Life and Water: The Elementals: Book One

by Melanie Gilbert

  It didn’t take long for Drew to return with berries. They weren’t filling or satisfying, but it was something. I’d take it. He left again after delivering the first batch to us.

  “Eat,” Adam ordered.

  “Do you want some?” I offered him a few. He and the others shook their heads.

  “We’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” I put the berries in my mouth. They were juicy and tasted delightful after a long day, but I craved something more like fried chicken or pot roast. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for something, but my body wanted better, even though my mind knew I was lucky to have what I did.

  Thankfully, Drew came back with more berries because I needed more. After he left again I stopped eating to give Paul more. Paul was a growing teenager who needed food. He was skin and bones, and had a gangly look about him.

  When my parents and Isla returned from getting water, Archer, Paul, and I were ready for our turn. We followed Carmon who seemed grumpy. Even more so than earlier. I had a feeling it was due to a certain sister of mine who was humming upon her return. It probably grated on his nerves like it did ours. I was surprised he hadn’t blown up about it. Humming calmed Isla, and right now, she could use as much calm as she could get.

  The water from the stream tasted amazing. I drank my fill and then some. I didn’t like being watched, though, while I did it. “You mind?” I asked my overlord, aka Commander.

  “Mind what?”

  “Stop staring at me.”

  “I’m not.”

  I rolled my eyes and got to my feet.

  “Liar.” I couldn’t believe I called him that to his face. I blamed it on the dehydration and starvation from the day.

  “Watch your mouth, Silly.” He pronounced my name wrong on purpose this time, and even had the nerve to emphasize it. My hand acted of its own accord when it lashed out to slap him. He caught it easily, and pulled me against him. Oh hormones. That’s all I could blame for the lack of fight in me as his gorgeous blue eyes stared into mine. If only they weren’t as hard as ice right now.

  “I wouldn’t do that again,” he growled softly, and all I could do was watch those perfect lips move. He smirked when he saw where my eyes were directed, and I blushed like crazy.

  “Let me go,” I ordered pitifully. “Now.”

  “Of course,” he whispered in my ear. I barely contained the shiver that threatened to race down my spine from his breath hitting my ear just right. “How could I not after such a lethal threat?”

  He was laughing at me, and I felt my blood boil at his insults. I shoved him hard to make him back away from me. He laughed aloud at my angered expression. Angry tears wanted to fall, but I refused to let them. He would not get the pleasure of seeing that. It would give him more reason to laugh at my expense, and I already hated him enough.

  On our way back to the others, I decided to ask a question to Dalton, “What about the rest of you? Doesn’t he let you take food and water breaks

  “They’re fine,” Carmon answered for Dalton.

  “I wasn’t asking you,” I shot back. He didn’t bat an eye, but continued walking his arrogant strut.

  I could tell Archer wanted to say something in my defense, but I shook my head at him vigorously. He scowled, but it was better for him to remain silent when Commander Lanshay was in such a horrid mood.

  After a short time, Carmon again responded. “The answer to your question, though, is that if they want something all they have to do is tell me. They don’t need an escort through these woods.”

  “Unlike the rest of us who are weak and need escorts,” I huffed out, ignoring my own advice to Archer. I couldn’t help it after his pompous reply. My body was almost shaking with anger. I needed to get away from him before I blew up.

  “Don’t bother talking to him Sylee,” Archer said from behind us, finally giving in to his need to say something. “He’s arrogant, and will never listen to a word you say.”

  “You’re correct on the not listening part. Especially to your mouth. Now shut it before I help you,” Carmon commented back.

  I glared at his back. I could not stand this foul man, and yet when I remembered how he’d bitten me, I wanted him to do it again. It had felt amazing when he’d drawn the blood out of me. Stupid hormones! Luckily, I’d gotten my thoughts under control before moaning again. I would have willingly walked to the witches instead of dying of embarrassment in front of this animal.

  We finally made it back to my family, and we found them bedding down for the night, which wasn’t hard since we had nothing with us. I continued walking to my family until his hand wrapped around my arm to stop me. I spun around to him with fury in my eyes. I was done with him forcing me to do things like walk behind him.

  “What do you want now, Commander?” I asked as furiously as I could.

  “You’re with me. Over there,” he said nonchalantly, cocking his head in a different direction from my family. Oh no. I was so not sleeping by him. Now, if he was a nice guy, I would totally consider the invitation, except it was given as a command by Mr. Arrogant.

  “No, I’m not, Commander,” I said with as much emphasis on his rank in a sarcastic tone.

  He bent, grabbed me, and threw me over his shoulder. It was humiliating! I squeaked in shock, which was even more embarrassing, and started hitting his back as hard as I could. I let all the anger from his hurtful comments come out in my slaps and punches. I wished it were his gorgeous face I was hitting, but I’d take what I could get.

  I heard a commotion from the direction of my family, and looked up long enough to see Carmon’s brothers had put an end to my family’s advance. Whatever they said to my mother and father, it calmed them down. At least enough for them to relent their arguments against our leader.

  “You really are an animal!” I yelled at him, “What do you think you are doing?” I asked before Carmon dropped me to the ground. I landed on my bottom and glared up at him. I tried breathing in and out deeply to calm myself so I would not act irrationally.

  He had the nerve to sit next to me. “Lay down,” he tried to order, so I did the most grown up thing I could think of. I stuck my tongue out at him. He gave me another cocky smirk, which made me even angrier, but I was exhausted. I could barely keep my eyes open. In fact, I had to hide a yawn from him, but failed when he laughed at me. I wanted to beat on him again, but knew I was in no shape to do so. He was so much stronger than me, and even after our horrible day, he still looked fresh while my family looked dead with exhaustion. That didn’t mean I had to face him, though, so I turned around and put my back to him. Hopefully it damaged his pride.

  My body stiffened when I felt him lay down directly behind me, throwing his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. What was he doing?

  “You will explain why you bit me very soon, Commander,” I whispered to him. “Especially after spooning me tonight, and keep your hands from roaming.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not that type of guy. A jerk, sure, but I would never do that to you.”

  He sounded sincere about it, and serious, so I slept like the dead.

  ******

  When Jeff woke us up the next morning, I wanted to throw my pillow over my head and roll over and go back to sleep. Oh right, no pillow, and rolling over was out of the question with my spooner behind me. I had hoped yesterday was a dream. I was not in luck.

  I moved to sit up and I winced as my muscles screamed at me. Today was going to be horrible.

  “You should have stretched,” Mr. Know-it-all said from beside me. Lovely. My own personal trainer from the underworld, and he was late. Where was he last night? Oh, that’s right, spooning me, and not giving me advise.

  I gritted my teeth and painfully got to my feet. I looked around, and my eyes popped open wide when I saw so many foot prints in the dirt around me. They were varying sizes and shapes. I looked at our beloved Commander and he didn’t appear worried in the least. Didn’t we have a guard on duty last n
ight? I tried to keep my breathing under control so my sleeping companion did not see how bothered I was that so many creatures had been six inches from me while I slept. Carmon kept glancing at me. He was probably trying to see if I’d crack. I squared my shoulders and tipped my chin up a bit. I wasn’t going to crack and give him that pleasure. I was stronger than that, or I’d at least act like it.

  We all walked to the water hole together and got our morning drinks. My family kept eyeing me and our dear leader. Finally, my father approached me after drinking his fill of water. I knew it would be him to come to me. Mom and I loved each other, but I was closest to my father.

  “How are you doing, Sweetheart?”

  “I’m not sure. I would feel better if I had some answers, but I do not see that happening. Why are you so patient with him? He doesn’t show you the respect you deserve.”

  “I wasn’t always so patient with young, grumpy warriors. It has taken years to understand them. Our lives rest on their shoulders, and that is a huge responsibility. That in itself would make most people grumpy, but I feel there is more to these particular warriors than meets the eye.”

  “I don’t like him, and I don’t trust him,” I told my father.

  “And you don’t have to, Sylee. Looks like we’re moving on again. Keep your chin up.” He gave me a small smile of encouragement.

  The rest of the day was just as I expected. Not only was Carmon in a terrible mood, but his brothers followed soon after. Drew was the worst. He was always muttering words in a different language, but his attitude made it clear that they weren’t nice words. I could only guess as to who the comments were aimed at. It wasn’t much of a guess.

  Poor Isla and Paul were having a hard day staying up with the rest of us. They were drained from the day before. While they were only a couple of years younger than Archer and I, they didn’t yet have a built up stamina. If the Lanshay’s didn’t stop grumbling about them I was going to lose my temper.

  All morning I kept waiting and waiting for Carmon to either give me an explanation, or tell me when I’d get it. He didn’t think I’d let it go, I knew that for sure. I kept telling myself to be patient and ground my teeth together to pass the time. It worked for a little while.

  It was late morning when I finally exclaimed, “That’s it! I’m not going any further until someone explains why our wonderful Commander,” I pointed at Carmon in anger. He in turn pivoted to face me, “bit me,” I finished shortly.

  Carmon sighed like I was an irritating child he had to pretend to like playing with, but he nodded and sat on a fallen tree. Finally, some answers were coming. Everyone, including myself, followed his lead and sat on trees. I sat by my parents. It felt like the safest place.

  “Commander?” my father turned to Carmon.

  “Yes, Governor?”

  “I’m afraid I will be controlling this meeting so we can have some answers.” Carmon nodded. Dad then turned to Archer. “If you cannot keep your mouth quiet, son, you will need to step away. I’m assuming we’re still in a hurry, so this discussion needs to be brief. Do not argue or you will leave.”

  “Fine,” Archer mumbled. I got irritated when Carmon grinned at my brother’s lecture. Who were this guy’s parents? They weren’t any good if they let him turn out like this.

  Addressing me, Dad asked, “Now, Sylee, what exactly did Carmon do when he took you away before we entered the forest?”

  Not sure how much detail my father wanted I told him everything, and once I started talking, it was more like rambling. “I asked him what he wanted. After I wouldn’t go to him like he wanted, he walked up to me, grabbed my neck, and bit me.” I rubbed my neck where his teeth had sunk in. “It was weird. One second I wanted to fight him, and the next I didn’t want him to stop sucking my blood.” I blushed. I couldn’t believe I admitted to all that. Why couldn’t I just say, “He drank my blood”? No, I had to add extra detail that Psycho would enjoy. I knew he did because I looked at him carefully through my eyelashes and saw his smirk. He liked to do that a lot. I blamed it on his ego problem.

  “Your blood tasted so delicious, I didn’t want to stop,” he threw back at me. “I’m pretty sure it’s your best quality.”

  I saw red and I was shaking. How dare he! I almost stood to go slug him when Isla saved me.

  “He drank your blood? Like a vampire? Gross!” Isla made gagging noises. She stopped when Dad glared at her. If only she knew how much I craved his teeth in my neck again. I was an idiot.

  “Yes,” I continued, fighting through my embarrassment and anger. Why hadn’t Dad gotten after Carmon? “He stopped drinking, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground almost choking on blood. Turns out it was his blood.” Isla interrupted me with more gagging noises. “Then I felt something weird in my head, and in my chest. I still feel those weird feelings.” I shivered as I rubbed where the oddness was coming from.

  “Now, Commander, it’s your turn.” My father turned to our leader. I could see steel in Dad’s eyes. He was fuming, and we both knew that we weren’t going to like the answer that was coming. It was just a feeling I had. Suddenly, I didn’t want to know anything, but the truth was already on its way.

  “I drank her blood to create a bond,” Carmon said nonchalantly, as if that explained everything. It totally didn’t.

  “Which means…?” I motioned with my hands that he should continue.

  What he said next was the worst thing anyone had ever told me, the worst news I had received, the worst pile of manure anyone could have laid in my lap. I sat there stunned for a few moments after the words, “You are my mate, my wife,” left his mouth. I was pretty sure my mouth was hanging open, too, and there was dead silence. Everyone was as shocked as I was. Well, my family. His family knew. I could tell by the expressions on their faces. I could not manage to form a sentence. It was like my brain synapses were not firing.

  Then, suddenly, I was free from my stupor and my body, of its own free will, launched itself at Carmon. I could tell he was not expecting it because he did not try to defend himself, and we went toppling over the tree to the ground on the other side. After we landed, I threw punch after punch at his gorgeous face. I would have felt better had any of them connected, but he was skilled at deflecting my fists. Probably from practicing dodging all the other people he’d made mad over the years.

  “Stop!” he yelled. There was some sort of power behind it. It was an order I had no choice but to obey. “Go sit by your parents, and stop hitting me,” he growled with hatred in his eyes. At least, that’s what they looked like to me. I did as he commanded grudgingly, and I made sure he knew it with how slowly I moved.

  My mother spoke up then. She was a quiet woman who loved to hear the thoughts of others, but when she spoke we all listened. “What can Sylee do to get out of this? It isn’t what she wants.”

  Go Mom! Ask the right questions. I was still too stunned to put my thoughts in a coherent order. My blood was still boiling and my teeth hurt from grinding my jaw together. My fists were clenched so tightly I feared my hands would start bleeding where my fingernails dug into the skin. No wonder he thought it his place to sleep by my side last night. Wait, did he want more than that? I knew I didn’t. Not with that creep.

  Adam’s answer to my mother was not what I wanted to hear, and I felt my heart and shoulders drop. “Nothing. She can do nothing about it. She drank his blood. The bond is permanent.”

  I thought I would break, but I kept it from my face. My heart cried while I glared daggers at Carmon. He looked back at me without flinching and with no emotion.

  “How could you?” I had meant to ask it in anger, but it came out so quietly. “You took my choice from me. Why would you do that? Does our bond thing mean anything to you?”

  “No, it means nothing to me,” was his cruel reply. “I did it because it is my duty to protect you, and there are creatures in here that will destroy you if they get the chance. They have the ability to bond with you as well, and I’m preventi
ng that from happening. The same is true about why you sleep by me, but we’re out of time. We need to keep moving.”

  “No.” I tried to make him stop and answer me.

  “I answered your questions about why I bit you. That’s what you wanted, now let’s go.” Carmon stood and walked away. His brothers got everyone else moving. Thankfully, they left me alone.

  What was in this forest that could bond with me like he had? I shivered at the thought.

  Like yesterday, we walked for hours. Mom walked beside me while I continued to perform my duty of walking behind my “husband”. We did not dare speak to one another aloud with our Commander so close, but the question in her eyes was plain to read. There was also emotion there that I was sure she did not intend me to see. She wanted to make sure I was all right, considering the circumstances. The emotion was harder to determine, but I thought I could see worry mixed with anger. Thankfully, pity wasn’t on display. I did not want that. I would figure this out.

  Lunch was more berries and a few roots that Isla said tasted terrible, but I couldn’t taste them. I was still in shock. I couldn’t even grasp that the forest creatures had left the food in a pile for us during the night. My life was a shamble now. What was I going to do? I was married against my will to a man who thought my blood was the best part about me. Every time he had made, and continued to make crude, hurtful comments he knew I was his wife, or mate, or whatever it was. He hurt me on purpose, and I was stuck with him. He’d even admitted our marriage meant nothing to him.

  Angry tears stung my eyes all day, but I wouldn’t let them flow over. I wouldn’t let him smirk from my pain again. He would not win. I would make sure of it.

  My poor family was almost asleep on their feet when Carmon stopped. “We’re here,” he called to his brothers.