Elemental Awakening Book Bundle

by Nicola Claire

  "And we do it the bedrooms," Aktor added.

  "Why?" I asked, thinking here was as good as anywhere.

  "Because it will be too traumatic for some," he replied steadily, not looking at anyone in particular, but all of us knowing he was referring to Sonya. "And this room is for pleasure. Even in war, one must have a place to recoup and reset." He smiled across the room at me, then announced, "Lunch is served."

  Mark jumped up from his seat and slipped onto the bench beside a waiting Sonya, as Theo reached out and took my hand, helping me to my feet.

  "We will get through this," he whispered against my ear.

  "I know we will," I whispered back, because we didn't have a choice.

  "You're amazing," he added. "You never give up."

  My eyes came up to his, a warmth rushing through me at the respect and admiration I could see there. Then heating further when he let me see the attraction he felt as well.

  None of it was Pyrkagia but it felt just as potent.

  "Despite knowing these attempts to reconnect will be painful," he remarked in a normal level of volume as he turned toward the table and helped me onto a seat, "you push for it against all resistance because you know we have no choice."

  "Casey has always been a fighter," Sonya remarked from down by the bread.

  I threw my friend a smile.

  "I can see that," Theo replied, sliding in beside me on the bench and making sure his thigh pressed against the length of mine.

  It surprised me that I was still capable of feeling such conflicting emotions. I thought there was enough serious responsibility being weighed that I wouldn't have any space for how Theo made me feel. How his leg against mine was an intimate move making excitement and anticipation surge through my body and light it on fire. But how his words reminded me that he still didn't remember everything we were to each other, everything we'd already discovered about each other, making my heart feel heavy and sadness to bloom.

  It was a quandary boiling inside, leaving me as unbalanced as the world.

  "I wonder where Nico and Isadora are?" Sonya asked into the silence, as we consumed a miraculously delicious meal despite Aktor having had to work with such compromised kitchen facilities.

  "They decided to go further afield, to get an idea of scale to the disaster," Theo advised.

  "They'll be along before you know it," the butler added in what had to be an outright guess.

  "So, we try to re-establish our Stoicheio," I offered, attempting to make Sonya forget her worry over where Nico was. I was sure she wasn't too bothered about Isadora's absence. She was my best friend, after all. "And while we're doing that, try to find out what's happening in the world."

  "I managed to tune into the Civil Defence radio station," Aktor advised, falling into my strategizing and distract Sonya plan with ease. "The whole country has been affected and from what they could establish, the entire world."

  "As we suspected," Theo murmured around a mouthful of soup.

  "Well, we'll start small and then move big," I announced, making Theo smile as he lifted another spoonful to his mouth.

  "We have a plan, then," Aktor agreed. "Stoicheio, communications, and then reassess."

  That about summed it and for now it would have to do.

  We finished the meal in silence, each lost to their own thoughts. If the others were like me, their minds would be filled with turbulent worries. Fears and concerns, doubts and depression. But I worked with the belief that we would succeed and banished those negative emotions with sheer force of will.

  My grandfather would have been proud. Which made me wonder just how the Alchemists had fared. They'd been more aware of what was coming than anyone. Had they taken precautions? And did that mean they were now in a stronger position than us?

  When the lunch was finished and Sonya began clearing the table, I gripped my brother's arm and hauled him into a corner of the room, away from the rest. Theo was discussing the provisions we'd brought with Aktor, planning on how long they'd last and what else needed to be done to ensure we could stay on the property safely. I used their momentary distraction to corner Mark.

  "What?" he asked in that ineloquent and confrontational way only a sibling could manage.

  "Tell me about the Alchemists," I demanded.

  "Whoa!" he said, hands up in mock surrender. "You only have to ask, sister."

  "That's what I'm doing. Quit being a dumb-arse."

  "Your language skills have taken a turn for the worse, Casey," he remarked, sitting down on a two seater sofa and patting the space beside him. I glared as I obliged. "What do you want to know?" he said in a more resigned tone of voice.

  "How prepared were they for this?"

  His eyes widened slightly and he looked at me as though seeing me for the first time.

  "Prepared," he finally replied.

  "So, they'll have access to the Elements still. Not be cut-off," I further explained.

  "Yes, undoubtedly," he said with a slow nod.

  "But you are? Cut-off, I mean."

  "I wasn't at CERN," he said.

  "How does that work?"

  He let out a beleaguered breath of air on a sigh. "Twenty-three years this has been written in the stars. And even before that, the leaders were well versed in history. They knew a Genesis would come again. It's been and gone before. This isn't the first time Aetheros has called forth an Aether."

  It wasn't exactly news to me. The Aeras shaman had said as much in one of his riddles. Aether comes, Aether goes. Aether puts on quite a show.

  "How did the last one die?" I asked, quietly.

  Mark shrugged. "Old age?" he said.

  "He didn't just vanish when things balanced out again?"

  Mark's pale blue eyes came up to mine, understanding and pain etched there. "I don't know, Case. I just don't know."

  I nodded. There was no point trying to think past the immediate problem anyway. First we had to reconnect with our Stoicheio, then we had to balance the Elements out and right the world.

  But still, the threat of the Alchemists hung over my head and here I had an Alchemist to hound.

  "What's their end game?" I asked.

  Mark whistled. "You go right for the kill shot, don't you sis?"

  "Is it a secret?" I demanded. "The kind that if you tell me you'd have to kill me?"

  He laughed, it sounded a bit too harsh. "No, it's the kind that if I tell you I die."

  "Oh, come on, Mark!" I exclaimed, unfortunately garnering the attention of the two other Athanatos in the room. Hazel eyes lifted and locked directly on us. "Be a man," I hissed. "Do the right thing and help us out."

  "Who says," Mark replied, enunciating each word carefully to make his point, "that you are the good guys?"

  "You can't mean that," I breathed, sitting back in my seat, putting some space between us.

  "Well, not you, Case," Mark hurried to correct. "You're just a pawn."

  Oh, and that was better?

  I shook my head at him, feeling disappointed all over again.

  "So, you just want us to sit here and wait for them to arrive and wipe us out?" I asked numbly.

  "I'm here, aren't I?" he said, with one of his signature charming smiles. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

  My eyes found Theo's, his and Aktor's attention was completely on us. Both looked exhausted. Feeding their human sides was keeping them going, but strain and weariness was evident around their still hazel eyes.

  "This isn't over," I said to Mark, but my gaze was locked on Theo's. Drawn there, despite the lack of gold. Needing to ease the strain.

  "Of course it's not," Mark replied sarcastically. "You could never just do what you were told without causing a bloody fuss."

  My hand shot out and wrapped around his shirt, then I hauled him to his feet as I rose to mine. I may not have been able to singe him with Fire, or wrap a vine around his neck to make my point. But I was an immortal with superior strength than a human, and I'd hazard a guess
greater brawn than an Alchemist at a push. Even an Alchemist that was a foot taller and a hell of a lot broader than me.

  "Watch yourself," I advised, my nose almost pressing into his. "I am not the girl you left behind four years ago. I am not even the human you left behind. And right now I am amping to pay you back for that desertion. Give me one good reason not to kick your duplicitous arse."

  His gaze held mine and he slowly lifted his hands, palms facing out, in surrender.

  "OK," he whispered. "You win."

  I let his shirt go with a small shove that sent him back a foot and no more.

  "No, Mark," I said with a shake of my head. "If we don't start working together we all lose. Haven't you heard a freaking word I've said?"

  I turned, met Theo's eyes and then walked out of the room, knowing he'd follow.

  Chapter Fourteen

  You Are Fire Itself

  He found me in one of the makeshift bedrooms. It had clearly been an office at one stage. The desk pressed back against the shattered window, plastic wrap covering the opening and letting light in, but the inclement weather out. A king sized mattress lay on the floor against one wall, an empty hearth on the other, set, ready to be lit. Matches sat on top of the mantle. I walked over and lit one, crouching down and lighting the staged wood on fire.

  When I stood Theo was right there, desire blazing from those eyes, hunger almost overshadowing the fact that they weren't flaring gold.

  "You are magnificent," he declared, his breath coming a little too quickly. "Absolutely magnificent."

  He reached out and wrapped a hand around my nape, heat infusing my body from just his touch and the ravenous look on his face. I could see his intention, written clearly over that regal, powerful and lust-filled façade. And my body was right on board with his plans.

  But my mind was not. It was currently back in our living area staring into tired hazel, missing the omnipotent gold. I wanted it back.

  "Can you feel Pyrkagia?" I asked hopefully, noting my voice was as breathless as his.

  "I feel all kinds of hot right now, but no," he husked, "not my Stoicheio."

  I was surprised he'd even answered, because the second he was finished his lips were on my skin, licking, kissing, nipping down my neck, biting into my shoulder in an imitation of a Thisavros mark.

  My legs weakened, moisture pooled between my thighs, I let out a whimper and moan that made Theo's chest rumble in a low growl.

  "Mine," he rasped against my earlobe and then followed that up with his hand squeezing my breast through my t-shirt. "Mine," he repeated, his groin pressing into my body, the steel of his erection reaching halfway up my stomach and making me pant with want and desire. "Let me show you," he pleaded. "Oraia," he added. "There can be such beauty between lovers if you just open yourself up."

  Oh, yes. I was on board. There was no denying that. My hands fisted in his hair, gripping tightly. My head tipped back exposing more flesh for his touch, arching my spine in the process and pressing my breast into his cupped palm. Yes, I was so on board.

  "Cassandra," he breathed against my lips. His skin cast in a golden hue that was not from his eyes.

  I blinked at it, then breathed back into his mouth, "Gold."

  He groaned, licked my bottom lip, started to walk me backwards toward the bed, his purpose obvious. My capitulation imminent.

  Gold still painting his skin as hazel intently blazed from his eyes.

  "Gold," I said in a rush of escaped air as I landed on the mattress, Theo on top.

  "What's gold?" he groaned against my throat, one hand twisted in my hair the other already down my pants and finding me waiting and wet.

  I moaned, bucked my hips, forgot what I was thinking, closing my eyes through the sensations Theo was creating and silently begging for my oncoming release.

  "Casey," Theo called. "Open those eyes. Let me see you come."

  I couldn't refuse him. I couldn't deny myself. Theo. This Theo. Any Theo. I needed him right now.

  A cry escaped me as he worked magic between my legs, delving in and out in a steady rhythm with his two thick fingers, his thumb rubbing in exactly the right spot.

  "Magnificent," he said, hungry hazel staring right into my soul. "Gold," he added, his movements slowing until they stilled.

  "Gold," I repeated on a pant and then a subsequent moan of post orgasmic bliss.

  Theo closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, an understanding replacing some of the lust.

  "Are my eyes gold, too?" he asked, voice a husky sexy rasp.

  "No. And shouldn't they be? If mine are?" I asked, panting for breath.

  "You were trying to tell me that," he confirmed. I nodded. He nodded back; one quick bob of his head. "Yours are gold," he confirmed.

  "I guessed as much," I whispered.

  "Hmm-mm," he murmured, sounding rueful if a hum could sound rueful that is. "Tell me?" he asked. "Is there ever going to be a time when I get to sample your wares without interruption or the world coming to an end?"

  "My wares?" I asked, lips tipping up in amusement, eyebrows halfway up my brow.

  Theo groaned, removing his hand from my pants, patting the waistband as though to ensure I was all presentable again. He stared at where his hand rested above my belly button.

  "I want you so much it hurts," he admitted, his voice whisper quiet.

  I knew that type of pain. But we weren't at luxury to relieve it. Not yet.

  "Our Stoicheio are still there, if we just reach for them," I said instead, making Theo remove his hand from my body completely. He sat up and stared into the flames of the hearth. "You haven't reached yet."

  "You want me to try," he said, almost sounding a little bitter.

  "Theo Peters," I said with disbelief. "Are you actually pouting right now?"

  His head turned towards me and he offered a small self-deprecating smile.

  "Cassandra," he drawled. "Genesis is cock-blocking me, I have every right to feel put out."

  We stared at each other for a moment and then I started to laugh. It took a beat or two before Theo finally joined in. But within seconds of him laughing I was leaning on his shoulder, holding my stomach with both hands as his body shook all over, rubbing comfortingly against mine.

  "Magnificent," he whispered eventually into my ear, his arms having at some stage wrapped around me to hold me steady. "If you weren't my Thisavros already," he added, voice deliciously velvet and low, "I'd make you mine right now."

  Oh, Theo. Just... Theo. I'd let you as well.

  "Just one kiss," he pushed. "That's all. Then I promise we'll attack our Stoicheio with gusto and set the world to rights again. One kiss."

  My lips were stretched in a wide smile.

  "You think you can stop at one kiss?" I asked, playfully.

  "Of course," he shot back. "I'm a prince. I can do anything."

  My smile grew even bigger. How could I not love this Theo? Impossible.

  "One kiss," I whispered.

  "Just one," he murmured, lowering his lips to mine.

  It was soft and slow and sweetly gentle. The kiss of a man who treasured his lover. Taking his time, Theo licked and nibbled, swept his tongue around mine, danced with me, lifted me, set me floating away on a cloud. He didn't heat it up so much that we pawed at each other, he just stoked the internal flames, building the fire leisurely, making me want it more and more. Softly, slowly, sweetly. Beautifully.

  His head pulled back and heated hazel eyes stared down at me.

  For a suspended moment he just soaked me up. It seemed monumental. It seemed significant. It lasted a very long time.

  Then a knock sounded out on the door.

  Theo closed his eyelids slowly and lowered his forehead to mine.

  "Yes?" he said, voice slightly strained.

  "Nico has returned," Mark announced. "Isadora is harmed."

  Aktor was running a sponge over Dora's forehead, where she lay stretched out on a couch, when we rushed into the living are
a behind Mark. I couldn't see any blood. Her clothes looked in perfect Isadora order, no limbs sitting at odd angles. She did look pale, which for a Pyrkagia was saying something indeed, their natural tan usually preventing the ghostly appearance the rest of us often effect. But other than that, and the fact that her eyes were scrunched closed as though in pain, she looked whole.

  "What happened?" Theo demanded as he crossed the room to look down on the woman over Aktor's shoulder.

  "A fire burning out of control in Kilbirnie," Nico advised. "The Fire Service couldn't get through the rubble," he added. "The humans were using buckets of water in a chain to reach the building itself." He paused, sucked in a deep breath then added, "There were children trapped inside."

  "What did she do?" Theo asked slowly, eyes still locked on Dora's face.

  "Used Pyrkagia to control it," Nico whispered.

  "She made contact?" Aktor asked, surprised.

  "It almost killed her," Nico offered as answer.

  "But it worked?" I pushed.

  All eyes turned towards me. Sonya looked a little sick that I'd asked, considering the state Isadora was currently in. Mark looked slightly shocked and then contemplative. Aktor and Nico looked amused. And Theo looked angry.

  "It might have worked," he said, voice hard, "but the consequences are not acceptable." And just like that, Theo had decided not to pursue reaching for his own Element.

  I ignored him and my disappointment. It was hard with those anger-filled hazel eyes directed at me. I couldn't tell if he was indignant that I'd shown little compassion for Isadora's state. Or irate that I'd show such disregard for everyone's potential to become like her.

  But right now, we couldn't afford to be sidetracked by such weaknesses, and I did consider not pursuing this as a weakness.

  I turned to Nico. "Did it work?" I demanded, my voice just as hard as Theo's.

  Nico held my steady gaze and nodded. "She kept the fire away from the children until they could be rescued. I believe she would have done more and snuffed the flames out completely, but I refused to let her try."

  I looked down at Isadora, who still had her eyes closed and held her body stiff. I wondered if her eyes would blaze gold now. I wondered if she could hear us, or if she was too far gone in agony to comprehend the conversation around her. I didn't let myself acknowledge that she had done something for the humans she only barely tolerated. I couldn't afford to think of Isadora as anything less than a hardened Athanatos. Not right now. Not when the world was teetering on destruction.