Fire Flyer: Book 1 Elemental Bonds Series, a YA paranormal romance.

by Cait Vaughn

  I heard an evil laugh definitely female and I brushed the hair from my eyes while turning over and trying to identify my attacker and keep backing away at the same time. “Poor, weak, human, Trinity, where’s your guard dog now?” She laughed again finding herself hilarious. She was standing a few meters off in shadow with a hoodie over her head so I could not see her face. “Who are you? What do you want?”

  Suddenly I felt a force coming at me and then a burning sensation on my left arm I looked down and saw I had a 7 inch slice like a blade would make on my arm. It burned and when I saw the blood, adrenaline loaded my system so forcefully I could see the blood gush out faster, from my accelerated heart rate. I just knew I had to get away. I rolled over trying to get to my feet again and felt another slash on my ankle. This one made me scream. The first slice was just a tease this one went deeper.

  “Trinity!” I startled awake sitting bolt upright from someone screaming my name.

  Chapter 32

  My system was so loaded with adrenaline I noticed instantly when Ri’s calming voodoo coursed through my body. I had never been more grateful for it. That was the worst nightmare I ever had. Quickly, I took stock of myself, noteing my arm and ankle were ok, so crazy because I could still feel my hot blood seeping from my skin.

  Ri growled and I looked at his face to see his eyes burning yellow. He was sitting on my bed holding my left hand in his right hand rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. I knew he was livid, having experienced that with me.

  Regardless, I was still so annoyed with him. I shook my hand for him to release it and swung my legs over and paced away from him.

  “You can't have it both ways, Ri. You can't push me away and yet hover over every little thing. I can feel how connected I am to you and if you don't want to be with me then that’s your choice but, you have to give me space. Especially, why would you come here now? It was just a nightmare.”

  I was glaring at him and he was frowning at me and he moved off the bed and walked in front of me.

  “First it may not have just been a nightmare. Your grandmother is a powerful seer, you could be too. Second, protecting you is what I do, it’s in my blood. I could never leave you alone if you were in danger or hurting.” He reached out and put his hands on my upper arms bringing our bodies close together. “Third, I want to be with you more than I want to breathe. I am sorry for earlier, I'm just worried, about so many things.”

  His voice was dropping low, and giving me butterflies and that with the calming voodoo was way too much for me. I jerked my arms shaking him off and tried to push away from him with my hands. It was like trying to push a brick wall so I just turned away from him.

  “I don't know what you want from me, Ri. I can't do this with you. Either you’re mine or you’re not. I'm an all or nothing kind of girl. We get close and you push me away and don't think I can't see how you have been doing that in my dreams long before we met.”

  “It’s very complicated, Trinity. I know that you are my bond mate, which means I will always be yours. There’s so much about the bond you don't understand. Even if you did, we don't know each other that well. We didn't grow up together like we’re supposed to. Mostly, I just need to focus on your safety. If I got distracted because say, we were kissing, and anything happened I could not live with that.”

  A little of my anger evaporated simply because he was here and being honest and not shutting me out. I went to stand in front of him again.

  He continued, “I don't know what I was thinking, rejecting you like that. I think, I thought, it would be easier if I put some breathing distance between us. I assumed you weren't as affected by the bond, yet, but I can see I was wrong. Hurting you is the last thing I ever want to do. I'm just going a little crazy here, forgive me?”

  “OK this is good. Let's just talk this out. You’re right we don't know each other that well. That's mostly the point of romance right? We take it slow and get to know each other. I know protecting me is important to you and I can help you with that. I can pay attention, make sure we don't get too distracted. As for the bond thing I don't see the big deal. I mean yeah, it’s like marriage, so, one day, far away, when we’re ready, we can figure that out. Yes, I forgive you, if you promise not to push me away again.”

  I looked at him expectantly and held my hand out for him to take it. He blew out a frustrated breath and ran his hand through his hair. Then he walked to sit on the edge of the bed and patted it for me to sit next to him.

  “OK, I know you’re right and I know I was an ass. I won't push you away again. I need to tell you some things. We need to talk about the bond.”

  He linked his hands and bounced his legs anxiously and he wasn't looking at me as I sat by him.

  He continued. “OK this is really difficult. Linking, basically, it’s like sex.”

  I whipped my head to him and said “Whoa, what!?” He held up his hand to cut me off.

  “Yeah OK, let me try to explain this. When a couple links, no wait. OK when a couple really likes each other you know they join their bodies in sex to experience, um, that together. OK but linking is similar but just, more. When a couple links they join their minds together and it’s a million times more intense and pleasurable than sex. I mean, not that I know either from experience. I’ve never done that, I mean…”

  I giggled I couldn't help it. Seeing Ri so awkward and embarrassed was the greatest ever. He glanced at me and he was blushing so bad and he looked back at his lap and rubbed his hands on his pants like they were sweating.

  He continued. “The problem with our situation is, somehow, I’m walking around in your head all the time. There’s nothing like it. It, you, feel so good.” His voice got deeper and I blushed and sat on my hands.

  “That didn't come out right. I mean, I can't help it. Ugh, gimme a minute.”

  He stood and paced to the other side of the room raking his hands through his hair over and over. I couldn't look at him. This was even more intense than our kiss.

  “Yes,” He answered my thought. “That's what it is. It’s so intense. It’s non stop. It’s pure intimacy being connected to someone like that and it makes me feel so wrong. It started after our first dream walk. There is a way to kind of turn away from you in my mind but I didn't know how and almost saw you naked when you were in front of your bathroom mirror. Thankfully, I figured it out but see. I feel like I'm taking advantage of you. I'm seriously terrified I will snap and lose control too, because I've been on this knife's edge of pleasure the whole time and it's all one sided you have no clue.”

  I was starting to understand how serious it was and why he was so serious all the time. Like Serenity said, there was this pull and we couldn't deny it.

  I got up and walked to stand in front of him he was facing away from me, in shame. I got in front of his face and crowded him, wrapping my hands around his neck. I closed my eyes while the calming and butterflies rushed through me. I was getting used to it but it was always intense especially when we were being like this together.

  “Ri,” my voice was gravelly and weak. I swallowed hard. It was like the calming voodoo heightened my want to be close to him and swept me away on waves of passion. Ri growled low and deep. He said. “Yes, see when you feel good and I feel that through you plus my own feelings, it’s so intense.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Shhh, I hate when you respond to what I’m thinking. I know it's hard for you. I’m working on it, let me concentrate.” He made a tortured noise and pressed our foreheads together.

  I took stock of my feelings. My heart was racing. My skin was warming. The butterflies were fluttering through my whole body. Underneath all of that there was a river of peace. The calming felt like comfort and joy. It was not easy but I pushed down my desire and focused on the calm. I imagined it in my mind, seeing myself wrapped in it like a blanket.

  My goal was to bring the calm feeling forward and push the desire backwards to see if that helped ease his burden of carrying all my intense emotions
around all of the time. “Wow.” Ri said and I could hear his smile. “That's awesome, is that really what it feels like?” We were talking barely above a whisper.

  “Yes it feels like happiness, but deeper, more like contentment. It feels like snuggling in your favorite blanket sipping hot cocoa and reading your favorite book, all at once.” I said.

  “I usually don't notice because your other feelings are overwhelming you, and me.” He said.

  I blushed. “It’s intense for me too. I’ve never even kissed a boy before today. I’m not used to these sensations.” To that point I had been holding tight to the peace blanket and then Ri startled. He pulled back just a little to look at me and I met his eyes. They were burning again and he was so achingly beautiful. He slid his hands up my arms to cup my face and rub my cheeks with his thumbs.

  “I had no idea I was your first kiss, if I had…” he trailed off. Ri closed his eyes and closed the inch of space between us and pressed his lips to mine. Just like that my focus snapped and I was awash in hormones. He just held his lips firm on mine for a long beat. When he pulled back a little the tickling sensation of our lips sliding made me groan. Then he growled. I was going to pull back I didn't want to cause him pain but he held my head. “It’s not pain, Trinity, not now that we’re burning together.” He pulled my head back to him and nibbled my bottom lip with his lips and teeth. I gasped and he swept in taking all of me. Our tongues were dancing. It felt so intensely amazing. My knees actually buckled at the same moment a very masculine individual cleared his throat loudly from the door. We froze and turned to see Marcus in my doorway.

  It was intimidating. I didn't know Marcus yet but I had sensed he was a calm and in control kind of man, but not now. His face was pure fury and I shrank into Ri’s side. Ri tucked me in protectively with his arm over my shoulder looking for all the world like he hadn’t been doing anything wrong and calmly waited for what my uncle had to say all the while giving him an even stare.

  “Don’t give me that authoritative demeanor Ri. This is beyond unacceptable. I don’t care who you are, or what you are. In fact you of all people should know you can’t play around with Trinity, no pun intended.”

  I anxiously watched Ris face fearing he may lose his temper. He surprised me though and gave a boyish grin and his body felt relaxed next to mine.

  “I’m sorry Marcus. We got a little carried away but I assure you I was in control. Her virtue is not in danger from me if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “You told me you can already read her mind. That means her virtue is very much in danger. I’m a full grown man married for over 20 years and I know how hard it is to resist the pleasure of our bond mates coursing through our minds.” This caused me to blush profusely. Marcus continued, “She has been raised human so I don’t care if she is 17. I want you to pretend like she is much younger because she is not capable of understanding this right now. I know it’s hard but if anyone can resist it’s you Ri. There will never be any making out in bedrooms again, do you understand me?”

  Marcus sounded and looked very fierce but Ri was still relaxed and I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I was glad it wasn’t my dad who caught us but that didn’t help much considering this was my uncle and he was every bit a protective father figure. “Yes sir.” Ri responded firmly and seriously. “Supper's ready. I will give you guys exactly one minute and if you’re not down there I will be back and I will bust your heads.” With that he stormed out and I breathed a relieved sigh. Ri laughed at me.

  I pushed him away in annoyance. “Not funny, I’m mortified.” I pressed my hands to my burning cheeks and sat on my bed. When I looked at Ri he had a smile that lit up his whole face he looked happier than I’d ever seen him and I couldn’t help smile back. “Why do you look so happy?” I asked him.

  “Besides the obvious reasons of having just made out with the sexiest woman alive.” My cheeks burned more if that were possible. He continued, “I also was testing myself and I was able to hear every sound going on in the house and I knew your uncle was coming to get us. So I learned I was able to be with you and still be aware enough to be protective.” I angrily threw a pillow at him. “Then why didn’t you protect me from that?” I demanded. He gave me his cockiest smirk yet. “And lose one second with your sweet lips? Never.”

  With that he strutted out of my room, whistling, and I learned that even when he was happy I wanted to strangle him.

  I surely needed a minute to cool down both from the embarrassment and from the hottest moment of my life I also needed clothes. I felt really warm and a dip in the ocean sounded amazing. Hoping I would have a chance at that later I threw a pink sundress with large green flowers on it over my swim suit.

  A quick glance in the mirror proved I was in need of no other maintenance and I set off to find the kitchen. I was pretty sure my head would never stop spinning from this crazy world. The ‘forever soul mates’ thing should make me the craziest, but I belonged with Ri. It was instinctual and I knew it, and for the first time I felt like I could do this. I could be this other person in this other world. I had hope and felt lighter than I had since all this started.

  Chapter 33

  As I walked into the kitchen, I noticed things seemed quieter. There was a more modest table in the kitchen that seated 6, as opposed to the dining room monstrosity that could probably host a presidential dinner. Serenity was setting paper plates and plasticware on the counter and I felt more comfortable and thankful for the more intimate dinner on my first day.

  Serenity read my concerns, “Normally there are any number of different people who come and go all day, but for your first night we said no visitors allowed.” I bobbed my head in agreement,

  “Yes, thank you, it's all so overwhelming.”

  Marcus, Jason, and Ri were in line going down the large kitchen island assembling food. Serenity was putting the finishing touches on the counter and my cousin Blake was walking out of the kitchen, his plate piled high, and he took a huge bite while he was walking. I kind of gaped at him, not being used to teenage boy eating habits. Serenity giggled, “He has to get back to his Xbox probably, he’s only social when he’s gaming.” Serenity screwed up her face in exasperation and I grinned as I made my way to the counter.

  My belly was grumbling and the B.L.T. sandwiches smelled amazing. “I wonder if he has the new zombie shooter yet? I could really go for zombie hunting right now.” There was only six of us but I was pretty sure there was four pounds of bacon. The tomatoes were garden fresh. It all looked amazing. As I sat at the table between Ri on the side and Marcus at the end, Serenity stuck her tongue out at me. “I did not wait my whole life for a sister/cousin, for you to play video games with my little brother. You. Me. Mall. Soon.” She finished her speech by using a signal of her fingers in front of her eyes and then flashing to me, like a weird girl baseball code. I giggled at her.

  “Speaking of your whole life how old are all of you?” I asked. Serenity answered,

  “Well, I am 18. Ri and Jason were in the same grade but there’s six month between them. Jason just turned 20 and Ri is 19.” I remembered she said they had just bonded and I asked, “So you waited until you were 18 to bond?” She nodded, “That's right, you can link at 17 and many people do, but just as many couples wait for whatever reason. Once you link, you're more than married, it's forever. This doesn't bother us. We grow up preparing for it but like anything life can get in the way. Jason is one of the top trackers right now, so he is often gone and we wanted to wait until we could have some time together before we linked.”

  “What about your mom? My aunt, I guess. Where is she at?” Marcus answered me, “Your aunt Sandra, will be home late tonight. You will probably meet her tomorrow. We have a council for our community. Mostly they govern us with laws and decide what to do with law breakers. My wife and I are on the council. She is there now smoothing everything over, getting you out of the witness protection program, so to speak.”

  Serenity piped
in, “Don't worry first thing tomorrow we will give you a crash course in all of our ways. We will also start training. Today has had enough worries, Jason and I are going to watch the new romantic comedy with Alisha Starks, I just love her.” Jason groaned as if pained, and Serenity gave him a playful smile. She looked at me, “You should join us, and then you should get some sleep because we start at 8 a.m.” Now it was my turn to groan in pain and Ri grinned at me,

  “Not a morning person?” He asked.

  Marcus left and Serenity started cleaning up with a reluctant Jason helping her. Ri turned toward me with his arm on the back of my chair his fingers lightly grazing my shoulder. He seemed lighter and smiled easier and I was proud to be the reason why. “Definitely not,” I said as his calming voodoo washed through me at the light contact, “Coffee is a necessity in my world.” I looked into his beautiful eyes and the butterflies were in full force. “So, where will you go now, I mean, where do you live.” I tried to contain my panic but I hated the idea of him leaving and me not knowing when I would see him.

  He gave a soft chuckle and leaned his face in close to mine.

  “I know you can't read me yet, but I'm a little offended that you think I would leave you for even a second. I have to keep you out of trouble after all.” His voice was low and smooth and his teasing side was definitely something I could get used to. Not able to resist I leaned my head on his shoulder. I breathed deep of his spicy smell and relaxed to the rhythm of his strong heart. It felt like home.