“A portal between realms is formed,” Althea explains. “Or so they say, at least. One that Kaelisar can't create on his own due to his exile.”
“Yeah, and that's not good for anyone. Do we know where the other two artifacts are?”
Sylara shakes her head, causing her braid to swing.
“We have some clues, but nothing concrete yet,” she explains. “Kaelisar will contact us when the time comes. For now, the only thing we can do is rest and focus on your training.”
“You need to learn to control your element much better than now,” the Kobold adds. “What you did with thesafe was impressive, but you've barely scratched the surface of what you'll be capable of doing when you master air.”
I look at the clock, and the idea of not being close to them gives me a sensation of loss I can't understand. In just a few days, these three creatures have become too important to me.
“I still have to study the book,” I sigh, looking for excuses not to leave. “And I wouldn't like to take it to my apartment. You already saw what happened last time. Can I leave it here and come every day to read it?”
“Or you can stay with us,” Althea proposes so quickly it surprises me.
“We have plenty of space,” Sylara adds, squeezing my hands. “And it would be much more practical for your training.”
Sabina stays silent, her green eyes fixed on some distant point. For a moment I think the idea doesn't appeal to her at all.
“It's better if you stay,” she says in a low voice, almost shy, something very far from her usual way of being. “You'd be safer here. With us.”
Then she smiles and, unexpectedly, kisses me on the cheek, so close to the corner of my lips that my heart skips several beats.
“Thank you,” is all I can respond, too aware of the intensity with which all three are watching me.
Chapter 21
Nell
“Do you know what a Quad is?” the siren asks suddenly, leaning on the balcony railing while we watch the stars.
“I read something in the book,” I admit. “Some kind of bond between four elementals, one of each type. But I didn't understand much more than that.”
Sabina sighs, and the sound reminds me of a wave breaking against the beach.
“It's much more than that,” she explains, turning toward me to look me in the eyes. “And when a Quad creates a true bond, it becomes the most powerful union known in our world. Four elementals who become, essentially, one. Their powers don't just add up, they multiply exponentially.”
“And what does that have to do with us? And what's this about a true bond?”
“I think Kaelisar is manipulating us to form a bonded Quad,” she confesses, shaking her head. “It's no coincidencethat he's gathered precisely one elemental of each type. He wants us bonded, but under his control.”
“Is that why you've been so distant with me until the party?”
“I've been fighting against that idea with all my strength,” she admits. “But I'm failing, Nell. Every day that passes, it becomes harder.”
“What do you mean?”
As her only response, Sabina slides the tips of her fingers gently across my cheek, and I feel my breathing stop.
“This is what I mean,” she whispers before kissing me.
The first contact is soft, almost shy, like the caress of a small current. But when I respond to her kiss, everything changes. That tenderness gives way to an intensity that leaves me breathless. She traces the outline of my lips with her tongue before venturing inside in search of mine, exploring, savoring, claiming. She slides her hand under my waistband and pulls me toward her while mine tangle in her hair.
A soft moan escapes from my throat when she bites my lower lip and the way she brushes her breasts against mine while kissing me makes the air stir around us, responding to my arousal.
“That's what I've been fighting against,” she sighs.
I breathe deeply, trying to calm the whirlwinds of air surrounding us. I've never experienced a kiss like this,so complete, so perfect, as if our lips had been designed specifically to fit together perfectly.
