Cleansed by Water: The Nature Hunters Academy Series, Book 3

by Quinn Loftis

  Gabby smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze to let him know she wasn’t mad. She was insecure, but it was something she was going to have to get over. Poking Liam in the process was just a perk.

  She was certain the tunnel was going to lead them back to the United States, right underneath all the countries between them and the Atlantic Ocean and then right through the Atlantic itself. But finally, the tunnel ended at a huge metal door.

  Professor Frost knocked and, a minute later, the door opened. A loud hum dispelled the quiet of the corridor.

  As they filed into the room, Gabby saw half a dozen other elementalists already there. She recognized them from the various teams on the mission.

  “How are things going in here?” Frost asked Professor Eddison King. He was a Tempest Academy professor, if she remembered correctly.

  “So far Crey and Tinley”—King motioned to the pair who had their hands pressed against a massive contraption Gabby suspected was one of the engines—“have managed to warm it enough to keep running. The turbines are working, otherwise, no amount of their heat would matter.”

  Frost nodded. “We got the gorge thawed, and the elementals are keeping it that way.”

  “Some of the earth elementalists are pulling heat from the earth's core to prevent the entire plant from getting too cold,” Professor King explained. “At some point, we will need to switch people out so they can rest.”

  “Where are the ones who aren’t working now?” Frost asked him.

  Professor King’s lips turned up in a smile. “We had some pixies show up at the call of Professor Hart, and they’ve been using their persuasion magic to convince the workers here that we are a relief crew. They’ve set us up with a dorm-type room. It’s got cots, blankets, pillows, and even some food and drinks.”

  Frost chuckled. “Pixies are great when they’re on our side.”

  Gabby wondered what pixies that weren’t on their side could persuade a person to do.

  “All right my crew,” Frost said, “let’s head to this makeshift dorm. Professor King, would you lead the way?”

  “Of course.”

  And they were off again. When they reached the dorm room, as they were calling it, Gabby saw Tara and Elias. They were standing at a table loaded with all sorts of food and drinks.

  “Where did that come from?” she asked.

  “Pixies like to make use of the forests they live in and love to share their food,” Professor Frost said.

  “I didn’t learn that in any of my classes,” Gabby said.

  “That’s because you haven’t taken the upper-level elemental classes yet,” Frost pointed out. “Now, enjoy the food and get some rest.”

  When Gabby and Liam reached the table, she realized that everything was fruits and vegetables.

  “I guess pixies don’t hunt,” Liam said, looking quite forlorn over this fact.

  “They’re more planters and gatherers, I’m guessing,” Tara said.

  “Did everything go okay with you guys?” Shelly asked Tara and Elias.

  Tara nodded. “They just had us pulling heat from the earth’s core. Same song, different day.”

  “Would you rather be fighting giants?” Elias asked as he tugged her ponytail.

  “I suppose not.” Tara sighed. “I think I’m just tired. It’s making me grumpy.”

  “Or that’s just your general disposition,” Shelly said as she filled up her plate and then bit into a carrot. She kept right on talking as she crunched the vegetable. “What doesn’t make you grumpy, Tara-bear?”

  “Well, you looking like Bugs Bunny, chomping away on a carrot makes me want to laugh. So, that’s a start,” Tara said as she shook her head at her friend.

  “What?” Shelly asked. “I’m hungry. Don’t judge.”

  Gabby took the plate that Liam handed her.

  After dinner, they found a corner that had enough cots for all of them.

  Gabby saw Tara blush as Elias pushed two cots together, and she smiled.

  “Elias,” Tara whispered with a hint of reprimand, “I think we can sleep a couple of feet apart for a night.”

  “That’s great, love, but I don’t.” He kept making up their joined bed as if she wasn’t glaring daggers at him.

  Ra did the same thing, making two separate cots into one. He gave Shelly a look that dared her to argue with him.

  Shelly held up her hands. “Not saying a word, pharaoh hottie. I’m not going to complain about sleeping against your fine self.”

  Ra smirked.

  Gabby heard the sound of furniture sliding on the floor behind her and turned to find Liam following suit. She raised a brow at him. “Uh, who’s sleeping there?”

  Liam grinned at her. “We are.”

  “We?” Gabby snorted. “You got a pixie in your pocket I don’t know about?”

  “Cute, babe.” Liam chuckled. “You’re exhausted, and I need to hold you. Get your fine ass in this bed and quit overthinking things.”

  Shelly let out a slow whistle. “Wow. I didn’t know you had it in you, water boy,” she teased. “That’s hot.”

  “Shelly,” Ra rumbled, his voice a clear warning.

  “You can’t tell me you don’t notice hot chicks, Ra,” Shelly challenged.

  “He’d have to take his eyes off of you to notice anyone else,” Gabby said as she tried to decide if it was worth arguing with Liam over the sleeping arrangements. She was ready to drop, and there was a part of her that wanted to be held by him.

  “Everyone sleep with your shoes on,” Ra said, “in case something happens and we need to move quickly.”

  Liam reached for Gabby’s hand. She looked around and realized Tara and Elias were already laying down, a blanket pulled up over them. Tara’s eyes were closed, and she looked as if she was already asleep. Ra tucked Shelly in, which was freaking adorable, and then he climbed in beside her. He wrapped an arm around her and tugged Shelly tightly against him.

  When Gabby glanced at the rest of the room, she noticed that nobody was paying them any attention.

  She turned back to Liam, who was patiently waiting for her, arm extended and fingers wiggling. His eyes were gentle. She let out a sigh and took his hand. Liam tugged her to him and then pulled back the covers, motioning for her to climb in.

  “You going to tuck me in, too?” she asked him with a smirk.

  “Ever been tucked in before?”

  Her smile dropped. She hadn’t.

  Liam leaned down until his lips were next to her ear. “I’m going to give you anything and everything good you’ve never experienced before. Even something as simple as tucking you in.” He gently pushed her, and Gabby went without any resistance. She laid down, and Liam covered her with the blanket then climbed in beside her.

  She wasn’t surprised when he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, tucking her against his side. Gabby gave up her resistance and laid her head on his chest. He sighed as if it were the most comfortable thing he’d ever experienced.

  A moment later, Gabby felt something cool rush over her and then into her. Liam was sharing his magic with her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice full of the emotion she usually tried to hide.

  “Helping you recharge,” he replied. “I can feel how tired you are. It’s uncomfortable for me.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling as if she was doing something wrong.

  Liam took her chin in his hand and tilted her head up. “I’m not blaming you for anything, Gabby. I’m happy to provide for you in any way I can. That’s what mates do. In fact, I like knowing I’m the only one who can provide for you in some ways.”

  Her lips turned up at the sincerity in his voice. She snuggled closer to him and allowed herself to absorb what he was sharing and then shared some of her own power with him. Liam groaned.

  “Careful, woman,” he practically growled. “You’ll start something we can’t finish.”

  “Pervert,” Gabby whispered with a lau
gh.

  “When it comes to you, yes, I am. And I’m not the least bit apologetic.”

  “Noted,” she said as her eyelids grew heavy.

  “Go to sleep, hot stuff. Unless you’re not tired enough, in which case, I’m happy to wear you out.”

  “Let him wear you out,” Shelly whisper-yelled. “The sounds of heavy breathing are kind of like white noise and will help drown out all the talking.”

  Tara laughed. “That’s the excuse you’re going with? You just want to hear them making out. You’re shameless, Shell.”

  “I own my lack of shame, BFFF. Life’s too short to walk around feeling all shamey.”

  “That’s not a word,” Elias pointed out.

  “It is now,” Shelly retorted. “Isn’t it, pharaoh.”

  “Yes, my love. It is a word,” Ra said gently. “Now go to sleep.”

  “The king has declared it a word,” Shelly sang. “He outranks you.”

  “If you don’t stop arguing with her, we will never get any sleep,” Tara pointed out.

  “Good point,” Elias agreed.

  Gabby smiled to herself. She liked this group of people who’d openly brought her into their fold. She wanted to be a part of them and not fear losing them. That meant she was going to have to grow a pair and quit being afraid. Fear was good sometimes. It could keep you from doing something stupid. But fear could also be paralyzing, so much so that it kept you from experiencing amazing things in life.

  Gabby was not going to let that happen. She lifted her hand and placed it on Liam’s chest, right over his heart. She felt it pounding in rhythm with her own. It felt so right. And she felt so complete with him.

  “I love you, Gabs,” he whispered. “That’s never going to change.”

  She drifted off to sleep with his promise seeping deep into her soul. She latched onto it with both hands and vowed to herself that she was going to hold onto him just as fiercely.

  Chapter 17

  “Why don’t we just start without the demon?” Aradia asked.

  Danni, High Priestess of Cornwall coven, rolled her eyes at the witch. She had no clue what she was saying, or she wouldn’t even suggest something so stupid. Then again, Aradia was of the bloodline of one of the longest generational witches in their coven, she should know better. Dealing with demons wasn’t exactly a new thing for them. “We owe a blood debt to the demi-lord,” Danni snapped. “Or have you forgotten?”

  Aradia flinched at the high priestess's words. “What does that have to do with scrying to speak to our sister?”

  The woman Aradia referred to as “sister” wasn’t their blood sister. That was just the term they gave to any member of their coven. Once upon a time, Danni had cared for each of them as if they were her own blood family. That had been before Collin, her brother had left her. Danni’s own flesh and blood had turned his back on her. Now, he was completely out of her reach because the royal elementals had taken him to one of their realms.

  “We do not make a move without Dolion’s permission or guidance,” Danni said. “We made our bed when we got involved with him. My hope is the outcome will be in our favor.”

  There were murmurs around the room from the five other coven members present.

  Danni had summoned the most powerful in their coven, and though the others knew portions of what was going on, they couldn’t help in the battle to come. They would be more of a liability than an asset.

  They only had to wait another few minutes before Dolion finally appeared in the room. The six coven witches took a step back, but Danni held her ground. She’d learned long ago not to show weakness to those who worked dark magic. It made them think you were easy prey. Danni would not be anyone's prey.

  “It’s time,” Dolion growled, his sharp teeth snapping together. “Osiris is close to breaking my spell on the royals. We need to act quickly.” He glanced around the room at the other witches and smirked at their obvious fear. “Do you have the spell to begin the process of opening the gates?”

  “Of course,” Danni huffed. She wasn’t incompetent. “I wouldn’t have contacted you if I did not.”

  “And is your witch ready?”

  He was speaking of the witch that was currently waiting on them to give her the signal to unleash their secret weapon. The weapon that would distract the light elementals so they could get their plan underway.

  “She has been waiting on us.” Danni walked over to the center table and looked down into the scrying bowl. Her herbs were already there, along with the dagger she would use to cut her hand for the blood sacrifice the magic required.

  “Then do it,” Dolion barked.

  The high priestess picked up the herbs and crushed them. She dropped them into the bowl and then picked up the dagger. She sliced it across her palm and forced herself not to hiss at the sharp pain.

  Danni squeezed her hand into a fist and let the drops of her blood fall into the bowl. Then, she began to chant. The witch picked up a large dragon’s tooth and stirred the mixture. After several minutes, a face appeared in the bowl.

  “Mother,” said the woman who stared back at Danni.

  “Rory, it is time,” Danni said. There was no affection in her voice.

  “How many should I release?” Rory asked.

  “A mated pair,” Dolion answered. “They are protective and deadly when their mate is in danger.”

  Rory snorted. “They’re dangerous no matter what, demon.”

  “Watch yourself, child,” Danni said through gritted teeth.

  Rory rolled her eyes as if she wasn’t worried a bit about pissing off a demi-lord demon. “I’ve been playing with dragons for months,” Rory said dryly. “It’s going to take more than Dolion to cause me to shake in my combat boots.”

  Danni sighed. She swore the young witch was going to be the death of her. She was difficult to control and very powerful. It was why Danni had taken her in. She wasn’t the girl’s real mother, though Rory didn’t know that.

  “Just release the dragons and then wait for our arrival,” Danni said. “The Blackhorn coven will be coming with us, as well as the dark royal elementals. Don’t attack the wrong supernaturals.”

  “I’m young, not an idiot,” Rory said.

  “That’s debatable,” Dolion rumbled.

  Rory ignored him and then said, “I’ll open the portal as soon as we’re done. Anything else, Mother?”

  “Try not to die.”

  “As if you’d care.” Rory shook her head and vanished.

  “She has mommy issues,” Dolion said, his voice mocking.

  Danni ground her teeth together. “You’re one to speak about issues, demon,” she snarled at him. “You want to unleash hell on earth. That qualifies you for a room in a mental hospital.”

  “And what about you, priestess?” Dolion challenged. “Should I mention the things you have done in order to be a part of this? All because you desire your coven to be the most powerful?”

  “If you know what’s good for you, you will keep your piranha-mouth shut.” Power hummed through her veins as she looked the demon in the eyes. He was powerful, no doubt, but Danni could give him a run for his money. She wouldn’t win, but she would drain a lot out of him which would make him vulnerable in their upcoming fight.

  “Enough,” he snarled. “We need to make sure the Blackhorn coven is ready, and then I have a date with the dark royals. You and the other covens will meet us in Lugarig.

  “Is it wise for us to just appear in the realm of dragons?” Danni asked him. “Rory has been building trust with them, but the beasts don’t take kindly to uninvited visitors.”

  His smile sent a chill down her spine. “Who’s to say I haven’t already been a visitor?”

  She should have seen that one coming. Dolion was nothing if not thorough.

  He opened a portal with the ease of a royal elemental and motioned for her and the other witches to go through. Danni led the way and stepped into Blackhorn Manor.

  Saphora watched as Dan
ni and her six witches walked through the portal followed by Dolion. The room hummed with dark power, and the temperature dropped several degrees. It was odd considering that Dolion was a demon from hell. But darkness was the absence of light, which took away warmth and left coldness in its wake.

  “Are we ready?” Saphora asked, her eyes looking at Danni then Dolion.

  “Everything is falling into place,” the demon answered.

  “Rory is releasing a mated pair of dragons as we speak,” Danni said.

  There was a gasp around the room from Saphora’s coven. She hadn’t given them all of the information about the plan Dolion had laid out to her and Danni. It wasn’t their place to approve of her actions. It was their job to obey.

  “We have one more stop to make,” Dolion said. He opened the portal that Saphora knew led to the dark royal elementals. She steeled herself to be in the presence of the powerful supernaturals. She knew what was coming, and, though she was nearly drunk on the idea of the power within her reach, she hated the idea of giving anyone power over her. But that was the deal she and Danni had made with Dolion and the dark royals. And she couldn’t change her mind now. Not unless she wanted to die a horrible death … which she did not.

  Viscious watched as the witches from the two covens filed in with Dolion bringing up the rear. He was itching to get things underway, and he felt like growling at how long Dolion had taken at getting everything in place.

  “Glad you finally decided to join us,” Viscious snapped.

  “You know these things cannot be rushed, fire king,” Dolion said in a slow voice.

  “Perhaps not,” Nimue, the dark earth queen said, “But they should be done in a timely manner, or we will never take control.”

  “Everything is moving forward as planned,” the demi-lord said as his eyes roamed over the room.

  Viscious hated that he had to rely on a demon. Demons couldn’t be trusted, not that he could trust anyone else in this room, either. They all had their own agenda and thirst for power was at the top of everyone's list.