Free Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) by Rosemary Green

three days.”
                “Crap.  I bet my parents are freaking out.  Where’s Cerus?”
                “He’s downstairs.  He worked some sort of spell.  Your mom and dad think everything is fine.  The only one worried in this whole situation has been me.”
                I sit back into my pillows and let this information sink in.  “Go downstairs.  I’ll be there in a minute, I want to shower first.”
                “Probably a good idea.  You kind of smell” he chuckles, dodging the pillow that I throw at him.
                I shower quickly and make my way downstairs.  Cerus is standing at the counter, my mother’s apron tied around his waist.  He’s laughing over something Nancy said while cutting carrots for the salad.
                “Hey Lexi, are you hungry?  We’ve got your favorite tonight”
                “Smells good.”
                “Did you get your project finished?” Nancy asks me as I lower myself into a seat at the counter.
                “My project…” I look to Cerus who nods at me from across the counter.
                “Remember Alexa that big project for History that you’ve been working on for the last few days.”
                “Oh yeah, that project.  Yeah I got it done.  I’m glad it’s over with.”
                Dinner was finished, quickly eaten and it wasn’t long before Sam, Cerus, and I were back in my room.  Secretly I was grateful, exhausted from just the simple task of bathing and eating.  All I wanted to do was go back to sleep.  I crawled onto my bed leaving space for Cerus to sit at my feet.  Sam took his usual place in my bean bag.
                “So tell me what happened?” I asked reaching out to hold Cerus’ hand.
                “It was bad Lex.”
                “You acted very foolishly.”
                “I did not!”
                “You did, Alexa.  Jariah was setting a trap.  Now he knows just how strong your powers are and just how easily you can be manipulated.  It was stupid and almost cost you your life.”
                “I’m fine.  You’re over reacting.”
                “Actually, I think he’s under-reacting Lex.  What were you thinking?” Sam asked.
                “I was thinking that I had to keep you safe.  That I had to keep everyone safe.  Isn’t that what I’ve been training for the last three weeks?”
                “You cannot keep us safe if you kill yourself in the process.”
                Humbled I bowed my head, “I’m sorry.”
                “So what now?” Sam asked.
                “Now I go back to bed.  Why am I so tired?”
                “Because you used too much power too quickly.  Nature takes time to build its strength.  Storms don’t spring up overnight.  With nothing in nature to sustain your magic, it began to use your life energy” Cerus explained.
                “Oh” I mumbled lamely.
                “I think that’s my cue to leave.  See you at school tomorrow Lex” Sam stood, patted me on the head and stomped down the stairs and out the door.
                Cerus was softly stroking my knuckles.  The simple sensation sent ripples through my body.  I shifted my position leaning into Cerus and wrapping my arms around him.
                “I’m sorry” I whispered again, kissing his cheek.  His arms wrapped around me and we sat like that for a long time, just holding each other.
                “I thought I had lost you.  I was powerless, helpless.  I never want to feel that way again.”
                “You won’t.  Next time will be different.”
                “Yes it will” he paused, “There’s something else I need