Merry Christmas to everyone who's celebrating today. Here's another installment of the book for you.

Astra plucked the book from my hand and fanned through its pages. "It's dry..." She gasped. "Every word is as if it had never seen a drop of water."

"I had nothing to do with that." My necklace flashed betraying my emotions and made me wish I had a hoodie on to hide it.

You kind of did. Kellan said teasing me.

I inhaled a deep breath in and let it out. I told you I didn't want your help.

Astra placed the dry volume on her chair away from the drenched mess on her desk, grabbed another sopping book and shoved it in my hand.

At least someone appreciates my talent. Kellan wiggled his fingers.

A moment later, I felt the water drag from the book, absorbing through my touch. The drier the book became, the bigger the watery sphere in my other hand grew.

Astra darted around her desk, grabbed the pail Sage had been using to mop the floor and dropped it at my feet. "Here."

Not a moment too soon. Kellan had almost pulled all the water from the volume, but the ball of liquid was too heavy for me to hold any longer. It rolled from my fingers and plummeted into the bucket splashing the bottom of my dress.

Jaxon lifted the book from my fingers and handed it back to Astra. "Your book."

I can't tell, Jaxon, are you just annoyed or jealous you couldn't do that. Kellan said inside my thoughts knowing Jax listened in.

Jealous of you? Jaxon shook his head. You're locked up, awaiting trial for something we both know you did. Where you are, I don't have much to worry about, do I.

Astra held out another book, and I reached to take it, but Jax pushed my arm back toward my chest.

"Give us a moment, will you Astra?" he asked.

Astra clutched his arm. "These books are irreplaceable. I beg—"

"And break thousands of years of cultural tradition?"

Astra lifted her grasp on his arm and smoothed out her skirt. "I know Wren is your betrothed but—"

"And the next future leader of the Fire Circle. How understanding do you think the court will be if they find out her aptitude for manipulating water?"

Astra's shoulders slumped. "They don't have to know. It's not like I'd tell them."

"No offense Astra, but it's not you I'm worried about." Jax tugged on my arm leading me a few feet away. "How long has Kellan been in your head?"

"Jax, I told him I didn't want to..."

"How long?" he repeated.

I scrunched my dress in my hands. "Since Elena arrived."

Then I don't need to remind either of you what's a stake for you both if I don't help.

Kellan stretched and dropped back on his cot chuckling. And I thought you didn't care.

There's nothing I'd like more than to see you hang, asshole. Jaxon opened and closed his hand igniting and extinguishing a tiny flame each time. He pounded his fist on top of a bookshelf and squashed the flickering flame into streams of smoke drifting through his fingers. But marrying Wren will more than make up for forfeiting that chance.

Just one problem. Wren's in love with me.

I rubbed the sides of my temples. Kellan, knock it off.

Jax gritted his teeth and tightened his fist until his fingers blanched white. Funny, I'm certain the partnering announcements had mine and Wren's names on them.

The key word there is had, Kellan countered. There is plenty of time for things to change in three days.

Jaxon rolled his eyes. Big words for a guy who's locked up, and needs my help to escape the noose. You'd be lucky if Jessica would take you back.

No thanks, I'd take death before taking her as a partner.

Jax ran a finger along the spine of a series of books, then turned his hand over, and a roar of flames tore across the room lighting the stack of wood in the fireplace. At the rate you're going, you just might get your wish.

I winced and took a step backward. "But that'd mean I wouldn't be..."

"Wren, I never meant I wanted you gone." Jax weaved his hand through his hair. "Only that I'm tired of him meddling in our relationship. Come here."

Still delusional I see. Just because Wren's there with you, doesn't mean she's chosen you.

Jaxon took a step closer and wrapped an arm around my waist. I gasped when he tugged me into his chest, holding me tight against his muscular frame.

Kellan jolted off the cot. Let her go.

Jaxon's eyes flared gold, just before he pressed his lips against mine. I can hear the roar of your flames call me every time I'm near you. They heat your soul and connect our thoughts. They'll also be what bind us together in three days time.

The flames ripped through me answering his call. I felt faint with my skin hot and feverish. The words, fight him, swirled in my thoughts over and over.

I shoved him off me. "Jaxon!" Enough, both of you.

Kellan didn't respond.

It's just you and me, sweetness. Kellan couldn't take the heat.

Kellan? I tested our link, still no response.

"Did you have to do that?" Isn't enough he's locked up for being in love with me? You hold our ring contract—I've agreed to marry you. What else do you want from me?

"What else do I want? The only thing I wanted from the first moment I met you, and he has it." his voice cracked. "You're here with me, but your heart isn't. So right now it's a standoff among the three of us, with no one getting what they really want."

"Well, there's no point in making a fourth person miserable." I gestured to Astra. "She loves these books."

Several strands of hair had come loose from her bun, and she struggled to press the water from a thick book with little success.

"Jax, it was my error in judgment that drenched library. I need to fix this for Astra and the guild."

He glanced around the room as if he were looking to see who else was present. "If you can do it without Kellan's assistance, then fine. But if he so much as lifts a pinkie to help, we're leaving."

"Astra?"

She stopped squishing the book cover closed. "I knew it, Jaxon's not going to let you."

"He isn't going to let Kellan help. But I might be able to do it on my own if you're willing to let me try."

She hesitated for a moment, then slid the book she'd been pressing off her desk and passed it to me. "This is my most precious books in here."

I pulled the long necklace from my neck and wrapped the chain around my hand, so the rugged Dekarta stone laid in my palm. I needed all the help I could get if I were going to be able to do this.

Astra's mouth dropped open, and she stared at the stone. "Is that a—?

"Long story, but yeah."

No pressure, give the beginner the most valuable book in the library. The weight of her trust weighed heavy in my hands.

Water dripped down my arm just from holding the soggy book. Astra perched on the edge of the desk looking on, wringing her fingers. I peeked over my shoulder at Jax. He had an elbow propped up on the bookshelf, waving me on to continue.

You're sure? I asked one last time.

It's only the three of us, so there's no reason to say no—unless Kellan decides to show up.

I nodded, closed my eyes, and tried not to think about the added pressure of them looking on. I let my senses drift to the book, the pages, and each inky word. I pushed my aura further until I could taste of paper and carbon words flavoring my mouth. The more I focused, each molecule of water became more visible, drawing closer to me like a magnet. I coaxed every drop of water out of hiding until my body couldn't hold any more liquid.

Astra's heels clicked against the wooden floor, getting fainter as she approached what sounded like the far side of the room. A window squeaked open.

"Over here," Astra said in a soft tone.

I flipped my hands over like I'd seen Elena do earlier, then shoved a palm toward the window. Once the water floated over the grounds outside, I release my hold on it and let it rain down over the shrubs below. When the frame clicked shut, I opened my eyes.

I thumbed through the pages. They were bone-dry and undamaged—a rush of excitement filled me.

"Here you go." I held out the book and gave her a shy smile.

"Dear child." With tears welling up in Astra's eyes, she grabbed the book and tossed her arms around me, pinning my hands to my side. "Thank-you."

She kissed my cheek and squeezed me another time before releasing me.

"That must be some important book." I brushed the cover with my fingers.

"You're kidding." Jaxon took two steps closer and grabbed another book from the stack on Astra's desk and shook it in front of my face. "You didn't just air out that book—you dried them all—every last one of them."

He tossed the book onto her desk.

I jerked my head to glance around the room, and there wasn't a single drop of water in sight.

THANKS for reading! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. If you're in a giving mood, leave a vote of support! Another chapter is slated for next Sunday.