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

connection between the girls. Julia hadn’t realized she was staring straight at him as she spoke with Theo and Valera. Her cheeks burned. She hid her embarrassment behind her hands.
    “You’re so… annoying… and I’m not weird,” she hissed.
    “Touchy, aren’t we.”
    “Shut up.”
    “So what did you do anyway? I mean it must’ve been bad because the Elders split and the city is in complete pandemonium,” he quipped.
    “Shut up.”
    He sighed, “We might as well get to know each other since we’re stuck together.”
    She glared at him. “Shut up.”
    “Okay, fine. I’m going to check out the place. If you need anything—
    “I won’t.”
    Eli left the room, and Julia slammed the door behind him. He was undoubtedly the most insufferable person she’d ever met; and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

 

    Chapter Five
    Valera
     
    Julia? Are you still there? Valera asked.
    When Julia didn’t respond, Valera decided to sneak over to her room. In the hall she ran into an over-sized mass of muscles. He smiled down at her and bowed. His manners didn’t seem so horrible to Valera.
    “Well hello, I’m—
    “Eli Jones, I know.” Valera tapped her bottom lip with her finger. “Hmm, I don’t see why she was complaining. You seem nice enough to me. You’ll have to excuse Julia’s behavior. She can be a little prickly. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
    Valera waved to the confused looking man and skipped over to Julia’s door. He wandered down the hall shaking his head. Poking her head into Julia’s room, Valera inched her way in.
    “What do you want?” Julia hissed.
    “I’m just checking on you. I saw Eli in the hall. He’s kind of cute,” she chirped.
    Julia glared at her. “Traitor.”
    “Who’s a traitor?” Theo walked in and plopped onto Julia’s bed.
    “I am, because I think Eli is cute.”
    “Oh, is he?” Theo asked Julia.
    Julia huffed and ignored both of them. Valera sat next to Theo and winked. Julia paced the room. Her face hardened, then softened several times over, and Valera deduced that Eli had something to do with it. Although, she was surprised that someone could affect Julia in such a way. Theo elbowed Valera in the ribs, and they both giggled.
    “Will you two stop acting like children. This isn’t a sweet sixteen slumber party you know. We’re in a serious situation,” Julia ranted.
    Valera’s cheeks hurt from forcing the smile off her face. Julia was right. They were in a precarious predicament, albeit an amusing one. She clasped her hands around her knees. Julia stopped pacing.
    “So… I found out that the Elders have the artifacts from my father’s vault,” she spouted.
    Valera figured it was a tactic to change the conversation. She would go along with it – for now. It was nice to see Julia so befuddled for once.
    “That means they have Danu’s relics. I’d love to get my hands on Aeda’s Sextant.”
    Julia seemed to ease up. Valera grinned.
    “Dr. Lawless said he’d let us take a look at them after he assessed our abilities.”
    “I’m guessing it’s my turn tomorrow,” Valera mused.
    “Put on a good show.” Julia rubbed the back of her neck and muttered, “I… uh, struggled today.”
    Valera stood up and stretched. “I feel like I haven’t slept in weeks,” she yawned. “If I’m going to make an impression on the doc then I need rest. Night, Theo… and sweet dreams, Julia.” Valera waggled her brows. Of Eli, she said in their telepathic link.
    Julia threw a chair pillow at her, hitting Theo instead. Theo screeched and threw it back at Julia before slipping out of the room. Valera could hear Julia ranting behind the closed door. Served her right for all the times, she teased Valera. Crawling under her covers, she luxuriated in the soft, warm bed. Within minutes, she drifted to sleep.
    *
    Daughter… help me…
    Valera sat up and peered into the pitch black of night. The hour hand of the alarm clock inched past three.