"I'm not a turncoat. I swear it."

Fucking Malakai again. His reach extends beyond just the waters. I’d heard rumors, but now I can see it plain as day.

"Yes. Evidence of your water enemy expanding his influence," Typhon observes. "This is useful intelligence. Let us leave the weak one to his fate."

Cade’s eyes meet mine through the crack in the door. Instead of looking to me for help, it almost seems like he is worried about me. Worried I’ll intervene and get hurt?

Godsdammit…

"I feel a foolish idea forming in your mind, angry human."

"Want to know what I think?" The earth with the hammer leans closer. "You're one of Raith Hollow's little pets. Everyone sees him collecting his little band of fire freaks. Training them in secret." He spits on the floor. "Probably getting ready to slit our throats while we sleep."

Cade straightens, eyes growing defiant. "Raith isn't a traitor. He's one of the few good people at this fucking school."

"The weak one has some backbone after all."

The third earth catches the fire student by the hair, yanking his head back. "Malakai says Hollow's recruiting for Red Kingdom. Says he's building an army right under our noses."

My fingers tighten around the door handle. This is escalating, and fast.

One of the earths produces a knife, pressing it against the fire's throat until a thin line of blood dribbles free.

"Fuck it," I mutter, pushing the door open.

Three heads snap toward me. Cade's eyes widen further with both hope and horror.

"Three on one? Hardly seems fair," I say as I step inside, forcing a calm I don't feel into my voice. My fingers drift to the rapier at my hip. I keep my posture loose, ready to move.

"Mind your own business, water," the leader says, not taking the blade from the Cade's throat. "This is between us and the fire traitor."

"That's Nessa Thorne," one of the earths says. "She's fucking Raith and that legacy with the blonde hair."

"Ah," the one with the hammer says. "That's why you're here. Does he ask you to watch over his pets in exchange for orgasms? Not a bad deal, I guess. For him at least."

I step fully into the room, letting the door close behind me.

"Should I show myself?" Typhon asks.

"Flying fish only."

The earths face me as the fire takes the opportunity to move away and come toward me. All three earth elementals are in plain view now—a stone wolf and a serpent made of vines have joined the rock boar.

I let Typhon materialize in his flying fish form, knowing he appears small and harmless to them. No need to reveal our true strength unless absolutely necessary.

"I'm not here to fight," I say, holding up my hands. "Just looked like three people picking an unfair fight.”