Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) by L.M. Fry Read Free Book Online

motion, he stepped forward and held out a hand twice the size of hers. “Eli Jones, at your service.”
    “Good for you. Now get out!”
    She looked down at his hand, raised an eyebrow and turned away from him. She became very aware that she was wearing nothing but a towel. Keeping hold of the suddenly too-tiny cloth in one hand, she scrambled for the white robe with the other. He let her grab it, but didn’t leave.
    “Do you mind?” She yelled.
    “Not at all,” he quipped, still not leaving. “I won’t look.”
    He turned around and faced the wall. She slid the robe over her head, then shimmied into the nearby undergarments, all while hiding in the tent-like muumuu. He turned back around and chuckled. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how annoyed and vulnerable she felt. The door was unlocked if she needed to make a quick getaway. She sat on a chair and assessed his physique, trying to ignore the soft brown eyes boring into her forehead.
    “Not much of a talker, are you?” His voice sent a spark through her nerves.
    He sat on the edge of the bed with his ever-present smirk. A loose strand of dark hair slipped from the leather thong tied at the base of his neck. Hanging close to his eye, that one strand of hair made her own eye twitch. She wanted him to do something about it, but loathed the idea of revealing anything about herself. Casually brushing her damp hair behind her ears, she pretended he wasn’t there. He leaned back against the headboard, stretching his long legs in front of him and crossing his black boots on a crisp duvet.
    “Ugh.”
    She eyed his dirty boots and rolled her eyes. He ignored her disgust and stretched his broad shoulders. The movement tugged at the unclasped collar of his shirt, giving a hint of the firm muscle underneath. She tried not to gawk, but his presence was intrusive and impossible to ignore. Questions flew through her mind. Why wasn’t he wearing a white robe like everyone else? Why was he here? What were his intentions? Why did he make her feel so self-conscious?
    She settled for something simple. “Why are you still here?”
    “Parmelia, the leader of the Elders, sent me.” He seemed pretty smitten with himself. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on you. You know, make sure you stay out of trouble.” He closed his eyes and murmured, “Although you hardly seem worth the trouble.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “This seems like a waste of my talents. I mean, come on, look at you. You’re what? Fourteen? You’re just a kid.”
    Her jaw dropped. “Fourteen? Not even close.”
    His eyes opened and he looked her over. “Oh, sorry. Twelve?”
    “Ah… What? Uh… No. I’m almost seventeen, thank you very much.” She looked him over and determined he wasn’t much older than she was. “And who are you to call me a kid? How old are you? From the looks of you, I’d say no older than twenty.”
    “Nineteen – next month.”
    She didn’t know whether to be insulted that her grandmother sent a boy to look after her, or happy. He’d certainly be easy enough to slip if she needed to. Although, she had no idea why Parmelia had sent someone so… conceited.
    There’s some guy in my room named Eli Jones, claiming that Parmelia sent him. Julia reached out to Theo and Valera.
    What? Oh, no! Ow! Valera shrieked.
    Are you all right, Valera? Valera…
    No… no I’m okay. I just got soap in my eye.
    Good grief, you sounded like someone was stabbing you to death, Julia snapped .
    Theo chuckled. Parmelia probably thought we could use a little help. Is this Eli person trustworthy?
    I don’t know. He’s a sarcastic pretty boy, but harmless enough… I think. Get this. He’s only nineteen. And he’s one of the most arrogant, annoying, rude people I’ve ever met.
    Valera chimed in , Sounds like a perfect fit then.
    Laugh it up, Valera.
    Eli cleared his throat. “You’re weird. Do you always stare blankly at people or is it just me?”
    His laugh disrupted the