Free elemental 05 - inferno by Larissa Ladd Page B

flickered a moment in confusion, and she agreed.
    Aira thought with a weariness that she didn’t expect to feel that she would be glad when the whole situation was over—whatever the outcome. If she was taken out of contention for ruling the element she belonged to, then she would go renegade. And she thought, or at least hoped, that she would have help from Aiden and Dylan in doing so. Aira watched the scenery flash by through the window of Saoirse’s car and hoped that it wouldn’t come to that. Her grandmother had done a lot to try to keep her alive, to keep her safe. The best that Aira could do would be to honor her wishes and try her best.
    When they arrived, Alex was in chains at the base of the balcony where the elders were assembled. Aira looked around the gallery at the curious faces among the observers; she knew they were startled by the fact that she was so well. In fact, she hadn’t slept at all the previous night. The potion that Dylan had given her, infusing her with as much air-aligned energy as her body could possibly bear, had kept her awake. A slightly less magical excuse for her restlessness was in the bedroom next to hers. Aira knew instinctively that there had been more than just a purification and purging that had gone on with Aiden. Things had to be settled between them. She took a deep breath as she stepped into the center of the vaulting room, trying to decide how best to complete the task she was set. She focused her mind on Alex, on the fact that he had done things that were inexcusable among their kind—poisoned her, manipulated people in a tawdry, evil way. He had even tried to manipulate her. 
    “Aira, are you able and willing to proceed?” The spokesperson for the elders asked in sonorous tones. 
    Aira nodded shortly. “Before I execute this elemental, I want to make it known—and on the record—that he poisoned me under the direction of another elemental.” Aira heard the hiss of consternation from the gathered observers. “He was given an offer to preserve his family if he got me out of contention. The poison that he gave me was designed to kill me, although you can clearly see that it has not.” Aira looked around the room, her mind gauging the expressions on faces, reading the moods. She hadn’t discussed her plan with Aiden or Dylan; she had come up with it shortly before Saoirse’s arrival. In her current hyper-aware state, Aira thought that she would have an edge on determining who it could be—provided they were there. She thought that Aiden was right; whoever had been behind he poisoning would surely come to see her, to make sure she was near death, or at least incapable of performing her set task.
    Half-hidden among the observers, Aira spotted her. The woman was tall and thin, with intense green eyes and blonde hair. She displayed an expression of abject dismay, her emotions completely unguarded in her surprise. “You,” Aira said, reaching out with her will. The woman tried to look away, but couldn’t do it fast enough. Aira brought her focus on the woman, brought her will to bear on her as she held her gaze irresistibly. “Come down here, now.” The elders began to protest. Aira repeated the command, gaining the woman’s compliance to her persuasion before she turned her attention to the men and women who had come to judge whether she was fit to be the ruler of her element. “You allowed Alex to have poison that would kill almost any air elemental. You released him into my custody with that poison. Your job amongst our kind is to make judgments, to pass decisions. If you have a problem with a ruler making a decision, you can try and see if you can face off against the rulers who exist.” The woman had finally made her way down onto the floor, coming to Aira’s side, her green eyes clouded over. 
    “Aira! This is unstable behavior.” The spokesperson for the elders was red in the face, furious with her.
    “You caused this situation. I am finishing it.”