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

by Cait Vaughn

The bath had special oils for different things. First they curled my hair, creating full luxurious waves and then they braided the top part and left the bottom half down. As they braided my hair they wove in special flowers and also herbs. Serenity did my makeup. She said it was a special organic kind. Frequently they would chant and also pray to Source for protection. I was nervous and queasy, but also strangely calm inside and excited. We took a break and they ate supper in my room, but I was much too overwhelmed to eat. “Trinity, there will be many people here for this. Mostly they’ll be sending us positive energy and also just celebrating amongst themselves. This is a very exciting ritual that is rarely done. Tonight a new and special daughter is born to our community. Don't be afraid, it will be perfect.”

  I hated being so needy but I couldn't help but ask, “Is Ri here?” Serenity shook her head. “I've given orders to Jason not to come back without him. Jason will get him here I'm sure of it.” Grams rose and looked out the window. Her eyes clouded over so I knew she was seeing something else, but still I looked and you could see the big moon reflecting on the water. Grams vision cleared and she smiled and reached her hand to me. “It is time, Trinity. Remember to think positively and be brave.” Her hand squeezed mine and dropped to her side. She floated out of the room. Serenity who was also dressed up looking like a blonde supermodel picked up a basket of white rose petals and she, walking in front of me made a trail that I'd been instructed to walk on. There were many people in the house. There was music and merriment. Outside there was a large bonfire off on one side where many people were hanging out and dancing.

  Off by itself a little there was a circle made of flowers and leaves that I knew was for me. The circle was surrounded with 12 large white candles. With the moonlight and the bonfire everything was very brightly lit. Serenity stopped outside of the circle and turned to me. She put her hands on both side of my face and said a blessing over me and kissed my forehead. Now I was really nervous and if Ri was there, I knew he would be with me. Serenity stepped next to grams who motioned for me to go into the circle. She had on a flowing white robe like a judge would wear. She exuded power and you could tell she was not of this world. We were facing the ocean about 30 feet from it. With a big gulp I entered the circle. Grams lifted her hands and the circle was surrounded with a swirling wind she had called to. She began to chant. I could not make out what she was saying.

  There was noise everywhere from the people and the ocean and the wind. I was happy the wind hid me from the people but I also didn't know what was going on. Then suddenly my whole body cramped and I doubled over. They had told me not to fight it but I didn't know what that meant. My whole body was cramping and my skin was too hot and then it would be too cold and I was dizzy and nauseous. Thinking I might pass out I went down to the ground. There was no relief though. It came in waves and each wave stretched my muscles tighter and tighter. I cried out in pain. I felt like my skin was going to rip off. You could only stretch a rubber band so far. At this point I was on the ground writhing and sobbing in pain. I screamed, “Ri, I need you, please!”

  As I was screaming for him, I heard him yell my name, which shouldn't have been possible over the noise. “Trinity, I'm here.” I could feel vibrations like he was running to me. The stretching feeling came again worst than ever and as I screamed from the pain my vision went blank. Suddenly Ri was there. I couldn't see him I couldn't see anything. I could smell his spicy scent and he lifted me into his lap and I could feel his skin that was always hotter than normal. I didn't feel the calming voodoo from his touch which panicked me. I needed relief. I latched my arms around him and sobbed into his neck. “I can't see, I'm blind.” I could feel he was stroking my hair and making shushing noises.

  “It’s the sight Trinity, you have the gift, don't fight it.” I forced myself to take a deep breath and try to uncoil my muscles. I wanted out of this nightmare. Then the nightmare turned into a dream. There was a huge, pure, intense, blast of white light and then I was seeing a slide show.

  Pictures upon pictures of Ri darted quickly in front of my eyes. Him as a baby sleeping in his mother's arms. Him as a toddler in a diaper wearing his shirt like a cape. Him as a little boy holding up his first tooth that had fallen out. On and on through every section of his life until now. Then, suddenly, and as simply as opening a door, I was standing in Ri’s mind.

  Blissful sensations every bit as overwhelming as the pain rushed through my body. It was calm and much quieter like a sanctuary. I felt Ri stiffen next to me but I couldn’t dwell on it. I was enraptured. I saw thousands of faces. It was pure information I understood everything I saw. They were supernaturals all of us and he was connected to them telepathically. This was a secret power he had, to hear all our thoughts, and I was the only person, besides him, to know it. They presented like holographic images, all of these people. They had a ring of purple around their faces and I knew that was his power protecting them, linking to them. I could hear like a low radio their voices. I knew he could always hear our thoughts and would know the moment someone needed his protection.

  The full weight of his power and responsibility was so much more than anyone could imagine. This was why he had read me this whole time because in a sense we all belonged to him, to protect. This is why he struggled with the bond. He could never be sure that I belonged to him, not until my car accident. When I was in the car he touched me and his calming voodoo flooded me and he felt it. He knew then that I was his and he thought he would go crazy seeing me broken like that. As I traveled through this beautiful place I could see random memories scattered about. I knew if I wanted I could go into the memory and live it as if I had been there but I felt like I shouldn't so I kept walking I needed to see more. I was literally surrounded with the deepest parts of Ri and it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. Up ahead, I could see a deep red light and I had to get there. I felt Ri’s body shudder next to me but I kept going.

  Then I was at the center of all things him and it was an image of me and I had never looked so beautiful. It was how he saw me and I had a red ring around my face not purple like the others and I knew it was the very core and fullness of all his power wrapped around me. That nothing could get through the barrier of protection. I reached out to touch the image as tears of joy leaked down my face, and Ri groaned, in pleasure. Then I was in a completely different set of sensations. I could feel his physical reactions. It was the most amazing sensation he had ever felt, me in his mind. It felt so good it was almost painful and I could feel he was also concerned. I knew this was what linking was. It was also different because we both had to go, deep, into each other's minds, but he held back. This was the beginning of the bonding process. We weren't supposed to, it was an accident. He tried to speak, “Trinity.” His voice was so deep and rough, he moaned again. Then I could see him in front of me in his mind. He spoke to me in his mind, “Trinity, we need to stop.” Being in his mind I knew he thought that was true, but he didn't really want to. I spoke in his head.

  I don't want to. I belong here.

  He approached me with a pain pleasure look on his face.

  Yes and you can be here anytime you want. But if you don't mind, I’d rather not link in front of the entire supernatural community.

  His signature smirk was back.

  In his mind he rubbed his hand down my face and now I knew what it was like. There aren't words to describe it, pure bliss. I moaned and then he did too. Then we just snapped and we grabbed each other and we were kissing and I thought I was going to die from it and then there was an actual explosion.

  A massive fireball came from between our bodies it shoved me back in my own mind and I opened my eyes. I was still holding onto Ri and this fireball was expanding around us. It was my power and his power combined and it couldn't hurt us. My power was coursing through me as familiar as if it had always been there. The fireball exploded and I could see and sense dirt and debri flying out. On pure instinct, I reached out my hand and pulled air as hard as I could
to keep the debris from hurting people. I pulled it so hard that the fire all around us was lacking the oxygen it needed and it went out. I looked down and we were flying about 6 ft off the ground I had done that too. Ri’s fire combined with my air and propelled us up. I saw people running away but nobody seemed hurt and off in the distance there was cheering and applause. All around me on the ground there were small embers glowing and again on instinct I reached out and pulled the ocean in. I brought a small wave 30 ft up on shore to put out the fire and debris back to the ocean.

  I looked around in wonder and amazement. Everything looked sharper. It sounded sharper, I could taste the ocean in a deeper way. I could feel all the affinities coursing through me, as if I was them and they were me. I had consciously used water, and air. The fireball was an accident. I don't think Ri or I did that intentionally, it kind of just erupted. Now, we weren't in each other's mind but there was an openness that allowed us to communicate more deeply. Ri was in awe and a little horror. He thought I was something called a spirit elemental which was thought to be just a myth. They didn't think it was possible to pull all the elements and that if anybody did the power would drive them insane. The power was no joke. I felt amazing.

  It was my turn to be cocky. I reached my hand out to see if I could pull earth, while I grinned at Ri. It was like strings in my mind and if you pulled the string power came out like a faucet. I could sense the earth and there was so much life in it. “Trinity, no!” I dropped the power I had been playing with and looked at Ri. He was overwhelmed. It was difficult for me to grasp any one emotion or thought from him because it was all going so fast. I began to question him in his mind but he stopped me. “Trinity, we are in dangerous territories. Please listen this is very important. For now, no one can know we speak in each others heads. Even more important than that though, no one can know you have this many affinities. For now you have air and water and don't tell anyone anything else and even if you feel it try very hard not to use another affinity. We need to hide some things right now. Please trust me.” I could feel how serious he was and his eyes were beginning to glow and it was no question after being in his beautiful mind I trusted him like no other to have my best interest in every area. “Of course, Ri. I understand.” He smiled and I felt him relax. He was happy because I was so powerful that took some worry off his shoulders. He was proud that I had handled everything so well and I was officially one of them now. He was concerned about all the power but not too badly. He was shocked because we were in each other's heads but hadn't completed the bond. He also really, really, wanted to finish the bond but thought it was too soon.

  I gently pressed my lips to his in a small kiss of agreement. Just from that small contact his body heated, and I could feel it. I understood how tightly he had held his control this whole time. Feeling his pleasure just made me want to do more. Then he sighed,and pulled on my air and we lowered to the ground. “So wait you can use my affinities too? So were both super freaks?” He grinned, “Yes, but thankfully only when I'm with you. This is a lot even for me to handle. I haven't needed my amulet since I was 16 but I'm gonna go grab it cuz I've got the shakes from overload.” Serenity was running to me squealing and so happy. Ri kissed me on the nose and shimmered to find his amulet.

  Now that I had come down to earth a little, I could feel the shakes too. They were different than the healing shakes. It more felt like I was going to shake right out of my skin. Serenity threw herself in my arms. “How amazing was that!? This is huge this is the biggest deal. You were amazing. I knew you would be.” Her excitement was contagious and between the unbinding and my link I felt so free it was incredible. I smiled, “Ri and I partially linked on accident. How could you not give me the details of how intimate that is?”

  She bit her lip sheepishly. “You sure know how to create scandal, this is all so unprecedented.” As she was speaking Aurelia and Jason approached us along with someone I didn't think I'd ever see again, Matt. His glasses were gone, he didn't look awkward, his hair was cut and tamed and he had on a robe like Aurelian, but it was black. He looked sexy in a best friend kind of way. I heard Ri growl in my mind and I rolled my eyes at him and told him to get over himself he was the only man for me. His head was still spinning from all that happened and it was nice to have him freaking out for once. I launched myself at Matt who laughed and caught me spinning me around. “I told you I would track you down.” “What are you doing here?” I couldn't quit grinning. “Well, would you hate me if I said I was a warlock who has been spying on you your whole life to keep you safe?” He rubbed his neck self consciously and my eyebrows shot up and I crossed my arms. I did not know what to think of that but I hugged him again. “For now I'm just happy to see you.” All kinds of people started rushing me to give congratulations and hugs. I whispered to Serenity I needed my amulet she said she was on it and ran back to the house I think she was too excited to shimmer.

  Chapter 41

  Suddenly flocks of people seemed to descend upon me. I gripped Matt’s hand like a life preserver, and pulled him close to my body.

  “Don't leave me, please. Everyone else has disappeared and I have no idea what I'm doing.”

  Matt smiled while linking our fingers as the first of the friendly yet strange faces rushed in to congratulate me.

  “Don't worry, I have no plans to be anywhere else.” He whispered to me. We slowly walked through a thick crown of people, stopping frequently to introduce and be introduced and receive well wishes and hear how awesome my power display was. It was a blur. At some point a foreign sort of annoyed feeling came over me and I realized it was Ri.

  “What's wrong?” I asked in my head.

  “Sorry my family has caught me and they have a million questions. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Suddenly it was like a door shutting in my mind and I couldn't sense him as strongly as before. I smiled wryly thinking he was facing near the Inquisition I was.

  Finally, it seemed we had made it to the top of the stairs to enter the house and after my millionth 'thank you’ and handshake I turned to see most of the crowd had dispersed and the festivities wound down. Serenity was there and I had barely registered her slipping on my bracelet at some point in the chaos. It seemed to cause a minute calm buzzing sensation but nothing like how Ri calmed me.

  We entered the house off the kitchen and joined Uncle Marcus, Aurelia, and who I assumed was Aunt Sandra. Jason was there and walked to Trinity grabbing her hand and they wandered off without so much as a 'goodnight.’

  Matt and I joined the rest at the table. They all looked full of joy and the woman leaned her head on Marcus confirming my thoughts.

  “Trinity, so pleased to finally meet you. I'm Sandra. You were wonderful tonight. Two affinities, it's such a dream to see you here with us, and now officially one of us.”

  Aurelia embraced me and retook her seat smiling biggest of all.

  “Yes my dear, truly fabulous. How do you feel?”

  The not eating caught up with me I was starved and began to help myself to the always present food scattered about.

  “I feel really great, actually. Energized, strong. I recognized my power right away as if it had always been there.”

  She smiled pleased and gave my hand an affectionate squeeze. The grown ups presumably went back to their previous talking and Matt leaned in all seriousness like.

  “Trinity, I have to say how sorry I am. It was my job to keep you safe. Make sure no one was after you or suspicious of you. Do you remember when you and Courtney walked in on me with that girl?” I nodded while continuing to eat like a starved person which he gave a little laugh at.

  “I didn't know then but, she was a dark witch.” I gave a surprised reaction with my eyebrows and he continued. “She cast a spell to distract me, which worked, placing you and Courtney in danger.” He gripped his hair in frustration and I smiled that even though he was different he was so the same. “Anyway, I would have, should have been here with you every step but I ha
d to face an inquest from my council. Making sure I hadn't gone rogue and discovering all that happened, but of course I would never knowingly put either of you in danger. It just wrapped up today and I'm so grateful I didn't miss the unbinding. Trinity, are we good? The only thing worse than endangering you would be to lose your friendship?”

  I threw my arm around him in a half hug.

  “Aww, Matt, me and you, besties forever. What about Courtney though? Have you talked to her is she ok? Does she know anything?”

  He shook his head, no.

  “Courtney, gah, it's complicated. First, no she is human all the way. Shocking, I know with how gorgeous she is.” He blushed and I tapped his side with my elbow. “See, I knew it, you do like her!”

  He nervously adjusted his glasses.

  “I more than like her Trin, I think she's my bond mate. Wait, has anyone explained that?” I nodded my head yes and for him to continue, I didn't know who I could tell about Ri, or what I could tell, despite our public display.

  Finally full, I pushed away my plate and leaned back to hear his confession.

  “Ok so it doesn't happen often but sometimes a bond mate is human, which is basically the worst thing that could happen. We can never reveal ourselves to a human, ever. The only exception is if a bond can be proven first. So I have to jump through a million hoops to prove we are meant to be before I can even ask her on a date!”

  I gasped and squeezed his hand.