Bound by Earth: The Nature Hunters Academy Series, Book 1

by Quinn Loftis

  “There was this one company that caught my attention,” Tara said. “It’s called Tellus Geological Testing and Extraction.”

  “Wow, that’s quite a mouthful.”

  Tara nodded. “They call it TGTE for short.”

  “Still a mouthful. What does this company do? With the word geological, I take that to mean it has something to do with nature,” she said with a smile. Carol was well aware of how much Tara enjoyed being outside.

  “The recruiter said they study the elements to try and find ways they can be used to enhance the quality of human life.” Tara repeated what Jax had said and what had been on the front page of the website.

  “That sounds interesting,” Carol said. “What kind of education do they require?”

  “It’s on-the-job training. They don’t require any college. From what I could find on their website, they have their own training program, and it was kind of like a college set up. New employees live in dorms and attend classes, and it’s all to teach you how to do what they do. The company is based out of Asia.”

  “You sound excited about it. Is this what you’ve decided on?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, it’s drilled into your head that you should go to college, get a degree, and even a master’s degree. Would I be making a mistake if I didn't do that?”

  Carol swallowed the food she’d been chewing and put down her fork. She rested her forearms on the edge of the table and clasped her hands together. “I think that not everyone is cut from the same cloth. Not everyone’s path leads them to college. If what you want to do doesn’t require a college degree, then why waste your time and money? I think you need to decide what’s right for you and not worry about what the rest of the world is doing or pressing upon you to do.”

  “Okay,” Tara said, feeling better about her desire to know more about TGTE. And it had nothing to do with Elias Creed. Absolutely nothing. “Tomorrow, Shelly and I are going to turn in the forms they gave us to complete. They weren’t applications. They were personality tests.”

  “The hospital gave me one of those when I applied for a nursing position. They said it was to help put us in the best working environment for our personality type. For some, that meant patient care. For others, that meant dealing with insurances and making sure charts were kept up-to-date.”

  So, maybe it wasn’t bizarre that Jax had given them a personality test. Tara would be sure to point out that information to Shelly, as if it had been her BFFF that had been having any reservations about the company with attractive employees and equally attractive names.

  Chapter 10

  Elias stood across the street from Buffalo High and used a simple spell to disguise himself to those who might look his way. All they would see was a tall tree with a large trunk. He’d managed, with the assistance of the tree, to make himself completely camouflaged to those without the ability to see the elemental world.

  Concealing himself was becoming a habit for Elias lately. He’d done the same thing the night before when he’d gone to Tara’s house. After meeting Tucker a day ago, Elias knew he couldn’t let the water acolyte roam unchecked. Jax agreed and allowed Elias to follow the boy. Just as suspected, Tucker had ended up at Tara’s house. The boy had prowled around outside for a while then left. Elias had refused to leave Tara after that. He’d stayed and watched over her because the idea of Tara in any type of danger enraged him. Was that disturbing? Perhaps. Did it change the fact that he’d be at her house again tonight? Not a chance.

  He knew she was most likely not in any more danger here than at her school. But he wanted to see her one more time before she was tucked away and beyond his reach within the walls of the building. He’d been waiting for at least thirty minutes when he felt his eyes being pulled to the right where the student parking lot was located. He found her immediately. She was like a siren’s call to him, and he was unable to drag his attention away. Elias had to force himself to remain where he was instead of going to her and asking her how she slept, if she’d had anything to eat, or if she needed anything. He wanted to make sure she was taken care of, and he needed to be the one doing the caretaking.

  She looked beautiful. Her long wavy hair swayed slightly as she walked. Her eyes were sparkling with amusement as she talked with her friend, Shelly. Snug jeans showcased her legs and backside, and what a glorious backside it was. Her shirt hung off one shoulder, revealing the tantalizing flesh. Tara had no idea how attractive she was. She was oblivious to the eyes that followed her. But Elias wasn’t, and it made him jealous to see high school guys drooling over her. But to his pleasure, she ignored them all and just focused on Shelly, who was talking animatedly. When they disappeared into the school, he sighed and leaned against the tree. The brief glimpse wasn’t enough. After being at her house last night—being near her even though he hadn’t been with her—he felt addicted. Everything about her called to everything inside of him. His magic was going haywire and pulling him toward her. He didn’t understand it, and if he was honest, he was a little horrified by his obsession with a girl he’d met twenty-four hours prior. And even twenty-four hours ago when he’d first met her, his magic had reached out for hers. It had wanted to connect with her. For the first time since realizing what he had become, he got the feeling his magic—the magic given to him by Mother Earth and the elementals—was a separate entity from him. It lived inside of him, and it allowed him to wield it and use it, but his magic wasn’t beholden to him. And for some reason, the magic living inside of him wanted to be joined with the magic inside of Tara. There was a possessive nature to it and a longing to be near her. The other thing Elias had realized was that his own feelings, separate from his magic, felt the same way. What did that mean?

  He’d been attracted to females in the past but had never wanted them, never felt as if he belonged with them. And despite any attraction he might have felt, he’d never had the desire to date anyone. He hadn’t mentioned this to Jax. His teacher and mentor thought Elias was so focused on learning how to use the magic and help deal with the dark elementals and their acolytes that he didn’t have time for dating. Elias hadn’t corrected him.

  The subject was entirely too personal to discuss with Jax. Elias would have to do the research on his own to find out if what he was feeling was something that all Nat Vent’s went through, or if it was unique to him for some reason.

  Stepping behind the tree, Elias released the spell and was once again visible. Most of the students had gone inside. There were only a few stragglers left. As he headed for his car, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and then answered the call.

  “Alright then?”

  “Why do you always answer the phone like that?” Jax asked.

  “How should I answer it?”

  “With a ‘hello.’”

  “That is how I answered it,” Elias said.

  “’Alright then’ is hello?” Jax sounded skeptical.

  “I’m not a yank, mate. You can’t expect me to talk like one. Why are you calling? Maybe I should answer it like that.”

  “Tara and Shelly turned in their personality tests to the front office. The office just called me. Can you run in and get them?”

  Elias sighed. “How did you know where I was?”

  “You don’t seriously think we let our students, no matter their age, just run around unchecked, do you?” Jax asked, sounding amused, but also serious.

  “Trackers? You put trackers on us?” He really shouldn’t be surprised. The school and the instructors were responsible for the well-being and safety of the students. Not to mention, if one of them got into trouble with a dark elemental, someone would know where to find them.

  “Something like that. Get the papers and come back to the house.”

  Jax hung up without a goodbye. That was his thing. Never said goodbye or see you later, just ended the call.

  Elias turned back toward the school. His long strides made quick work of the distance, and a coup
le minutes later he was in the school’s office.

  He smiled at the receptionist and watched the blush rush across her face. It wasn’t his fault he’d been born with a face that apparently drew women in. Usually, it was annoying to be stared at, but he liked it when Tara stared at him. Only Tara.

  “How can I help you?” the woman asked.

  “I’m with TGTE. We were at the job fair yesterday. I was told a couple of students dropped off some paperwork for us.”

  She blinked several times as if her brain was catching up to what he’d just said.

  “Ma’am?”

  Her face reddened even more. “Right. Of course. They’re right here.” She picked up two stapled packets and handed them to him. Elias thanked her and then headed out, pretending not to hear the sigh the woman made.

  He forced himself not to look at Tara’s sheets and instead set them in the passenger seat and headed to the rental house where he and Jax were staying. Driving away from the school, putting distance between himself and Tara, bothered him. It was like a tag on his shirt, rubbing his neck every time he moved. Elias ignored it, but by the time he got to the house, he was as agitated as a troll caught in an iron trap.

  When he got inside, he didn’t even bother to look at the tests. He whipped them at Jax and sharply turned away. Elias’s jaw clenched tightly, and the magic inside of him heated his blood.

  “Everything alright?” Jax asked.

  “Fine,” Elias snapped. He ran his fingers through his hair and then pinched the bridge of his nose. He was restless and irritable, and it had begun as soon as he moved in the opposite direction of Tara Thompson. He felt something similar when she’d left for school and they’d been briefly separated, but he had been able to ignore it.

  “Elias.” Jax’s voice was just background noise to the pumping blood moving through his veins. “Did something happen while you were out? Were you attacked by something?”

  He wanted Jax to quit talking. Elias needed to get in his car and drive straight back to the high school and drag Tara out of the building and keep her by his side. Bloody hell, he’d lost his damn mind.

  “Elias, you need to calm down. You’re making the house tremble. I don’t want to have to pay for any damages,” Jax said in a calm voice as if he were dealing with a dangerous animal. “Please talk to me. Not as your instructor, but as your friend.”

  Elias took several deep breaths in an attempt to get a handle on his emotions. It had been a long time since he’d lost control of his magic. He had originally decided he wasn’t going to tell Jax about what was happening with him and his reaction to Tara. But if he was dangerous because of what he was feeling, someone needed to know. Jax was a friend. Even though they got on each other’s nerves, and even though Jax was older, they’d still managed to become good, trusted friends.

  “I need your word you won’t try and interfere,” Elias said. He could feel his magic getting more and more agitated, worried that Jax would try and keep him away from Tara. That would definitely be a bad choice.

  “As long as it doesn’t pose a danger to humans, I won’t interfere.”

  That was as good as Elias was going to get. “I feel something for Tara,” he said.

  “What kind of something?” Jax asked carefully.

  “Possessiveness, desire, need, want. And my magic is drawn to her. It wants to join with her.”

  Jax was quiet, so quiet Elias eventually looked over at him. His friend looked both confused and intrigued.

  “Do you know anything about why I’m reacting to her this way?” Elias asked.

  “Do you like her?”

  “What I know of her, yes,” he answered instantly, just the brief glimpse of her guarded, yet sharp personality had him thirsty for more, to know everything about her.

  “And you’re attracted to her?”

  Elias nearly asked if the sky was blue. What red-blooded male wouldn’t be attracted to someone with curves like Tara? “Yes.”

  “But it feels like more than just normal attraction or interest for a female,” Jax said, and it wasn’t worded as a question.

  “It feels like she belongs to me, and I, in turn, belong to her.” He began to pace again as the restlessness he’d been feeling began to grow. “I need to be close to her. Being this far from her is making me agitated.”

  “I can see that.” His friend didn’t sound amused. He sounded anxious. “What are you worried about? Why do you feel you need to be close to her?”

  “I need to know she’s okay. I need to be able to protect her. I need to feel her.” The words flowed out of him without thought. They were absolutes that he knew to be the truth.

  “Would it help if you knew she was alright?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Here, her number is on the form.” Jax held out Tara’s paperwork. “Text her. See if that takes the edge off.”

  “Do you know why this is happening?”

  Jax shook his head. “I have theories but nothing that is solid information. We’re going to have to ask someone much older and wiser than me.”

  Elias turned his attention back to his phone. He entered Tara’s contact information and in the slot for Name, he put Luv. Not because it was a common British endearment. He did it because it felt right for him to call her that. He’d analyze all the crazy stuff that was driving his behavior in a little while. Right now, he just wanted to know Tara was all right.

  I’m glad you turned the paperwork in.

  He pressed Send and waited. Finally, the phone vibrated, and her response popped up.

  Jax?

  Elias frowned. Why the bloody hell would she think Jax was texting her? Was she attracted to him? Jax was a good-looking man, but he was also an older man. He could pass for late twenties, but he was over two centuries old. Much too old for Tara.

  No. Try again, luv.

  At least a minute passed before she responded.

  Elias?

  Bingo.

  Why are you texting me?

  We got your tests. Jax will go over them and then be in touch.

  Alright, great. Thanks.

  He didn’t want to stop. The texting was helping. It wasn’t taking away all of his anxiety, but it was taking the edge off and he no longer wanted to tear down the door and speed off like a bat out of hell to get to her.

  You’re alright

  Are you asking me or telling me?

  Are you?

  Yes. I’m fine. Except that I’m in school and a wanker keeps texting me.

  Elias chuckled. She must have watched some British television shows at some time or another to know a British insult. He also found it interesting that she was more comfortable engaging him in text. She barely knew him and yet she was teasing him. Did she feel the weird connection between them as well?

  Such language for a lady.

  He was poking her, and she was like an angry bear with her growling and snapping. He liked it.

  Screw you, Creed.

  I like you, too, luv. Have a good day. -E

  He waited, knowing what was coming.

  I never said I liked you! And don’t call me luv.

  “How do you feel?” Jax’s voice intruded.

  Elias looked up from his phone and met his mentor’s eyes as he considered the question. The magic inside of him urged him to go to her, but it was bearable. He didn’t feel as if he were about to tear through the small town just to get to Tara.

  “Better,” he said. “Not great. The feeling to go to her and see her isn’t gone, but I can manage it.”

  “Good,” Jax said. “I’m going to go back to the school and see if I can do some research on whatever this is that is happening between you two. Can you keep an eye on Tucker? He’s obviously up to something, and I think it’s more than a crush.”

  Elias nodded. As soon as Jax was gone, no doubt using the gate they’d placed in the woods behind the house in order to travel back to the academy, Elias grabbed Tara’s personality test then headed for his
car. If he was going to keep an eye on Tucker, then he’d need to be where the boy was—at the school. The closer Elias got to the building, to her, the less agitated he felt. By the time he was sitting in the parking lot across the street, he could actually think clearly without wanting to go in and demand to see her. I’m losing my bloody mind. It was going to be a long day. A grin slid across his face as he thought about the earlier texts and picked up the test he’d laid in the passenger seat. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he could poke her a little more. He could feel his magic thrumming through him as if it liked that idea as well. His smile grew as he read her answers. Yes, he was going to have fun poking his angry little bear. So he sent her another text and waited for her response, which was sure to entertain him.

  Chapter 11

  Tara pulled her phone from her pocket, trying hard not to draw attention to herself. It had vibrated a few minutes ago. Normally, she would not check it in the middle of class. That was before Elias had texted her. She couldn’t believe he’d texted her. She thought for sure that she wouldn’t hear from him again or see him unless she was offered a place at TGTE. But then there had been a text on her phone, from him. He had asked if she was okay, as if she mattered. She wasn’t about to admit that she’d been hoping to hear from him again after those unexpected texts, or that she had been thinking of things she could text him without looking like a stalker. Nope, not admitting it.

  When she’d finally managed to wiggle the phone free, she glanced down at the screen. Her heart sped up as she saw the message was from the same number as earlier. Tara slid her finger across the screen, opening the message.

  “Ms. Thompson?”

  Her eyes snapped up at the sound of her name. Mrs. Thorton was staring at her in expectation, brows raised as she leaned slightly forward.