Restless (Element Preservers, #4) by Alycia Linwood Read Free Book Online Page B

the pureness of elements as much as it would get younger generations to take an interest in elements. If people saw all the cool things we could do with our elements, maybe they'd decide to keep them and stop thinking of them as a burden. Ethan got up and pulled me out of my thoughts, offering his hand to me.
    "Please come here." Adam was standing in the middle of the stage and pointing at the spot next to him. Ethan and I joined him, and I bit my lip when Ethan's hand brushed against my lower back. "Ria, your first task is to create as many fireballs as you can." We were in a secure part of the studio, so our elements couldn't get to the audience or to the cameras even if something went wrong. I wished they had made the protection two-way so I couldn't feel the elements from the other side, but no such luck.
    I stepped away from Ethan and concentrated on my fire. Warmth rose inside of me and fire erupted in the air above my head, balls of fire forming in quick succession one after another. I wasn't sure how many of them there were, but the audience was clapping their hands.
    "Hold them right there, Ria," Adam said. "Ethan, you do the same. Let's light up the studio!"
    Ethan's fire joined mine in the air, but our fireballs didn't touch. Sweat started to trickle down my back. I wasn't sure for how long I could keep the fireballs up and stay in control of my disease. My energy was draining very fast. Faster than I expected. Ethan kept smiling at me, which was a clear sign he could do this forever.
    "Excellent!" Adam cried. "Now turn those fireballs into any shape you want."
    I pulled my fire together, avoiding Ethan's. What could I turn my fire into without too much effort? Closing my eyes, I pictured a huge number one in my mind, rearranging my fire to fit the shape. When I opened my eyes again, I nearly whooped in delight because the shape my fire had made in the air closely resembled the fiery number one. My happiness was short-lived because Ethan had made a perfect heart.
    "Amazing!" Adam laughed. "You're his heart and he's your number one!"
    Ethan's dark eyes sparkled with emotion I couldn't identify.
    "Now bring your fire together and extinguish it!" Adam took a couple of steps back to make space for us. I tried to mask the look of utter horror that must have crossed my face. There was no way I could let my fire make contact with Ethan's. Even if I had fire, I still craved it. Unaware of the danger, Ethan closed the space between us, his fire following closely above his dark head. Coldness seeped into my fingers and started spreading all over my body. I needed fire to warm myself up or I'd die.
    The world faded around me and I wanted Ethan’s fire so much that I tried to reach for it, but I hit something solid. Someone clasped his hands around mine, trapping them between me and the fire. A groan escaped my lips because I couldn't force my way to the warmth. Maybe if I opened my mouth, the element would seep into me. I wanted that fire so badly that I was shaking all over. Something soft pressed itself against my lips, but the fire remained out of my reach. Why couldn't I free myself? I was so close to the element...
    The roar and applause of the audience snapped me back to the reality. I found myself only a couple of inches from Ethan, his knuckles white as he tried to keep me in place, his hands covering mine. Our fires were gone, his element locked deep inside of him.
    "Now that is true love!" Adam said, facing the audience. What the hell had I done? I stared at Ethan's dark eyes. A small smile hovered on his lips, but suspicion and wariness filled the dark brown depths. Adam seemed oblivious to what had happened to me, but I wasn't even sure myself what I'd done. I could only hope the audience hadn't noticed anything strange.
    "Thank you for your demonstration, Ria, Ethan." Adam extended his hand in our direction, an unwavering smile on his face. "Did you like that? If you want more, stay with us after the