Fallen Elemental (Elemental Series Book 1), page 21
I'm not exactly lying, but I'm not telling the full truth either. I want to trust the guys and tell them everything. But if I'm being completely honest with myself, a part of me wonders if my parents might be right. What if they are just using me for my power because they need me to be this savior? What if they want me to risk myself, regardless of how I feel about it? Or would they be okay if I never wanted to use the power of lightning again? Only time will tell, I guess.
Forty-Five
Theodore
We all watch Evie intently, and I know the others can feel the lie in her words just as well as I can. She’s scared. Of what, though, we’re not sure.
Rather than call her out on it, I move over to her side and take her by the hand. Then I guide her into the house, giving the others a mental nudge to leave the matter be. "It’s okay, Evie. We all get pretty wiped out after using our elements. Maybe we should get you in bed so you can have a nice long rest before school tomorrow."
She bites her lip hesitantly and I can feel her guilt. She hates lying to us.
"Well, actually," she pauses in the kitchen, "would it be okay if I just curled up on the couch and watched a movie before bed? It's been so long since I’ve just sat back and relaxed."
'What do you guys think? Do you want to hang out with Evie? We can always just skip the game and watch it another day. She sure does look mentally exhausted,' I tell them through our bond. I'm not a big fan of football myself, but I’ll watch it if the others have it on. I know all the rules, I just lack the interest. I'd rather be reading in a quiet room, but sometimes I find myself watching just because.
'Yeah, we'll skip the game tonight,' Ky answers for the other two. But even though they don’t say anything, I can tell by the way they’re watching her that they would gladly give up game night every night if it made her happy.
"Yeah, Evie. We can just chill together. I'll get the popcorn ready while you guys pick out a movie," I tell her softly.
The soft smile she gives me makes it all totally worth it. Then she leans up on her tip toes and kisses my cheek. "Thank you," she murmurs. Then she lets go of my hand and starts walking off through the house towards her bedroom, leaving us guys in the kitchen.
I turn to face the others a bewildered look. "Is it just me, or does it seem like she’s getting more intimate with us?"
Ky grins and shoves past me, calling back over his shoulder as he leaves. "Nope, it’s not just you. I think we all might be bonded by the end of the month, boys."
I stare after him, filled with both hope and doubt. Does he really think Evie will be ready that soon? I glance over at Dane, who also looks doubtful, and then to Mike, who is grinning broadly, his eyes filled with happiness.
"Sometimes I have to wonder if that ass we call a brother is the one with foresight around here.” Mike muses. “Because he's absolutely right.”
Forty-Six
Evelyn
An alarm blares loudly, the insistent beeping making me groan in annoyance. That is, until I realize it’s not my normal alarm.
I jolt up in a panic, my heart racing wildly. But then everything comes back to me. I'm safe. I'm staying with the four men who are teaching me what it means to be an Elemental.
I let out a sigh and flop back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, which is tinged with the early morning light from the window.
I smile to myself as I think about everything that happened yesterday. I finally left my parents. They hid so much from me, and were far worse than I ever realized. But at least I'm free from their clutches now. Despite everything my parents said, I realize that I trust these four more than I ever did them. I'm still not ready to let them in completely, but I am not going to shut them out either.
I sit up again, groaning at the crick in my neck from the way I was positioned last night. When we settled down to watch a movie, Mike insisted I rest my head on his chest. Within minutes, I was out like a light. The last thing I remember was someone tucking me into bed later. I could have sworn that person kissed me on the head, but as to who that was, I have no idea.
A knock on the bedroom door startles me and I clutch my chest as my heart beats rapidly. "Yeah, I'm up," I call out.
The door opens slowly to reveal Teddy, who steps inside with a small smile before closing the door gently behind him. "Hey, sorry. I just wanted to see how you slept and to let you know that breakfast is ready. It didn't feel right to barge in on your thoughts when you're still getting used to us being in your head.”
I give him a soft smile, conveying my gratitude. As much as I like the idea of them talking to me in my mind, I don't know whether I’m really ready for that. Maybe that’s something they can teach me today, though. How to not let every little thought slip through?
'I can teach you now if you’d like?'
I jump and Teddy’s wide grin makes me frown. I throw a pillow at him, which he easily dodges with a laugh. "Sorry, I couldn’t resist teasing you. Your thoughts were just so loud. But I was being serious. I don't mind giving you a crash course into closing the link. It's probably one of the easiest things an Elemental learns."
I nod eagerly. "Yes, please. It's driving me crazy knowing you guys can hear me, especially when I don’t know how to stop it, or even respond."
I cross my legs and Teddy sits down at the end of the bed. "This should only take a few minutes. Afterwards, we’ll head downstairs and grab something to eat before Dane sends someone up here looking for us. Now, it's pretty simple. You just need to imagine a bubble around yourself."
"A bubble? What on earth will a bubble do?"
Teddy rolls his eyes in exasperation. "The bubble will stop you from projecting, keeping your thoughts to yourself. If you want us not to be able to communicate with you directly, though, you’ll you need to imagine a metal barrier around yourself. But since the metal one takes a little longer to construct, I figured the bubble would do for today’s lesson. Or would you prefer we start with the hard stuff?"
He stares at me intently, as if daring me to say I want to start with the metal barrier. But I don't think I want the guys locked out completely. At least not while I'm still learning. What happens if I accidently set up some kind of permanent barrier? That would suck epically.
"Okay then.” I clap my hands together. “Let’s try this bubble thing."
He grins knowingly. "Good. You just need to find a focus point, something in the room that draws your gaze. I want you to keep starting at that point, all the while imagining yourself in a bubble."
My gaze immediately goes to a spot just over Teddy’s shoulder. A patch of paint on the back of the door that looks darker than the rest. Like it was painted over, but whoever did so used the wrong shade.
I keep my focus on that spot and do as Teddy instructed. I imagine a bubble around me, protecting my thoughts from being read.
A few minutes pass before Teddy speaks again. "Good. Now, I want you think of an intense moment in your life. Something that brings out strong emotions. I’ve noticed that seems to be when you project most. I'll tell you if I pick up anything."
I nod and try to think of something that will work. I don't want to relive a bad memory, so maybe something good instead. I know it may seem cruel to Teddy on the off chance I’m unable to shield this from him, but it’s the only truly happy thing I can think of in this moment. So, I start thinking about the kiss I shared with Dane, the happiness I felt in that moment, knowing he accepted me despite all my flaws.
Even as I focus on the memory, I wait for Teddy to say something about it. But to my surprise, he remains silent. A small smile forms on my face and relief sets in. He didn't hear or see any of what I was envisioning.
"I take it you were thinking something funny then," Teddy guesses, an amused grin on his face.
I shake my head. Then I get up from the bed and stretch my arms over my head, listening as my joints pop, bringing instant relief. "Nope, just something happy." I don't want to give him specifics, still just feeling glad that it didn't project to him. "Now, I believe there was talk of breakfast?"
Teddy chuckles and stands up as well. Only rather than turn and head out of the room like I expected, he stalks towards me, a predatory grace in each step.
I take slow steps backwards, surprised by his confident swagger. Then my back hits the wall and a second later, Teddy is pressed flush against me. "You are so different from other girls, Evie. I'm glad you are our bonded." The next thing I know, his lips are pressed against mine. I return the kiss, feeling just as eager, and I hear a deep, guttural groan come from him.
Our lips part, but I hold tight to him, not wanting to let go. Then the door opens, and we both jump apart.
I look over and see Dane leaning in the doorway, a knowing grin on his face. "So, I see you two decided to skip breakfast."
The teasing tone in his voice does nothing to stop my cheeks from flaming in embarrassment. I lift my head high and walk around Teddy. "Or maybe I just needed an appetizer."
Dane's mouth drops open in shock. I wedge myself past him, making sure my body brushes against him intimately. Then, with a massive smile in place, I head down the hall towards the kitchen.
When I step into the dining room, I see Mike and Ky already sitting at the table eating breakfast. What has me speechless, though, is the massive spread of food.
There are plates piled high with pancakes; bacon; eggs, both scrambled and fried; toast; assorted fruits and what looks to be a big tub of vanilla yogurt next to a box of granola. What, are they feeding a small army or something?
Ky notices my look of amazement. "Uh, yeah sorry. We may have gone overboard, but we wanted to be sure you'd have plenty to eat."
"Uh huh. Well, there’s no way I’ll be able to eat all of this. I just need enough to keep me going until lunch. You know, for future reference the next time you buy out the grocery store," I tease them. Then I take a seat in between Mike and Ky and go about heaping up my plate with food.
A minute later, Dane and Teddy come into the room, and their eyes immediately go to me.
I offer them both sweet smiles and then go back to stacking bacon and pancakes onto my fork. "It took you guys long enough. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume you were busy doing things you shouldn't." While I didn’t really mean anything by the comment, the way Dane's and Teddy’s faces both go crimson with embarrassment tells me I might have unwittingly just stumbled upon something. I never thought any of the guys would be interested in each other. But then again, they aren't actual brothers, so what’s to say they can’t have feelings for each other? This makes things... interesting.
Forty-Seven
Theodore
Silence descends on the room as Dane and I try to come up with some kind of response. But then Evie chuckles, breaking the tension.
"Relax, guys. I don't care what you choose to do, or who you do it with. Unless we’re in an exclusive relationship and have agreed on certain terms, it doesn’t really bother me. I may not exactly be experienced in that department, but I'm not stupid enough to believe that you grew up together and that nothing has ever happened between you. The way you say bond brothers alone makes it seem like there is more to it than a simple brother-like bond."
Dane and I exchange a confused glance before turning back to Evie. She starts eating, but keeps watching us, not saying another word.
Sure, what took Dane and I so long wasn't exactly innocent, but it was something that rarely happened between us. Did Dane and I share feelings for each other? No, not really, but when you've been burned in past relationships or you are waiting for your bonded to come along, sometimes things just happen.
"So you're not upset then?" Dane asks slowly, sitting down in the chair opposite. I, however, remain standing. Unlike the others, I ate before I went up to get Evie.
"Nope," she says with a bright smile. Then she digs back into her food, as calm as if we're talking about the weather.
'Do you think she really means it?' I ask Dane through the bond. I never thought it would be revealed like this. Mike and Ky knew to some extent that Dane and I had been fooling around when the mood struck, but they also knew it was nothing serious. We had many conversations after the first time it happened, mainly because the other two were worried how it would affect all of us as a group, as well as our bonded when she came along. Hell, Dane and I haven't even been intimate since the whole Tania situation.
But something about Evie just brings it out in us. We were like two damn horny teenagers again, all because of a few soft touches she shared with us. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was a damn she devil sent to entice us.
‘I think she does, guys.' Mike sends a small smile our way. Despite his reassurance, I really wish I hadn’t shown Evie how to block us from her mind. Now more than ever, I would kill to know her thoughts.
Ky's chuckle echoes through the bond. ‘Trust her, guys. If she has a problem with it, I’m sure she’ll let you know. Don't just assume the worst all the time. Besides, I can see the pulse in her neck speeding up, which if I had to take a guess, would imply that Evie isn't worried about you two, but more intrigued by the idea. Maybe you two should mull that over, hmm?'
My gaze snaps to Evie, and I watch her intently for signs of what Ky was referring to. And while she looks like she’s just innocently eating, I can see what he means. Her pulse is beating faster than usual, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are dilated. All clear signs of arousal.
Well, that wasn't something any of us planned for.
Forty-Eight
Kylan
By the time we arrive at school, my mouth hurts from smiling so much. Ever since I pointed out to Dane and Ted that Evie was intrigued by the two of them and their activities, they can't stop sneaking glances her way.
The rest of breakfast was filled with small chit-chat. As we were finishing up, Evie informed us she was still planning to hand in her final papers today. That way she just could have the work over and done with and progress to the final exams. She pointed out that even if she does stick around, her time would be better spent learning about her Elemental heritage rather than continuing with school, which is something we all agreed on.
Now we're ready to get through another day of classes, as well as help Evie finalize things here so she can focus on all things Elemental.
But the moment we pull up into the parking lot, my smile dissipates. Standing at the entrance to the school is Nadia and her girl squad, or whatever they’re called. We all know Dane and her had a relationship of sorts before we got here, but he assured us he had ended things.
When we pile out of the car, Evie is in a happy mood, completely oblivious to what’s going on. I want nothing more than to shield our bonded from this bitch. You don't need to be a genius to see that Nadia thrives on the pain of others. As we approach the school, with Evie holding Ted's hand, you can see the manipulative wheels working in Nadia's mind. Even without telepathic powers, it’s easy to see how much she wants Dane. And to get him, I’m sure she’d have no problem tearing Evie to pieces.
'You need to deal with that.'
Dane gives a non committal grunt, but I feel the guilt coming off him in waves.
'I'm serious, man. There are a lot of things Evie might be okay with, but if she thinks you’re still in any way involved with Nadia, she won't complete the bond with you, or possibly with us either. I’m sure you’ve felt the pull starting, and you know what that means. She’ll choose all four of us if things go smoothly. But you need to tell that bitch to back the fuck off before she ruins everything.'
'I know, Ky, but Nadia’s like a parasite. I've tried telling her I'm no longer interested, but it's like she doesn't understand a word of what I’m saying.’ The exasperation is clear in his tone. 'If you have a better idea, I'm all ears.'
And that's the crux of it, I guess. None of us really have any ideas of how to help with this. If Nadia was the girl Dane first thought she was, then she would probably have accepted things and then withdrawn into the background. But she's not shy or innocent like he thought. No, she is cunning and determined. And even worse, Nadia’s developed a sense of ownership when it comes to Dane.
After heaving a mental sigh, Mike's voice filters in. 'You know, you could always just ignore her. First, take her aside and explain again that you’re breaking up with her. And if she still persists, just ignore her. You've done everything you can at that point. After that, make her see that you've moved on. Women aren't as complicated as the rest of you seem to think.'
'Oh yeah, because just ignoring her is really going to work.’ The suggestion makes me roll my eyes. 'She is not a normal woman. Nadia is dark, man. I just don't want Evie to suffer any kind of fallout because of Dane and his dick.'
'Hey!' Dane flashes me a glare as we make our way up the steps to the front entrance.
I find it cute that Evie has no clue what’s going on right now. She’s in her own world, with a smile on her face as she gets ready to face a new day.
'Look, just figure it out,' I tell him before shutting down the link. I follow after Evie, keeping my gaze trained on that Nadia bitch until we're safe within the school’s halls.
I trust Dane to handle it, I really do, but something about that girl just sets off my internal alarm. I don't know what it is, but my gut has never led me astray before.
After school, I might do a little digging. Maybe I can enlist Mike to help me. He has records absorbed into his brain from countless hours of studying, so he might be able to tell me if there is a chance that Nadia may be a spy. At first I thought it was for the Shaded, but now I wonder if it’s for the Elemental council.
I’ve wondered about it ever since we got here. It seemed like too much coincidence that Dane found Nadia and formed a connection the first night he was in town. But if she wasn’t the spy who told the Shaded about Evie’s presence, then I have to wonder if she might be a spy for a different faction of Elementals. One that, like my parents, wants to control the power Evie holds.
