandmother had information for her ears only—she was likely to get a lesson and much more before the two men returned. 
    “You’re sure you’ll both be safe?” Aiden asked. 
    Aira almost chuckled at the look her grandmother settled on the fire elemental.
    “The day that I’m not adequately able to protect myself and my granddaughter on my own property is the day I’m dead and cold,” she said, haughty and proud. “Dylan knows the plants I’m looking for,” she said in a different tone, glancing with affection at the younger of the two brothers. 
    With the meal finished, Aira cleared the table while the brothers got dressed to leave. She felt anxious, worried about what her grandmother might tell her. As soon as Dylan and Aiden were gone, her grandmother sat down at the table, looking down at her hands for a long moment. Aira joined her grandmother, waiting patiently. She knew whatever it was the older woman had to say, it was important. 
    “Before we start on your lessons, there are some things you need to know,” she said, meeting Aira’s gaze with hesitation. “I wish I had more time to explain the way things are, but…” 
    Aira looked at her grandmother sharply, hearing something under the words. 
    Lenore shook her head. “I am the Regina Undinae,” her grandmother said. “The queen of water elementals. The elders hold nominal power over all of the elementals, but each element has a ruler—a person who controls the most power for that element. It’s an important role in the politics of our people. I help the elders make decisions that impact all water elementals—even when someone has to be put to death. There is currently no ruler for the air element; an elemental ruler has to die in order for a new one to ascend.” 
    Aira stared at her grandmother in shock. 
    “I had hoped when you were born that you would be water-aligned, so the primacy of the water element would continue for another generation. When we—your mother and I—discovered you were air-aligned, we knew it would cause disturbance in the politics of our people. We hoped one of your cousins, or another of the powerful families, would produce an heir… but as of right now, you are the strongest air elemental of proper age.” Aira’s grandmother paused. “When I die, you will be in contention to become the Regina Sylphaea, the queen of air elementals. Whoever you’re allied with will have power, and if the elders determine that you’re fit, you will have to make life or death decisions for other air elementals. The family that targeted you, Alex and Dolores, they are all under threat from the elders. They’ve brought too much attention to themselves from regular humans. If you were allied with them, they would stand a chance at survival. If you are not allied with them, you may have to make the decision whether they will all be put to death…or only some of them…or none of them. And also what other appropriate punishment should come.” 
    Aira sat back heavily in her chair. “But, Alex said something about you, your power over their family,” Aira said,