by Quinn Loftis
Nasima cursed as she realized what it must mean. “Dolion has gotten to Dhara. How could he completely lock down an entire realm?”
“He’s gotten very powerful,” Aviur said.
Nasima looked around and realized they were in front of the mountain that housed Terra Academy. “Good job bringing us here, Aviur.”
He bowed his head and then started for the place where the doors were on the mountain but hidden behind the rocks. Nasima lifted her hand and whispered in her language. The doors appeared, and Aviur pulled one open for the two queens.
They walked inside, and she trusted that the fire king would make sure to put the glamour back. It didn’t go unnoticed by Nasima that the gnome who was usually manning the door wasn’t at his post.
“Do you feel that?” Kairi asked.
Nasima nodded. “It’s something powerful and pure,” she said as the magic brushed over her skin. She headed for Terrick’s office, which happened to be the direction of the magic pulsing in the air.
They didn’t knock when they reached the closed door. Nasima pushed it open with her power and strode in. “We have a serious problem,” she said as she took in the wide-eyed stares at the three royals. All accept Terrick and Iterra, at least.
“Pretty sure that you mean problems, plural,” Liam said.
Nasima’s head snapped over to the water elementalist student. He held up his hands and lowered his eyes. “My apologies, your majesty. I meant no disrespect.”
She turned her attention to Terrick and Iterra. “We have much to discuss.”
Tara sat next to Elias on the large couch in Terrick’s office. She didn’t want to sit. She wanted to pace, but Elias held her hand tightly, and she had the distinct feeling that if she attempted to get up, he would put her in his lap to keep her still.
“If you will please close the door,” Terrick said to the air queen. “We were just about to be filled in on some information by…”
“Miles. Josie,” Kairi said as she hurried across the room to the couple. The couple went to one knee before the queen.
“Our queen,” Miles said as he bowed his head.
Kairi placed a hand on each of their heads and looked down at the pair with such love that it made Tara’s throat tight.
“I had forgotten,” Kairi said softly. “One of my soul-bonded pairs, and I had forgotten. You are the magic we felt pulsing when we entered the mountain. I forgot. I’m so sorry I forgot.”
“It is not your fault,” Nasima said in a tone Tara wouldn’t have dared argue with.
“Be that as it may,” Kairi said, “they are still mine to care for. Please, rise,” she told the couple.
Miles took Josie’s hand and helped her stand as he rose. Tara noticed the couple kept in constant physical contact.
“We are well,” Josie said and smiled at Kairi. “A little bruised up, but not defeated.” Her eyes held sadness that made it clear she’d seen some bad things.
“We received a call from Headmaster Marcus that we needed to report in, but he told us to come to Terra Academy. We’d been expecting it considering we…” Miles paused as emotion filled his voice. He clenched his jaw, and Tara saw tears he seemed to be trying desperately to keep from falling.
“Miles,” Josie whispered. “We’re still together.”
“We didn’t remember, Josie. How could we not remember?” he asked her. The pain in his voice was so anguished. Tara clenched Elias’s hand, realizing what Miles was saying.
“You forgot you were soul bonded?” Tara asked before her brain could tell her mouth to stay shut.
Miles didn’t look at her, but Josie’s kind eyes met hers. She nodded. “We only just remembered a week or so ago,” she said. “We also remembered the others we knew.”
“Knew? Past tense?” Aviur asked.
This time it was Josie’s eyes that filled up, but she let the tears fall. “So many have been killed over the years. But we didn’t realize they were soul bonded.”
Terrick sighed as his head dropped, and he sat back on his desk. Iterra placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered something to him. He shook his head but then looked around the room. “I think you need to tell us everything you know,” he said to Miles and Josie. “And then we need to find out what your majesties know.”
The three royals nodded as they spread out around the room, none of them taking seats.
“Shelly and I have something we need to share as well,” Ra spoke up quietly. He never spoke very loudly, Tara noticed. And because of it, when he did speak, people appeared to pay very close attention.
It was the first time Avuir noticed the fire elementalist student.
“You made it back all right?” the fire king asked Ra.
Ra stood and bowed his head to Aviur. “I did. I was able to bring Shelly Smith back with me.” When he looked down at Tara’s BFFF, where she still sat on the loveseat they had been sharing, the adoration in his eyes couldn’t be missed.
What the hell had happened in hell?
“You have always been remarkable, Ra. I am glad you returned. I would have come after you had you not,” Aviur said.
“I am honored, my king,” Ra said and then sat back down next to Shelly. He took her hand in his and held it in his lap as if he couldn’t help but touch her.
She caught Shelly’s eye and raised her brow at her friend. Shelly just grinned. Butthead.
Tara turned her attention back to Miles and Josie, who’d sat back down and begun to speak.
“We made a list of all of the soul-bonded couples we’ve lost over the past century.”
“Wait, what?” Shelly asked with wide eyes. “How old are you? You look like you’re in your late twenties.” She sounded very irritated at not knowing what was going on. Yes, her friend was nosy and liked to be in the know.
“I believe I have much to explain, still, Mery,” Ra said.
To Tara’s surprise, Shelly just smiled and nodded. She didn’t argue or demand he tell her now. Okay, who was the chick sitting next to Pharoah boy, and where the hell had her BFFF gone?
“Here, Terrick,” Josie said as Tara turned and saw her hand the headmaster a piece of paper. “You will want to share that with the other heads of the academies and the royals. They deserve to be given the last rights of the soul bonded.”
“Oh geez,” Tara muttered. “We don’t even get laid to rest like the rest of the elementalist population?”
“Hush,” Elias whispered in her ear, though his voice was filled with heat and not annoyance.
Damn soul-bonded hormones, she mentally grumbled.
Josie turned to Tara and Elias. “You are newly bonded and it’s not complete,” she said.
It wasn’t a question and that made Tara squirm. How could Josie tell she and Elias had not completed the bond?
“Once all the information has been shared, we need to speak with you both in private. You must understand how imperative it is that you complete the bond as soon as possible,” Josie continued.
“Elias, I know you’re not exactly clear on the whole thing, so I’ll just say it on your level,” said Liam. “She’s saying you and your hot soul mate need to get horizontal and get your…”
“Liam,” Ra’s deep voice filled the room. Yet, he hadn’t spoken loudly.
“Damn. You’re going to totally cramp my ability to make Tara blush and piss Elias off. Can’t you go back to hell?” Liam whined.
Tara couldn’t help but snort. Stupid, water boy. Then she laughed louder because she just realized she’d called him water boy, and it would totally annoy him when she said it out loud. Which she would. Soon. When the world wasn’t falling apart. Or maybe sooner.
“You said you knew something about the temperature dropping?” Elias asked, taking the attention off Liam and the stern look Ra was giving him.
Miles nodded. “It’s not just here. It’s all over. We talked to several of our warriors around the globe. It’s everywhere.”
“What would cause that?�
� Aston asked.
“We can answer that,” Nasima said.
Everyone’s head turned to the air queen. “Something has happened to Dhara. With both earth elemental royals out of commission, there is no one to regulate the earth's temperature.”
“But you guys are elementals,” Tara said. “Don’t you all control some form of the weather?”
All three shook their heads, but Aviur answered. “We can control our respective elements, but the earth’s temperature is controlled by its core and the sun. The sun is drawn by Dhara and Beaumont, her mate. For lack of a better explanation, they are the sun's gravity. They pull the rays and maintain the temperature of the earth’s core. If the temperature is dropping, then they are either dead or gone from any realm connected to the human realm through light and goodness.”
“Okay, that made as much sense as a rabbit speaking french,” Shelly said. “Gonna have to dumb it down for the peanut gallery.”
Aviur’s lips turned up slightly. “She is your choice?” the fire king asked as he looked at Ra.
“She is.”
“I like her,” Aviur said.
“I adore her,” Ra replied softly.
Tara’s eyes had to be bugging out of her head because she didn’t think Ra was the type to show any form of emotion. Yet he’d just admitted to an entire room of supernatural beings that he adored the girl sitting next to him, who, Tara might add, was grinning like a Disney princess who’d just discovered the animals could understand her and loved to sing with her.
“You are going to tell me about the bond I see,” Aviur said sternly.
“Bonded and married?” Tara asked.
“Bloody hell,” Elias growled.
“Oh, come on!” Liam hollered as he threw his hands up in the air.
Aston was the only one who didn’t seem shocked. He sounded curious. “How can that be?”
There were four sets of voices as Tara, Elias, Liam, and Aston all spoke at the same time.
Ra didn’t seem to even notice the outbursts as he glanced at the clock on the wall above the doors to the office. “I will, but time is of the essence.”
“It is not complete,” Nasima was the one to speak. “I hadn’t even noticed until the fire king said something.”
“This is Osiris’s doing?” Aviur asked. His voice dropped to a deadly tone.
“It was our choice,” Ra said firmly. “But he is the one who created the bond.”
“We will discuss it as soon as we are done.” Aviur returned his focus to Shelly. “I will attempt to make things clearer. But we cannot draw this out. I believe that you and Ra are not the only ones who need to solidify your bonds. Elias and Tara’s power, along with Miles and Josie’s, will be needed.”
Shelly saluted him and said, “The few, the proud, the bonded.”
“Oh, she’s awesome,” Liam said grinning. “You two did well.” His smile fell as his eyes grew distant.
Tara didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know he was thinking about Gabby. She’d continually seen that glassy-eyed stare in his eyes since he’d met her.
“To continue,” Aviur said, “what part didn’t you understand?”
“The part where you said they aren’t in any realm connected to earth by light,” Shelly answered.
“There is only one realm that is not connected by light,” Aviur said. “The underworld.”
Shelly gave a thumbs-up. “Totally get that. No warm fuzzies in that place. So, the other realms?” she prompted.
“Each elemental has a realm. They are connected to the human realm by our light.”
“Okay, so this Dhara chick and Beaumont dude are in hell or dead?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“But if they were dead, we would have felt it,” Nasima added. “All of nature would have felt it.”
“So they’re in the underworld?” Shelly asked as her voice rose a bit. “Gah, I do not envy them. That place is not cool. Not cool at all.”
“It’s hell,” Liam added, his eyes no longer glossy. “Okay, Ra, she’s hot, but maybe not too bright.”
Shelly’s eyes sharpened as she glared at Liam. “I don’t know you, but that does not mean I won’t hire someone to take you out.”
“She’s as bloodthirsty as you, Buffalo,” Liam chuckled.
“Or you just drive a person to commit murder,” Shelly offered.
“That one.” Tara pointed at her BFFF. “It’s definitely that one.”
“I apologize,” Ra said as he stood. His movements were so controlled and smooth for someone so large. He pulled Shelly up beside him. “Can we please summarize the highlights so Shelly and I can speak with King Aviur? Then Shelly needs to rest. She has been through much.”
“Of course,” Terrick said. “You both must be exhausted.”
“The earth's temperature is dropping,” Nasima said. “I think the best thing we can do is target the major cities with fire elementals.”
Aviur nodded. “The major power plants, towers for satellites, and water. We can keep these things from freezing, and, hopefully, keep the world from losing everything in a matter of weeks. It will buy us some time.”
“King Aviur,” Miles said. “If I might, I recommend you utilize your soul-bonded warrior. There are still some among your ranks of elementalists.”
Aviur nodded. “That is wise. We will have to get used to utilizing the soul-bonded power again. It’s been so long.”
“The heads of Crimson Academy have already called in your warriors,” Terrick said.
Aviur nodded. “When I’m finished with Ra and Shelly, I will go to the academy and speak with them.”
“We will address our respective academies,” Nasima said as she looked at Kairi.
The water queen nodded then said to Miles and Josie. “Will you please return to Hydro Academy when you are finished speaking with Elias and Tara? Your insight will be valuable as we explain things to Marcus, Serena, and the hydro warriors.”
“Of course,” Josie said.
“Let’s meet in twenty-four hours,” Terrick said. “All of the heads and those professors working with the students who are training together need to be in attendance as well.”
Everyone nodded, and then the two queens opened portals and walked through them.
Ra began to lead Shelly out of the office, but Tara placed a hand on her best friend's arm. “Shelly—” she started, but her friend interrupted her.
Shelly patted her hand. “You know I love you.”
Tara nodded.
“Can you trust me when I say that I will tell you everything, but I can’t right now?”
Tara had no doubt that Shelly would tell her everything. And if she couldn’t do immediately, she had a very good reason. “You’re okay, right?”
“I’m better than okay,” Shelly said as she glanced up at Ra, who stared at her intensly.
“All right, as long as you’re okay, I can wait my turn.” Tara looked at Ra. “I am forever grateful to you for bringing me back my best friend. I don’t know what the hell is going on between you two, but if you hurt her, I’ll drag you back to hell myself.”
“Understood,” Ra said without taking his eyes off of Shelly.
Tara watched as they followed Aviur from the room. It wasn’t easy for her because she’d just gotten Shelly back.
“Elias. Tara,” Josie’s soft voice said. “Terrick and Iterra have given us their office to speak with you two.”
Tara glanced up at Elias, who was grinning down at her. “I want to kick you right now.”
He kissed her nose and pulled her back to the couch. “You’re beautiful all the time, but especially when you blush.”
“Piss off, you tosser,” Tara muttered as she sat down and smiled at Josie and Miles. Elias was still laughing when she said, “On a scale of one to ten, how embarrassing is this going to get?”
18
Shelly tried very hard to force her hands not to sweat. Holding a sweaty hand couldn’t be sexy, rig
ht? She and Ra watched as Aviur opened a portal.
“Can you lead us to your dorm room at Crimson Academy?” the fire king asked. “That will be private, I believe.”
“Yes,” Ra said.
He held Shelly’s hand snuggly as he led her through the portal. A second later, they stood in a room that looked similar to a college dorm, only much larger. It was more like a suite. She wasn’t surprised to find that it neat, orderly, and very clean. Ra didn’t seem like the type of person who would be messy. There were two chairs in a corner with a small table between them. Ra led her to one and motioned for her to sit. He took the other while Aviur rolled over a desk chair.
“Fill me in on the essentials, please,” Avuir said.
Shelly was very glad that Ra was a control freak at that moment because all she had to do was sit there and attempt to calm the anxiety she felt over what was going to be happening very, very soon.
After about fifteen minutes of Ra breaking down what had happened in the underworld in a concise, but informative way, Aviur stared at them in silence for several minutes.
The fire king finally spoke. “Shelly, you are incredibly brave and selfless. To offer your soul for someone is the same as offering your life.”
Shelly glanced at Ra and then looked back at Aviur. “He went through hell to save me. If that doesn’t speak to the kind of character he has, then I don’t know what would.” She wanted to reach up and rub his shoulder or run her fingers through his hair. Ra was so tense. Though his face looked calm, she knew he wasn’t. Every now and then she would feel frustration that wasn’t her own, and she knew it had to be his soul inside of her. She hoped to ease his frustration.
“Ra is a man worthy of your affection and respect. It seems you both are well paired.” He looked at Ra. “I cannot undo this or change the way Osiris bonded you two. It’s not the same as our soul bonded.”
“We are aware,” Ra said.
“But, our soul bonded must be joined in every way for their bond to be complete, so in that way, you are alike.”
“Shelly’s body will reject my soul if we do not consummate the bonding,” Ra told him.
