Free Elemental Fate (Paranormal Public Book 12) by Maddy Edwards Page A

run the paranormal world “properly.” Bertrum, in response, kept accidentally losing them. I wondered how long that game could go on.
    With Bertrum gone and Rake working around the clock to find and defend special artifacts, it was just Keegan and Eighellie traveling with me to Paranormal Public this time.
    Charlotte and Keller planned to stay at Duckleworth an extra day, partly so that Keller could calm down. If he had seen a fallen angel in those first days after the party, I felt confident that he would have put that fallen angel through a wall without a second thought. They were also delaying, I thought, because Charlotte was having a hard time with the idea of going back to where Sip had been attacked, in Charlotte and Keller’s own cottage.
    “Thank you for having me,” said Eighellie to Dacer as we were leaving. The vampire smiled and nodded. Although he famously didn’t like students, he had taken a liking to Eighellie. Maybe it was the darkness in each of them reaching out to make a connection.
    “I’m very impressed with your work at Paranormal Public,” he said. “Keep it up. You know, and if you should find yourself in the Long Building, always remember that the masks are not far away.” He winked at her, and Eighellie turned to us in amazement.
    “He doesn’t know I’ve borrowed a room in there, does he?” she whispered to us.
    “Um, I’m pretty sure he knows,” said Keegan.
    Then, as the three of us stood outside waiting for our coach, I saw a dark figure striding across the snow.
    Risper looked up. He was headed for the woods and carrying what I thought looked suspiciously like the stick I had hit the werewolf with last summer. He looked up and met our eyes, giving one curt nod.
    “He’s so dreamy,” sighed Eighellie happily.
    Keegan and I both rolled our eyes. “He’s a little old for you, isn’t he?” said Keegan.
    “I don’t want to DATE him,” said Eighellie, appalled. “I can appreciate him from a distance.”
    “I don’t understand women,” said Keegan as he turned away.
    “I know,” said Eighellie loudly.
    Far away near the trees, it looked like Risper gave a chuckle.
     
    As we neared Paranormal Public, flying over snowy trees and deep forests, I started looking for the school on the horizon. I hadn’t realize how much I missed it or how much I was looking forward to returning until this moment.
    What were my fellow students up to? What did Professor Penny do over the holidays? Did the Burble siblings get coal for Christmas? What about Hannah?
    Hopefully our classes would be more interesting this semester and Averett would be around. Maybe paranormal relations would even improve.
    “I really hate to say this, but you look excited,” said Eighellie. “I know it can’t be because you’re so excited to get back to studying, so what’s it for?”
    I glanced at my two friends. Over the past month or so an idea had been forming in my mind, but I hadn’t wanted to say anything because I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. I didn’t want to say something so important without following through.
    I had just decided to tell them what I had planned when suddenly there came a jostling in the air around us. We grabbed the sides of the coach and I felt my arm muscles bunch as they fought to keep me in place. Through the window, clouds flashed past us at a dizzying speed. We were out of control high up in the sky.
    “What’s happening?” Keegan yelled. One second we’d been flying along uneventfully, and the next we had pitched so far forward that I thought we were about to flip over and tumble out. My stomach rolled, and it took all my concentration not to throw up.
    Another second went by and we were pitched backwards, then we fell sideways. Keegan was on the floor, his hands braced between the seats, while Eighellie was holding on tight with her eyes focused as if she was using raw power to keep herself upright. The coach windows were covered, but in a moment of calm I