by Aspose
Alicia
“Come on, baby.” Alicia tried to gentle the sea as she maneuvered her mist form to watch the floundering yacht. The weather had been pleasant when the family ventured out; they couldn’t have known one of the powerful water elementals would get his panties in a bunch over a perceived insult and throw a tantrum. She was here to make sure no one got hurt while her husband Surge dealt with the offender.
The selkies, the Sea King’s version of the Navy Seals, had been monitoring the radio channels and reported the ship in distress. Surge opened a portal for her and her bodyguards before rushing off to deal with the guilty party. Alicia suspected he’d wanted her occupied so she wouldn’t be upset by the proceedings; his dealings tended to be lethal.
Regardless, these people needed her help. “Cayman, that kid is getting too close to the rails. Um, on the right. My right,” she sent telepathically.
“Listing to starboard. Copy,” Cayman replied calmly. Fortunately, he was able to communicate in his seal form. The mental communication even conveyed a touch of humor over her lack of nautical terms.
What did he expect? She’d been human not long ago.
The kid fell in the water. His sisters screamed, and the mother, who’d been desperately trimming sail as the father manned the wheel, turned toward him and slipped on a loose line. She went down hard, cracking her jaw.
“Got him,” one of the seals reported. She could see him in his human form in the water, holding the panicked boy.
Alicia concentrated. Her specialty was riling the sea, not calming it, but this was good practice. Digging deep, she coaxed the sea to calm, taking it slow. A trickle of power charged the water, bending it to her will. It took a few minutes, but the sea calmed.
“I’m taking him up,” the seal holding the boy warned. His sisters screamed as he appeared on deck, his seal skin shaped to look like a wetsuit. Selkies had long ago learned to change their skins to human clothes; it was only when they were physically separated that the skins were vulnerable to theft.
The father had just secured the wheel in preparation for searching for his son. At the sight of the stranger he froze, unsure whether to rush for his boy or challenge the stranger.
The mother solved the dilemma, rushing to embrace her child. “Tommy,” she sobbed, clutching him close. The kid squirmed, trying to look at the blood on his mother’s face; she might have bitten her tongue, and her lip was swelling.
The seal smiled and pointed to land. “Better hurry. Never know what the sea will do next.” He leapt overboard as the father turned to look.
“Where did he go?” the man asked, peering over the side.
“Never mind,” the woman said, shaking with fading adrenaline. “Get us home.”
Alicia followed them until they were in sight of land and watched as they docked. The mom might need a visit to the ER, but she would be fine.
Just another day in the life of the Sea Queen, she thought with satisfaction.
There was no warning. One minute she was contemplating her superhero status, the next she was grabbed and pulled deep into the sea. The sea glowed with pastel hues, as bright as day to her water elemental vision. It only took seconds for her to recognize her husband, Surge. In this form, he sparkled like living water, contained in the shape of a man, and his dark blue hair waved in the current.
He pulled her into a suggestive hug. “You should take care; anyone could have grabbed you.”
She smacked his chest. Her elemental form retained her human coloring, except for her blue-green hair and opal nails, and her hair was braided and weighted with pearls to keep it orderly. “That would be stupid of them.” She was fully capable of blasting a hole through any mer who tried.
“You’ll be proud of me; I didn’t kill anyone today.”
She snorted. “You want a medal? I’ll have it inscribed to commemorate the occasion.”
He grinned. “I had something else in mind. After that…how would you like to meet another former human? I heard a rumor that the North Wind is free.”
She gaped. “The last human has been changed? Are you sure? Oh, that poor girl.” The Fates had drowned her as part of her transformation, and she still had nightmares. “Do the others know?” She meant her friends, of course, the other two women who’d been transformed into elementals.
“I thought I’d let you tell them.” His hand slid suggestively over her backside. “What do I get for being such a good husband?”
She smiled wickedly and slid her arms around his neck. “The same thing I get.”
There was a slight delay before the others were told. Some things couldn’t wait.
Chapter 4
“You hurt me.” Gale had spent two days coming to terms with her feelings, attempting to get control, only to have Nitro show up in Nonna’s cabin. She’d just come inside from talking to her parents on the elemental version of a cell phone the boys had presented her with. She’d hugged them when they’d said they’d arranged for her parents to have modified cell phones so they could call her. They’d shrugged off the magnitude of their gift, embarrassed, but accepted her hugs easily. They were different from her human cousins, but she loved them. They often tagged around with her, acting as informal bodyguards and a personal cloud of comfort. The cold upper atmosphere could be lonely, and they seemed to love having another air elemental to mix with.
The warm feeling made the shock of seeing Nitro talking with Nonna sharper. She noted Frost watching grimly at the fireplace, and it made her angry. She would have gone to the palace when she was ready. Now that they were here, she cut to the chase. “You have no acceptable reason to have kept me from my family.”
Nitro inspected her as if to ascertain she was unharmed. “Gale. I grew concerned when you didn’t return.”
She crossed her arms. “You worry about the wrong things.”
“Clearly.”
He seemed much stronger, and she wondered if he were well enough to attempt to force her home. She waited him out, happy to see his disquiet. He deserved to squirm.
At last he tilted his head. “I apologize for your unhappiness.” When she remained silent, he added grimly, “In hindsight, I didn’t act in your best interest.”
Her brows flew up. “You think?” She waved a hand. “Now what? Are you planning to drag me home? It won’t be easy.” She would be happy to fight him.
He gestured to the table, already set for lunch. “Nonna has agreed to let us stay for the noon meal. Will you talk with me?”
Ugh. He took the wind out of her sails with his civility. There was no dealing with him in this mood; she would have to regroup. She took a chair grudgingly and looked at Nonna, who merely poured the tea. Frost left to give them privacy.
Nitro took a few bites of his meal to be polite, then folded his hands. “I would like you to return to the palace with me. I’m prepared to negotiate the terms of your return.”
“I’m not certain I want to be with you,” Gale said coldly. She was making serious headway through the lunch he left mostly untouched. She’d gained a bit of needed weight, and she felt his attention as he noted it.
“I’m prepared to hire Nonna and her sons to work in the palace. We were discussing it when you came in.”
Gale sat up. “The phone call wasn’t that long.” She looked at Nonna suspiciously.
“Don’t look a thundercloud; he called before he came,” Nonna said calmly. “I said I was willing to cook for you, and my sons to act as bodyguards.”
Gale scowled. “I hope you haggled a huge paycheck out of him.”
Nonna tilted her head. “You mean he will pay me well. Very well,” she smiled widely. “This old woman hasn’t forgotten how to bargain. Of course, I will continue your cooking lessons, if you wish me to come.”
“Of course I want you to come,” Gale muttered as she took two cookies. “If I were going. You don’t want to leave your house, do you?”
“I confess I would enjoy more society. The major needed quie
t after the wars, but I was a gentle lady before I married him, and I’ve missed the city. It’s been lonely since he passed, and it would be good for the boys.”
It seemed Nitro already had an effective bribe. What else could she demand? “Why do you want me to live with you, Nitro?”
“You are clan,” Nitro said simply. “We do all we can to keep clans together. Frost and Blossom have accepted you, as have I.”
“So it’s obligation?”
“It’s preference,” he said simply. “I would like you to return.”
“What about my parents?”
He sighed. “I will facilitate your communication with them, and you may visit them as much as you like.”
Gale chewed on that. “What if they were in danger? I will do everything in my power to keep them safe and happy. Can you commit to the same?” She knew how far he’d have to bend to agree to that, and it would be a miracle if he did.
“I will give them the respect and protection due them as my bride’s family,” he said without hesitation. “If you will accept your position as my wife.”
He had her there. Gale tensed. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he would bargain, and he was skilled at it. Yikes.
She had a couple of options. She could refuse outright, which wouldn’t make her parents safe. Also, she couldn’t impose on Nonna’s hospitality forever, and Nonna seemed happy about the potential change.
She could stall, which wouldn’t accomplish anything in the long run.
Accepting him outright wasn’t an option, however. “My body isn’t for sale.”
“You could agree to my exclusive courtship,” he countered. “You wouldn’t allow others to woo you until you’ve determined we don’t suit.”
“I’m baffled as to why you want this,” she said with a frown. “I didn’t think you were a fan of the Fates, and I don’t see why you’d accept their matchmaking.”
Nonna rose. “I’m going to check on my sons.”
Nitro waited until the door shut and rose, pulling Gale to her feet. He kissed her.
The world rocked. Passion swept through her body, making her blind and deaf to all but him. He enveloped her in his scent, blanketed her in a genuine cloud of passion that managed to caress her entire body. His hands threaded through her hair, sending prickles of electricity through her vaporous blood. It left her breathless, mute.
She wanted to haul him back when he ended it.
He was breathing hard. “That’s why. The Fates can’t guarantee love, but they do chemistry well.”
Gale shook her head to settle her wits and managed one thought. “I won’t marry without love.”
He slowly released her. “But you will accept my bargain.”
Stars blinded her. That’s what she would say if anyone asked why she said yes.
Kira
“Where are you, you little cockroach?” Kira’s blue eyes flashed as she stalked the firebug, stepping barefoot over the hot coals of the burning warehouse. Her straight red hair fell to her waist and waved gently in the hot breeze from the fire. Her pierced nose and ruby bracelet gave her an exotic look, and her fair skin glowed with the good health of a top predator. Her skin was still pale, but smooth and clear as milk.
The bug had crawled out of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano and made its way over the lava fields, setting the abandoned field of sugar cane alight. Raze was away on business, so she’d tracked it down here, determined to squish it before it set homes ablaze. The human firefighters wouldn’t be able to see it, but they could drown it if they got here in time. Unfortunately, there was an apartment complex nearby and a school. She wasn’t inclined to wait.
She inhaled deeply, sorting through the fumes for the stench of firebug. Ah, hah! She shifted to spark form and flowed to the right, catching sight of the trundling insect. The size of a small terrier, it left a mindless path of flame in its wake. If she squished it, its oily innards would fuel a fire that would burn stone and rage for days; she had to vaporize it.
Unfortunately, the bug caught wind of her and scurried behind a flaming pillar and through a hole in the wall. Kira flowed after it in hot pursuit, so single-minded she almost plowed into the fire cat, Losee.
He swished his tail in irritation. “Remind me again why you wanted me here?”
“It’s getting away!” she growled as she dashed around him. She could smell the bug somewhere close.
Losee sniffed and leisurely jumped onto boxes until he reached a cracked beam. He perched on the burning wood with feline ease. “Chasing bugs is beneath our dignity. You have minions for this.” As Raze’s right hand cat, Losee took a dim view of chasing easy prey.
“It’s good practice,” Kira said irritably. “Besides, Raze hardly lets me do anything exciting these days.”
“You are pregnant with his first child,” Losee pointed out. He was tracking something below in the mess of discarded old crates, so Kira levitated on a tongue of fire to his level to check it out. “There, in the corner,” he indicated with his nose.
“Thanks!” Kira shot down to the bug and concentrated, trying for a small blast. She had to be careful; the volcano was always eager to boost her power, and she didn’t want to melt the entire area to slag.
She slowly opened her hand, directing a powerful beam of blistering heat at the vermin. It exploded into vapor, taking the wall with it.
Kira frowned. “I’ve got to keep working on that.”
Arms went around her, pulling her to a hard male chest. “You’re improving.”
Kira wilted as she recognized her husband Raze’s voice. “You scared me!” She turned around and whacked his chest. “You’re lucky I didn’t roast you.” She couldn’t help smiling as he kissed her.
“Mm. I’m not worried,” he said, breaking away. “I would like to know why you left your cell phone behind, though.” He held up the fire elemental version of a phone with a stern glance.
She rolled her eyes and pocketed it. “Cell phones were invented for husbands, I swear.”
He folded his arms, and it did wonderful things to his chest and arms. The embodiment of living flame, Raze glowed like coals in the heart of a bonfire. He had short, yellow-white hair that rippled like fire and his eyes were blue like the hottest of flames. A wide, armored gold belt wrapped high around his ribs and secured the blue and gold sarong at his waist. A gold medallion with an enormous, square cut ruby hung from his neck on a thick chain, and he wore a wide platinum and diamond ring on his finger.
Kira’s fingers twitched with the urge to touch.
Intent on his lecture, he chided, “You didn’t even check your messages.”
Kira dutifully checked the phone, smiling at his texts that went from sweet to mildly worried. “Sorry about that. I’ll try to remember to take it with me. Oh, Alicia tried to call.” She immediately dialed her friend.
“I see where I stand,” Raze grumbled good-naturedly as he walked with her out of the building, holding her free hand.
She smiled at him and chirped into the phone, “Hey, ‘licia! What’s up?”
“Quit stirring your breakfast and eat,” Nonna admonished Gale. “You like my cooking better than that.”
Gale blew out a breath and quit playing with her spoon. They were in the palace kitchen, and she was nervous. Kissing Nitro had been the right strategic move, but now that she’d accepted his bargain, she had to deal with him on a whole new level. Nitro on the hunt was a frightening creature. He watched her intently, like a jungle cat watching a baby zebu. There was possession in his touch, and a frightening confidence. He packed thousands of years of experience, and he knew how to seduce a woman.
He was making her skittish, and she hated reacting like a Victorian maiden. She needed to get a grip.
He hadn’t tried to kiss her again since bringing her home last night, but he made it clear he wanted to. It didn’t help that he seemed to have regained his strength, easily opening the portal home and seeing everyone settled. It showed in the way he moved as
well, a natural strength and confidence that embodied authority and natural leadership. When he’d walked her to her door last night, his body language made it clear he’d like to follow her in.
She’d blocked the door with her body. “Good night, Nitro.”
His smile was slow and heated. “What did you want to do tomorrow?”
She frowned. “I just got back. I haven’t made any plans, but I might visit my family.” She figured it was a sure way to have most of the day without him. “I plan to spend a lot of time with them, you know.”
He smiled. “Of course. You’re very loyal; I like that.” His glance was warmly speculative.
It raised her short hairs. He wasn’t viewing her as a prospective mother, was he? She knew what kind of father he was, how he felt about his family. He was the kind of guy who would consider these things.
Something popped in her chest and she rubbed it with a frown. What was this, the elemental version of heart burn? He was stressing her out. “Thanks. Good night.” She slammed the door shut.
The wind carried his low chuckle to her, making her shiver.
Nitro at full power was potent stuff.
Her phone rang with her father’s ring tone and she reached for it eagerly, happy for the distraction. “Hi, Dad! What’s up?”
Her dad’s smile came through in his voice. “Well, sweetheart, I thought you might like to fly with me today; just the two of us.”
Gale’s smile was huge. She’d love to get away for a while and get her head on straight. “I’d love to! What time?” She looked at Nonna.
“Yes, I’ll take you,” Nonna said indulgently. “I’ll pack you something to tide you over until dinner.”
“That’s all right, Nonna,” Nitro said as he entered the kitchen. “The wind carried your conversation to me, Gale. I’ll be happy to take you to your father. It’s time we met.”
Gale stifled her first response and told her dad, “Yeah, I’ll see you in a little bit. I’ll meet you at the airport, okay?”
