T he rain kissed my skin where it splashed against my scales along my arms and neck as we took off into the trees and I tugged my bow from my back, loading an arrow into it as I focused on my water magic and formed a connection with the Element.
I could feel the moisture saturating the air, the rush of droplets falling from the sky, crashing through the pine trees and soaking into the ground at our feet. This was my domain and it made little rivers of pleasure run through my skin.
With a little more effort, I linked my focus onto the air surrounding us too, closing my eyes for a moment as I focused on the patterns the two Elements created as they fell against boulders, trees and the Fae surrounding me.
I kept walking with my eyes closed, using my link to my Elements to map out the area surrounding me as I pushed my awareness out from my body, building up a far greater vision of the forest which surrounded us than I could see with my eyes in the dark and the rain.
Our group moved quietly as we headed up the hill, Cal and Orion walking either side of Darius as they used their Vampire gifts to listen for the Nymphs, but I got a lock on them first.
At the top of the hill, a ridge formed along the edge of a clearing in the forest, hard rocks cutting though the saturated ground and forming a void of awareness in my mind. And standing on that ridge, moving together were three towering figures, each of them shifted into their Nymph form and prowling along the outskirts of the clearing like beasts guarding their home.
“They’re about a hundred yards up there,” I said, pointing as I fell still and the others took my lead, falling in around me.
I pushed my awareness out further, hunting for more figures lurking in the dark of the trees and finding them, group by group, either patrolling the edges of the forest which surrounded that clearing or gathered closer to the centre of it.
I pushed my awareness that way, chasing the rain and wind as it hammered down on a huge, stone structure which kept them both out and formed a point of darkness in my mind which had to be the reason for them all gathering here.
“There’s a huge structure in a clearing through the trees beyond them,” I said, breaking my connection to the Elements and opening my eyes so that I could look around at my friends. “I’m guessing that’s the temple where they’re keeping the altar and that the rift is inside it too.”
“Oh you are a devilishly devious dolphin on occasion, aren’t you?” Gerry purred as she looked at me, her flail casually balanced against her shoulder, the spiked ball hanging from the end of it swinging slowly back and forth. I had been going to protest to the dolphin comment, but I got distracted drinking in the sight of her in that armour and before I could form some kind of response, Darcy spoke.
“Sounds like the earth Elementals have got this one,” she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes as she flexed her fingers in anticipation.
“Me and Caleb will circle through the trees so that we’re in position as soon as you draw them out,” Orion said, his eyes lingering on Darcy like he didn’t want to leave her and Seth shifted closer, slinging his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Lancey, I’ve got your girl,” he said confidently, though as his gaze flicked to Caleb, I detected a hint of concern in his emotions. It was quickly tempered by his usual confidence though and I knew he had total faith in Cal being able to pull this off. Still, these games we all played were dangerous now and I couldn’t help but worry for my friends when we headed out into the fight like this.
“You take your fucking paws off of her,” Orion snarled, stepping forward, but Darius slapped a hand to his chest and pushed him back a step.
“Seth, stop being a dick and Lance, stop letting him bait you. We’ve all got more important things to focus on,” he said firmly.
“Well, the earth Elementals do, anyway,” Tory replied, taunting him with every move she made as she began to back away in the direction of the Nymphs. I swear that girl had a death wish when it came to riling the Dragon in him, then again, Darius probably needed someone who would bite back whenever he got too Alpha. “You and Max should probably just stay here and watch our backs. Wouldn’t want there to be any chance of anyone sneaking up on us while we get the job done now, would you?”
Darius growled as Darcy smirked, shrugging Seth’s arm off of her shoulders and stepping forward to kiss Orion hard, grasping his shirt and tugging him close for a moment before shoving him back a step firmly.
“Don’t die,” she commanded and the corner of his lips twitched in amusement.