Enchanted Chaos (Enchanted Chaos 1)

So, elemental enchanters are the only ones who can create lightning?

I gulp at the realization.

“You guys said that Foster is the only elemental enchanter, right?” If my mouth would’ve allowed me to, I may have asked if I could be one.

They grow extremely uneasy, shifting their weight and scratching their arms and brows.

“Yeah, he is,” Max finally answers, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Great, if I am like Foster, then that means we’re the only two of our kind. I don’t want that at all. I don’t want to be stuck in a rare category with a guy who’s a fucking jerk.

Max glances at Emaline, who chews on her bottom lip worriedly.

“Elemental enchanters have every elemental power inside their veins, which means they’re very powerful.” She takes both my hands in hers, nervousness emitting from her. “And in our world, the more powerful you are, the more in danger you are of either someone trying to manipulate your powers or being eliminated because of them. It’s why no one can know about Foster’s powers. The only elemental protectors who do know about him are us and a few others we trust. Well, and Kash.” She must note the puzzlement on my face because she adds, “He’s the faerie you saw in my room.”

“Is that why you have him locked up?” I ask. “Because he found out about Foster?”

She nods. “He found out during one of our missions to the fey realm. So, I bound him to me with a binding spell, then locked him in my room.” She lets go of my hands with an exhausted sigh. “But it’s not a long-term solution.”

Gabe places a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetie, we’ll figure something out.”

“I know,” Emaline whispers. “I’m just worried; that’s all.” She lowers her hands. “You know as well as I do that Kash will use Foster’s powers to benefit him. And anything that benefits Kash will cause harm to our world.”

“I promise everything will be fine.” Gabe pulls her against his chest and hugs her.

Emaline clutches him, her eyes glazing over with ice. The temperature begins to drop, causing goosebumps to sprout on my arms.

“Come on.” Max takes ahold of my hand. “Let’s give my parents a moment, okay?”

I let Max lead me to the ledge of the podium. Then Holden moves up beside me and threads his fingers through my other hand while Hunter stands behind me.

Crowded. That’s the word that comes to mine as I peer left to right then over my shoulder. When my gaze collides with Hunter’s, a smirk plays at his lips.

“There’s no need to be nervous, little human.” He winks at me. “We’ll take good, good care of you.”

I blink at him. Did he just call me little human?

“Good gods, Hunter,” Holden mumbles. “You don’t need to hit on everyone.”

“I don’t,” Hunter replies without taking his eyes off me. “I only hit on the pretty ones.”

I roll my eyes.

Hunter’s smirk widens. “You know, I think you have some very fun potential in you, if we could just get you to let it out a bit more.” He twirls a strand of my hair around his fingertip. “I bet it’d help if we cracked through that invisible wall you have around you. Or well, break open that tiny crack in it.”

My brows pull together. “What wall?”

He lifts his free hand and traces his palm in a circular motion in front of my face. “A few humans have invisible walls around them, or barriers, as I like to call them. But they’re basically invisible walls that protect creatures like me from seeing someone’s true self. A lot of creatures have them, but they’ve had them put around them purposefully and by magic, while human walls are usually created by traumatic, emotional experiences. It’s a defense mechanism that few possess. And I’d say you should be proud to have a wall around you, but I’m concerned about what experiences created it and what caused the crack in it.”

“I really don’t know.” Sure, my life hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows, but nothing traumatic happened to me. Well, except for … “Maybe it’s because my parents disappeared.”

He shakes his head, his gaze scrolling from my feet to the top of my head. “The wall around you is very old. Maybe even as old as you are.”

Confusion webs through me. “As far as I know, the only traumatic thing that’s happened to me is my parents disappearing.” Well, and the day I became aware that I had powers, but that part won’t pass my lips.

Dammit, this is so frustrating! Why can’t I say anything about my powers?

Hunter studies me closely, which causes heat to sprinkle across my skin. “Maybe you’ve forgotten what happened to you.”