In Her Element: Elementals, #1

Part 1

In the Beginning, there was Love and Strife.—The Book of Elements

Prologue

A frisson of fear and magic skittered down Darya’s spine as the killer stepped from the shadows. She was close to her apartment but not close enough—stuck on the dark side of the building where the security lights were broken again. What she could see of his face was human: dark eyebrows, high cheekbones, and full lips that might have been sensuous had they not been curled in a sneer.

Appearances could be deceiving. Like her, this man was no ordinary human. Although she didn’t know what type of Elemental he was, his power crawled over her skin like angry wasps.

I’ve been waiting for you. His gaze slid over her in appreciation and then burned with excitement when she stumbled back.

Her heart pounded, and she choked back a whimper. There would be no reasoning with him, no chance for reprieve. He was like the others of his kind she had run into. He was here to kill her.

You look tasty, he added with a lick of his lips. It was the last thing he said before he pulled the knife.

Time slowed down, but panic only froze Darya for a moment. She didn’t bother to scream. Screaming was useless with a being who could manipulate the mind of anyone who might come to help. Instead she whirled and ran, pumping her legs until her feet barely skimmed the ground. The cold night air slashed at her hair and eyes, leaving tears whipping off her eyelashes.

Adrenaline and the will to survive spurred her across the parking lot. She could hear the Elemental’s breathing and heavy footfalls behind her as he chased her. Ahead, the traffic in the distance offered a glimmer of hope. The night was still early enough that plenty of cars passed by, filled with people. Join the herd and find safety in numbers was a motto she had lived by her whole life.

The back of her neck prickled in warning a split second before her pursuer snagged her shirt. Her feet lost their rhythm as he yanked her back and sent her flailing to the ground. Pain singed her left elbow as it scraped the pavement, and the force of the fall jolted her.

By some miracle, her purse stayed with her. She jumped up and swung it when he lunged at her. Her bag connected with his shoulder, but he merely snatched the strap and yanked it out of her grasp. She stumbled and couldn’t get her balance before he grabbed her. A scream ripped out of her chest this time, high and panicked. The sound cut off as he used his magic to snuff the oxygen around her.

It wasn’t even a matter of strangling. There was simply no breathable air—proof that he had to be an Air Elemental. Her legs failed her, and her lips and face burned and then numbed as she continued to struggle for oxygen. She had no fuel to fight as he fisted her hair and dragged her farther away from the glow of the streetlight. Then he was yanking at her clothes, but her fading vision outweighed any other fear.

The world narrowed, reduced to a hazy speck at the end of a dark tunnel. With her last ounce of will, she lifted her hands and summoned her own magic—a surge as powerful as the mightiest flood. Raw energy ripped out of her and plowed into her attacker. He grunted as he was thrown a full ten feet.

She was instantly free. Her lungs burned as she heaved in air and sputtered and coughed. Unable to stand, she was forced to crawl on her hands and knees. A sound behind her told her the killer was already getting to his feet. Her palms grated against the rough surface of the parking lot until they were scuffed raw, but she couldn’t move any faster. Still breathless, it was all she could do not to collapse, and her pulse pounded in her temples. There was no moon to cast a shadow, but she knew the moment the Air Elemental loomed behind her.

Darya thought of her younger brother, Matthew, and felt a stab of regret. Who would care for him? Who would look out for him once she was gone? She had made the mistake of being caught alone, and at twenty-one years old, it was the last mistake she would ever make.

When black shoes appeared in front of her face, she braced herself to feel the cold blade kissing her throat. Instead, she lifted her gaze and was nearly engulfed in a fiery hell.

Chapter 1

Almost a year later, the memory of the attack outside her apartment haunted Darya as she stood in the crisp night air. While that hadn’t been the first time another Elemental had tried to kill her, it had definitely been the closest call. She only wished she knew why they were after her and her brother.

Not like I can stop and ask them, she muttered.

And with both her parents dead, she had no one she could turn to for answers. No matter how frightened she was, though, she refused to barricade herself in her apartment for the rest of her life. She was alive, she was healthy, and she was...lonely. Despite the way her knees kept knocking, she was going to take her chances and have some fun tonight.

She stood alone at the east end of the plaza near where Paradise City’s biggest hotel was unveiling its new water display out front. Her friend Kristy was supposed to meet her here, along with Kristy’s boyfriend Orrin and one of his friends. They were all going to dinner together after the show.

Darya took a deep breath and fought not to fidget. Friday night had just gotten started in Florida’s newest east-coast hotspot, and the bright lights of the nearby storefronts and restaurants bathed everyone in yellow and blue. She didn’t see any sign of her friend, though it was already ten minutes past when they had agreed to meet. If Darya hadn’t forgotten her cell phone in her rush to get here, she might have called Kristy to see where she was. Still, it wasn’t late enough to get herself worked up.

Staying out of the main stream of foot traffic, she did her best to blend in. She and Matthew had moved to Paradise City precisely because it was such a good place to hide. They could mix with the regular humans here. Running into that other Elemental had simply been bad luck, like getting struck by lightning or having a falling coconut kill you. She certainly wasn’t afraid of coconuts.

The thought made her smile. She was about to check her watch again when a shiver ran up her spine. Although it was just after New Year’s, it wasn’t the chill in the air that caused the tremor. Every muscle in her body turned rigid, and her heart pounded as she recognized the familiar feeling.

No, she whispered.

This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

But it wasn’t her imagination. Somewhere, lurking among the ordinary humans, there was another Elemental in the crowd. Even now, his magic pricked at her senses and made the hair on her arms stand up. All of her bravado abandoned her, and her heart pounded so hard she was sure she could hear it. Every nerve in her body trembled at high alert as she scanned the faces around her. The danger had to be close. She never sensed another Elemental until he was nearly on top of her. But where? Where was he?

She backed away and looked for an escape, but she hadn’t taken more than a few steps when one man caught her eye. His stormy gray-blue gaze instantly snared her, and his hair—the color of rich, gourmet coffee with a bit of cream—stirred softly in the wind. She noticed his strong jaw and chiseled cheekbones stopped just short of being severe, and his rugged features smoothed instantly when one corner of his mouth kicked up. He had to be at least six feet tall. His lean, muscular body was a sight to behold, especially as he walked closer.

Darya found herself rooted to the spot as her heart did a strange somersault in her chest. She swallowed hard, aware that her mouth had gone dry. This man was gorgeous. He was also one of the few things on Earth that could get her killed in less than one lustful heartbeat. This was the other Elemental she sensed in the crowd.

"Sister, get away from him!" her brother cried telepathically.

Although Matthew was nowhere near her, his voice came through loud and clear in her head, and it finally shook her from her trance. The stranger was advancing on her, and she could see the curious glint in his eye. She tore her gaze from his and backpedaled right into a group of tourists. With no time to apologize, she blocked everything out as she shifted her concentration. She tapped into the power of her element to make herself invisible. Her body became as clear as water as she took off running across the square.

She was better at staying transparent when she wasn’t moving, but experience had taught her well. After the last attack, she had practiced her magic until she had learned to use her limited powers with better skill. The murmur of human voices warped as she raced through the crowd. When she sped past a nearby food vendor, a cloud of steam briefly clung to her, and the thick scent of hotdogs punched her in the face. Lights and colors blurred together and trailed like streamers along her periphery. Although she didn’t look back, she sensed the other Elemental was following.

Memory stalked her along with this new pursuer: the shadows, the knife, and the pounding of feet right behind her. She ripped her mind from the past before she gave in to mindless panic. By sheer force of will, she made herself slow down when she reached Atlantic Street so that she could drop the spell and use the foot traffic as cover. Once she had traveled three blocks, she risked a backward glance, but she didn’t see the stranger. She should have been relieved, but she remained cautious as she turned the corner and darted down the next lane.

This roadway wasn’t exactly a dark alley, but it was one of the narrower, less-traveled side streets. The parking had been terrible, and this was the shortest route to her car. If she could get behind the wheel and lock the door, she would be safe.

Please wait, a masculine voice said behind her.

Darya spun around. The sexy Elemental stood at the corner less than ten feet away. Her sense of self-preservation caused her to glance around for help, and she almost cried when she realized how stupid she had been. She had been so focused on escaping and reaching her car that she had abandoned the safety of the crowd. She was pretty sure she had just gotten herself killed.

I didn’t mean to scare you, the man said. When I sensed another Elemental, I assumed it was someone I knew.

Something in his voice soothed her and made her stomach flutter, although her muscles remained coiled for flight. Who are you? she asked. What do you want?

He stepped forward, but he stopped when she flinched. So far he hadn’t charged her with a knife, but she wasn’t about to let him get any closer.

It’s all right, he said. I’m not a Phage. There’s no need to be scared. My name is Ethan Zale, and I’m one of the Water Elementals. When she didn’t return the introduction, he added, You must be new to the city. I’ve never seen you before.

She shot a quick glance behind her and took another step back. Look, I don’t know who you are or what you want, but you need to get away from me right now. I don’t like being chased, and I really don’t like being cornered by strange men. In this case, a very attractive man, but a stranger nonetheless.

He seemed unperturbed. "I already told you who I am. I’m Ethan Zale. And I’m like you."

His last remark came to her telepathically, and the sudden intimacy caught her off guard. Only her family had ever talked to her mind to mind before, and it was oddly thrilling to have an outsider do so.

"Sister, are you all right? Her brother must have picked up on the disturbance. Do you need me?"

Matthew was protective of her even though he was younger and still a teenager. Despite his mental and emotional problems, her brother’s thoughts were lucid—further proof, if she needed any, that Matthew was unstable but not truly insane. Sane or not, though, her brother would try to kill Ethan if he thought the guy was a threat. Ethan was an unknown.

"It’s all right, she told Matthew. Just stay linked with me. There’s another Elemental here."

Do you have somebody with you? Ethan asked.

She figured this would be a good time to lie and tell him she had a big, burly husband waiting around the corner. Unfortunately, she was a terrible liar.

My brother, she answered instead, sticking with the truth as much as possible. He didn’t need to know how physically far away her sibling was. What about you? Are there more of you? More Elementals? Although he didn’t look like he was going to pounce, she needed to know if he was the only one she needed to worry about.

His brow furrowed. There are Elementals all over the world, in this city and many others. Our people may not be very populous anymore, but we’re certainly not the only ones here.

He was looking at her as if she were crazy. Now she knew how her brother must feel.

That’s not what I meant, she snapped as her temper got the better of her. "Did you bring others with you tonight? Are you the only one near the plaza?"

He returned a smile that seemed to push back the darkness. I’m supposed to be meeting my friend, but I spotted you first and couldn’t resist. I know I shouldn’t have chased after you like this, but it’s rare to find an Elemental by herself. You really shouldn’t wander around alone. It’s not safe.

Believe me, she said. I can see that.

I told you I’m not a Phage. There’s no need to be scared.

Phage? Darya frowned at the strange term he had now used twice. Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m certainly not going to take your word for it that I’m safe with you. No matter how much her instincts—or was that her hormones?—made her want to believe him.

Her words didn’t seem to affect him in the least. Did you just move to the city? Is that why you’re not part of the community?

What?

Why don’t we go someplace to talk? Ethan suggested. You seem a little confused, or else you don’t know much about our people. We could get something to eat, play some Q&A, and maybe figure this out.

I thought you were meeting your friend, she said, certain his friend was another woman.

His lips twitched. "I can catch up with him later. At the moment, I’m more interested in you. What do you say, Miss..."

Darya met his gaze squarely and shook her head.

Impatience flashed across his face, but he nodded. Okay. I know you don’t know me, so you have to be cautious. I’m sure we can work something out. How can I put you at ease and prove that I’m not a threat?

You could start by walking away. That would help. She hated to see him go, but a man like him presented more than one threat to a woman.

A trace of a smile caught at his lips, though he hid it as he reached into his pocket to pull out a business card. Very well. Do you have a pen?

Was he kidding? She almost laughed, but then she dug into her purse to find one. Anything to get rid of him sooner, right? Or was she desperate for his number?

Here. She tossed him a cheap ballpoint.

He scribbled something on the back of the card and then tossed her pen back to her. The heat of his hand had warmed the plastic.

My work cell is on the front, and my home phone is on the back, he explained, holding the card out between two fingers. You can call and talk to me anytime. Hopefully we can set up a meeting place where you’ll feel comfortable, and then we can get to know each other better.

He said it so calmly, so reasonably, that she found herself agreeing. Then again, maybe he was mesmerizing her with those pretty eyes of his.

All right. She deliberated whether or not to walk forward and take the card from him directly.

He was holding it out like bait for a wild animal, and she got the feeling he was daring her to get close to him. She decided to play it safe. When she was sure no one else was looking, she focused her telekinetic energy