The Elementals Collection

by L. B. Gilbert

  “We need more, Di. It’s not igniting.”

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

  For a second, the wind abruptly ceased as if the world were holding its breath. Then a single spark ignited, setting off a chain reaction inside the bubble.

  A massive explosion followed—forcing the bubble of water outward. Wind swirled around them as Serin cried out, her muscles locking and tearing as she willed the sphere to hold together.

  A deafening screech filled the air as the sentient spell began to burn. Serin could barely see it as the flames consumed the evil thing. She wanted to let go, but she held the bubble, continually separating water molecules to feed more hydrogen into the fire so it wouldn’t snuff out for lack of oxygen and fuel.

  Her brain was aching. She couldn’t tell where she ended and the bubble began. All sense of time eroded. All she felt was the strain of her effort until she didn’t anymore.

  Spent beyond all measure, Serin fell into darkness.

  29

  The ground was hard, but Serin didn’t care. She could sense it still held some life, and that was all that mattered.

  She cracked her eyelids apart a fraction. Daniel’s concerned face hovered over her. Logan was bending over her, too.

  “When did you get here?” It was meant to be a normal question voiced in a normal tone, but it came out in a thin raspy whisper. Her lips cracked in the process, bleeding into her mouth.

  “I got here just before you and Di blew that shit to kingdom come,” Logan said, her animated face glowing.

  Connell, Logan’s mate, appeared next to her. He was pale as a sheet. Serin guessed he had just realized how close the island had come to becoming a giant fireball.

  “We were close by in Florida,” Logan said. “I could feel you and Diana—the power you were pulling on—so we booked it over here. I’m sure Gia is on her way here, too.”

  Serin tried to nod, but her body didn’t cooperate. Her head lolled, and she gasped as pain coursed through her body. Even her cells burned in protest.

  Daniel scooted closer, lifting her a little so his knees could support her.

  “Diana?” she asked, worried she hadn’t seen her.

  Her sister was being helped to her feet by her mate. Diana gave her a weak thumbs-up. Serin let her head fall back into Daniel’s lap, the relief crushing the breath out of her.

  A bottle of water appeared in Logan’s hand. Instead of putting it to her lips, she poured it over Serin.

  “What are you doing?” Connell asked, horrified.

  “She’s Water. This way works just as well as drinking. It should make her feel better.”

  “Should?” Daniel asked, his eyes rapidly scanning the sister he hadn’t met, as well as sizing up her extremely large mate.

  Daniel’s hand landed on Serin’s chest as if to protect her. He lifted it a moment later, startled. Her shirt and front were bone dry. Her parched body had thirstily absorbed the water.

  Her father’s voice crackled through the air as if he was on a loud speaker. Other familiar voices rose. Serin ignored the byplay, letting her mind drift over the island to scan the damage.

  Daniel picked her up. “Logan is right. You need water to heal.”

  Her body rose in the air, supported by his arms. The surf grew louder. He was carrying her away, not to the temple, but to the beach.

  “So much damage,” she whispered. She could feel the dead lengths of soil as they passed over them.

  They radiated like spokes out from the grave, reaching across the island. They stopped just short of the beaches and the bluffs. Some of the most fertile land had been laid waste. Their crops would suffer.

  Unless the Mother intervened, it would take the island years to heal.

  But it didn’t reach the ocean. Diana had done it; she’d kept it from spreading farther.

  “You did it,” Daniel said harshly, apparently knowing where her thoughts were. “You pulled that monster out of the ground, then you put it where it could be killed. Yes, your sister helped, but she would have never gotten the chance to burn it up without you.”

  Serin smiled weakly. “Are you worried I’m not going to get credit?”

  “No.” He laughed, his gait changing as he began to walk on the sand beach. “Everyone saw what happened. There’s no question you are the most amazingly badass woman who ever walked the earth. Not that credit matters when you’re saving the world.”

  There was a splashing sound as Daniel carried her into the water. She expected him to set her on her feet, but he kept right on going until he was chest deep.

  Serin closed her eyes as the warm ocean caressed her body. Despite Daniel’s arms holding her, she was floating, absorbing the life-giving liquid, replenishing herself down to the cellular level.

  It was like being filled with moonlight. A quiet joy suffused her, deep and calm. The water shifted. Daniel let go of her body, allowing the sea to support her. He took her hand, holding it fast as he stretched out beside her. The ocean cradled their bodies, suspending them in the vibrantly glowing surf.

  More than anything, she wanted to forget about the others waiting in the valley, about her responsibilities, so she could keep floating here with Daniel under the stars. The desire to stretch out the stolen moment was more than tempting. Logic said she would have many others like this. This was only the start with Daniel, but Serin had lived long enough to know the truth.

  She would never get this moment again.

  Serin stared at the moon. “The man in the coffin…” she began.

  “What about him?”

  “His death must have been the catalyst for the curse. Breaking the glamour on the body was the trigger. Jordan must have killed him, then deliberately left the body to be found.”

  “Like a supernatural booby trap?”

  “Yes. He must have planned for me to find it and trigger it where it lay.”

  There was a splash as Daniel stood, anger vibrating the air before he controlled it. “He was trying to kill you?”

  Serin swished the water with her hand. “Most likely. But he failed because I wasn’t the one who found the body…and after I avoided it, by letting the others take charge of the burial arrangements.”

  Daniel put his hand out, pulling her to him. He held onto her for a long moment. Neither spoke.

  “I thought I’d failed him,” she said, her voice devoid of all emotion.

  She didn’t have to see Daniel to know he was scowling. “Why would you feel guilty for what he did? He’s the one who stole from us. Given everything that went missing, he was at it for months, lying and sneaking around.”

  Serin kept her gaze fixed on the moon, noting his use the word us with a little squeeze of her heart. “Yes, but he did it out of revenge.”

  “Against who? The son of a bitch was married to you.”

  She laughed. “You say that like it’s a privilege. But for Jordan, it must have been hell after a while.”

  “Why?” Daniel sounded furious.

  She curled her body forward, standing in the waves. “Because he eventually must have realized I was never going to love him back.”

  30

  Ray Doyle was wearing a hole in the sidewalk next to the bar. He checked his watch again. It wasn’t yet four, and his partner was always at least five minutes late for everything. That was unfortunate—Ray was only two or three away from heart failure.

  Daniel had been gone for weeks. Ray had stumbled into the office the day after their confrontation in the alley to find their boss had received a request to temporarily reassign his partner. Romero was going undercover, and he wouldn’t be able to communicate for the length of his assignment.

  Doyle knew that was bullshit. This whole situation was bullshit.

  Ray pulled out a cigarette case, lit one, and took a deep drag. A woman at one of the tall tables near the entrance of the bar frowned at him as smoke drifted over her. He glared right back, checking his pocket for the evidence bag.

  This mor
ning, he’d received a text from his partner’s number asking him to come to the bar where he’d been meeting with that Serin woman. It was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the alley where Ray’s life had turned into a nightmare. He hadn’t even been able to talk to anyone about it out of fear they’d come for him with a straitjacket. His girlfriend was pissed at him because he’d been such an asshole since that day.

  Ray rolled his shoulders, checking his watch again. The text had probably been fake. Anyone could have spoofed the phone number. Pranksters did it all the time in his line of work.

  Daniel was dead in an unmarked grave, and Ray had let it happen.

  He spun on his heel, his eyes flaring when he spotted his partner, alive and well, at one of small tables a few feet away.

  Daniel was the picture of health. Even his skin was darker, making him appear as if he’d been lying on a beach instead of a ditch. Disgusted, Ray spat out the cigarette, hurling it into the gutter. He stalked to the table, giving his partner a blistering once-over.

  Something was different. Ray had spent year working side by side with the man. Daniel was a dour, hard-as-nails motherfucker. When it came to his work, he was ruthless. Now the asshole was practically glowing with happiness even though the shit wasn’t smiling.

  Ray checked behind him to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

  “What the hell, Daniel?” he hissed, turning back to thump on the table. “Where have you been? And don’t tell me it’s some undercover assignment because after what happened over there, I know better,” he said, jabbing a finger at the corner leading to the alleyway.

  Daniel nodded somberly. He was playing with a length of string. “What do you remember?” he asked.

  “I remember shooting your girlfriend,” Ray mumbled, staring at his hands. “I still don’t know how it happened. I was just holding the gun. I could’ve sworn my finger wasn’t even on the trigger anymore.”

  He raised startled eyes, searching Daniel’s face. “Then a female ninja tossed me over her shoulder, and the fucking ground opened and swallowed you up. My head was killing me, but I know that wasn’t a hallucination. You were holding Serin, and there was someone else there—a guy. That’s in addition to the bitch who tossed me. Who the hell are these people?”

  Ray broke off, wringing his hands. He hadn’t gotten a good look at the second woman, but he knew she hit harder than was humanly possible for someone that size.

  He dug through his jacket pocket for his pack, then lit another cigarette with shaky hands. “I’ve been going crazy thinking you were dead or worse for weeks, and all I get after all that shit is a text?”

  Ray couldn’t remember his last good night’s sleep. He’d lost over twelve pounds. Yes, he still needed to drop at least a half dozen more, but that wasn’t the fucking point.

  “I keep replaying that night in my head over and over,” he continued when Romero didn’t say anything. “Either it’s some next-level government MK-Ultra shit or I’m losing it.”

  Daniel sighed, but his eyes were calm and resigned. Reaching out, he took Ray’s hand with both of his.

  “You’ve been a great partner, the best a guy could ask for. I lucked out when we were assigned together. The only reason I could do my job as well as I did was because I knew you always had my back.”

  Ray studied his arm, wondering where he’d gotten the woven string bracelet. It looked like something his niece had made. Yeah, that’s where it came from. Little Emma made it for him.

  He blinked and raised startled eyes, wondering why Daniel Romero was holding his hand. Ray smiled politely and leaned back, forcing his former partner to let go.

  “Oh, um…hey. What’s up? Long time, no see. How is D.C. treating you?”

  Romero hesitated, withdrawing his hands. “It’s good,” he said. “Really good.”

  “Great, great.” Ray waved the waitress over, ordering them a few beers.

  It was the least he could do for old time’s sake. The two of them had never been close, but they had been partners for years. It wouldn’t kill him to have a beer with the guy whenever he was in town.

  After a few minutes, Daniel asked for the phone.

  “What?” Ray asked blankly.

  “It’s in your pocket. You brought it from the office. The techs were running something down on it for me.”

  Ray glanced down at in the bulge in his pocket. Removing the object, he frowned at the cell phone with the cracked screen in the evidence baggie.

  “I didn’t put this in here…”

  “I asked for it, remember? You were probably so busy this morning that you threw it in your pocket and forgot about it.”

  Ray wrinkled his nose, but handed it over. “Does it relate to your top-secret case?”

  “It’s a long shot, but the powers-that-be think it’s worth checking out.”

  Ray shrugged, and they sipped their beers, both lapsing into silence.

  “Is the new job exciting at least?” Ray hoped the move had been worth it. There wasn’t enough money on this earth to convince him to live in the capital. Office politics were bad enough, but they must be ten times worse in a place like D.C. Then factor in the cost of living…forget it. He’d rather have a slower-paced office and a bigger apartment, but then he’d never been as ambitious as Romero.

  “There’s something I didn’t mention about the new job,” Daniel said.

  “What is it?” Ray asked, scratching his stomach and belching quietly.

  Romero fiddled with his glass. “It involved a change of agency.”

  “What?” He sipped his beer, raising an eyebrow in question.

  “I’m CIA now.”

  Ray laughed. “You asshole! I can’t believe you defected.”

  His ex-partner shrugged. “I just wanted you to know in case you don’t hear from me that often what with the overseas assignments and everything…”

  “Oh, yeah. Of course,” he said, wondering why Romero was making a big deal about it. An email once or twice a year would suffice. “I get it, man—you’ll be busy playing James Bond, chatting up dusky femme fatales. I am so jealous,” he lied.

  He glanced at his watch again, wondering when he could politely excuse himself.

  “You don’t have to stay,” Daniel said, nodding toward the road. “I’ve got to head back to the airport in a few minutes anyway.”

  “Do you want a ride?” Ray asked, feeling generous.

  “I’m set, thank you,” Daniel said, polishing off his beer a little too fast. He coughed, then smiled stiffly. “Say hi to Bette for me.”

  Had Ray’s ex-partner met his girlfriend? He couldn’t remember introducing them. “I’ll do that,” he said, standing up and dropping a few bills on the table.

  Ray walked off with a whistle, deciding to surprise Bette by picking up Chinese on the way home. He was starving.

  Daniel watched his partner go, but the weight in his gut didn’t budge.

  “It was for the best,” Serin said, reaching for the phone from the seat Ray had just occupied.

  He leaned back in his chair. “Yeah, that worked…exactly the way it was supposed to,” he said slowly, as if the words were weighted down by sandbags.

  Serin’s ocean-blue eyes darkened in sympathy. “My mother’s very talented with memory charms. Her spells have never failed…with one notable exception.”

  He nodded, waving over the waitress. The girl approached with narrowed eyes, trying to place him. Daniel ordered another beer, paying in advance and throwing another twenty on top with a murmur of apology for not paying the last time he was here. Finally recognizing him, she pocketed the twenty and stalked off with a swish of her ponytail.

  “I don’t suppose we can use one on the waitress.” He should have asked for a bottled beer and not a draft. “She looks ready to spit in our drinks.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He smiled at Serin, well aware she wasn’t referring to the waitstaff, injected reassurance into his voice. “I’m fine.”<
br />
  Raising a dark eyebrow, she waited.

  He sighed. “All right. If you’d asked me a few weeks ago if I’d ever keep something from my partner, I’d have said there was no way. Now, I’ve rearranged his brain and implanted new memories.”

  “It was your idea,” Serin reminded him gently.

  “I know, I know. But this is harder than I thought it would be. “

  He hadn’t erased himself from Ray’s head entirely. Dalasini had explained that would be difficult because their partnership was too established and known to so many others.

  Instead, he’d diminished one of the major relationships in his life to a footnote. Whenever Ray thought of him now, Daniel would be unremarkable, just someone Ray used to work with who rarely crossed his mind.

  “I’m sorry if you’re having second thoughts, but it’s too late to change your mind. It can’t be undone. Not on Ray. He’s not like you. He’s not flexible.”

  Daniel took a big swig of his drink before nodding. Dalasini had explained that, too. “It’s for the best. It’s like I told you before—Doyle can’t handle the supernatural.”

  “No.” There was something in her voice, a little edge, as if she were wondering how capable he was of handling it.

  “I’m not having second thoughts about staying on here,” he assured her. “If I have to choose you or my old life, I will choose you and everything that comes with you every single time. I think I made that clear.”

  Serin’s shoulders dropped, but the lines around her eyes didn’t relax. “You did.”

  Rising, she pocketed the phone and held out her hand. “Let’s get moving. There’s work to do.”

  31

  Alec bent over the tiny script. He wanted to shout with joy. Instead, he allowed himself a single ‘fascinating’ as he made another note.