He was looking at her, his eyes running over her face, stopping on her lips and then raising to her eyes. Tara could feel his breath on her face, and her mouth watered to taste him again. His fingers dug into her hips as he held her tighter. Tara bet there would be bruises there later.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she let herself touch him the way she’d been wanting to since she met him. Her fingers sank into the hair on the back of his head, gripping it tightly and then loosening so she could run the strands across her skin.

  Elias’s head dropped back into her touch as his eyelids dropped halfway closed. A deep, throaty sound rumbled out of him, causing her to tighten her thighs against him.

  His hands slid around her, one low on her back and the other up her spine, until he had her hair wrapped around his fingers. He slowly pulled her head back, and when she raised her eyes to look at him, he was so close their lips touched every time one of them took a breath.

  “It might not be wise for us to be alone together,” he said, “especially in a locked cell.”

  “Wh—” she started to speak but it came out in a squeak, so she swallowed and tried again. “Why is that?”

  Elias’s eyes dropped to her lips again. “Because there’s nothing to stop me from doing this.” He bit her bottom lip and tugged on it until there was a bite of pain. When he released it, he ran his tongue across it as if to soothe the sting. “Want to see what else I want to do?” he asked. There was no hint of a smile as he spoke.

  Tara’s stomach was churning like a freaking whirlpool, and her heart wasn’t sure if it should stop beating or jump into sprint mode. “I’m thinking I should say no.”

  Now his lips moved ever so slightly. It was only the hint of a smile, but she saw it. “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “How much clothing you want to keep on. Are you hot? Feel the need to shed some layers?”

  “Please say yes,” said a male voice that didn’t belong to Elias. Tara jumped in surprise. When she turned to look through the cell bars, she saw three males standing there watching them. They all looked to be around the same age as Elias. She felt heat run up her neck and imagined her face was the color of a tomato. She wiggled, attempting to get Elias to put her down.

  His attention was still on her. He hadn’t turned his head even for a second. “Luv, I’m going to need you to stop moving. Now.”

  Tara froze at the tone in his voice.

  “They’re watching us,” she whispered.

  “Look at me,” he said. “Only me.”

  Her eyes bounced from the three other guys and back to Elias several times until he growled at her. Then they stayed on him.

  “We are not leaving this cell until you tell me you will give this a chance.”

  “You would hold me captive?”

  “You bet your arse I would.”

  “I can see why you are so smitten, E,” the same voice spoke again. “She’s stunning.”

  “If you want to keep your eyes, I suggest you find something else interesting to look at,” Elias barked.

  The guy laughed. “Oh man, this is going to be fun. The unflappable Elias Creed has a weakness.”

  “Say it, princess,” Elias said, ignoring the other male. “Say you’ll give us a chance.”

  Tara stared into his eyes and thought about everything he’d told her. There were still so many questions she had, and those wouldn’t be answered if she walked away. “Okay. I’ll give us a chance.”

  His breath rushed out of him as he spoke. “Thanks, Mother Gaia.” Then he bit her lip again, but it was fast, lasting a second before he pressed his lips to hers. He pushed closer and her mouth opened on a gasp. Elias took full advantage and plunged into her mouth. He kissed her as though his life depended on it. He sucked in, pulling oxygen from her lungs, and then breathed out, filling her with his air. The world had completely disappeared under the ministrations of his mouth and his hands that held her so tightly.

  “As much as I do not want to stop you two because, honestly, that is hot, we have a situation outside.” That bloody voice interrupted them again.

  Elias practically ripped his mouth from hers and lowered her to the ground. He turned to face the bars and pushed her behind him at the same time. “This better be life and death, Liam, or so help me I will kick your arse from here to the gates of your academy.”

  “I’d like to see you try, bro. But no worries, since it is life and death, we can save the ass kicking for later. There’s an acolyte outside that says his name is Tucker. He’s demanding that Tara come out in exchange for a blonde beauty named Shelly.”

  Tara pushed Elias out of the way and lunged at the bars.

  “Tara, don’t,” Elias yelled, but her hands were already wrapping around them.

  The pain was immediate and nearly dropped her to her knees. She released them and stumbled back. Elias caught her in his arms, and he hissed as he lifted her damaged hands.

  “You’re going to be the death of me,” he huffed.

  “Let go, Elias. I need to see Shelly,” she said as she tried to pull her hands away.

  “Let me heal them and then we can discuss what Liam has told us.”

  “Why are you so calm?” she snapped. “Tucker has my best friend. You just told me that he is on team dark and a killer.”

  “He’s not going to hurt her, at least not until he decides we aren’t going to comply and hand you over.”

  “Oh, we are going to comply,” Tara told him.

  He ran his fingers over her palms, and the light and heat once again healed the damaged skin. “Over my dead body,” he said, his voice hard and unbending. Then he pressed a soft kiss to each palm. He released one hand but laced their fingers together with the other. Then he stepped up to the bars and faced the three guys.

  “Tara, this is Liam, Ra, and Aston.” Elias introduced them. Liam winked at her. Ra gave a slight nod, and Aston lifted his eyes briefly to meet hers and then looked away.

  “Not to be rude, but I don’t care. Get us out of here, Elias, and take me to Tucker and Shelly.”

  “Damn.” Liam laughed. “She’s feisty. I like it.”

  Ra walked over to the bars and wrapped his hand around one of them. His body tensed as if he were in pain, but he didn’t release his grip. A moment later, the door swung open. Tara saw the lock on the door was completely melted. Whoa.

  Elias led her from the cell and out into the corridor. They moved quickly, and Tara had to practically jog to keep up with their longer legs.

  “Does he have anyone else with him?” Elias asked.

  “Two other acolytes,” Liam said.

  “And an elemental,” Ra spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and rich with an accent she couldn’t place.

  “What elemental?” Liam asked. “I didn’t see one.”

  “You have other senses besides sight,” Ra said. “You need to learn to use them if you want to be superior to your enemy.”

  “Don’t start with your lessons, Ra,” Liam growled. “Just tell us what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “I’m talking about hell,” he said, his voice calm and even. “There’s a fire elemental. And he isn’t a slouch. Looks like a being of hellfire to me.

  “Seriously?” Aston asked. His voice was softer than the others. “What would something like that be doing topside? Hellfire elementals usually don’t leave the underworld.”

  Tara’s eyes widened. Underworld? She mouthed to keep from blurting out some unladylike expletives.

  “It appears the dark elementals are being quite cooperative with one another,” Aston said. His words came out slowly, as if he gave each one of them careful consideration before releasing it.

  “Since when did the dark elementals start being team players?” Liam asked.

  “They’ve been working together more and more,” Elias said. He motioned for the others to go up first and put a hand out to stop Tara, ensuring none of the other three would be behind her. “Jax said they’ve realized that working against one another trying to fight against the light elementals was shooting themselves in the foot. They’ve somehow figured out how to put aside their desire to dominate everyone so they can become one army against us.”

  When they finally reached the top of the stairs, Tara was sick with worry. Elias squeezed her hand, and she looked at him as they hurried down the corridor.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he told her.

  She nodded but knew she wouldn’t feel better until Shelly was no longer in Tucker’s clutches.

  They jogged to the foyer where she’d entered with Zuri. Zuri came over and motioned for Tara to follow her. Elias kept holding her hand, and the pair ran to the front doors. The gnome was still there. One of the double doors was open. The gnome wore a look of hatred on his face as he crouched just inside the door, staring out at something. Tara, Zuri, and Elias joined him.

  “Send Tara out.” Tucker’s voice came through the opened door loud and clear. Though Tara recognized it, he didn’t sound the same as before. His voice was sharper, harder.

  “You won’t leave this land alive. But how you die, quickly or slowly, is what I’m deciding right now,” Jax said. “Don’t hurt an innocent human and sentence yourself to a long, painful death.”

  “You’re a fool if you honestly think I would let you capture me,” Tucker said.

  “And you’re an even bigger fool if you don’t realize that you have already been captured,” Jax returned.

  “I WANT TARA!”

  Tara jumped at the sound of Tucker’s sudden roar. Next to her, Elias’s body tensed.

  “I won’t let him have you,” he said in a voice that promised violence and death.

  “And I won’t let Shelly be hurt because of me,” she countered.

  “Is she even here?” Tucker asked. “If I’ve wasted my time coming here, I will be very put out. And I might be tempted to do something rash, like break this little girl’s neck.”

  Tara heard Shelly emit a squeal of pain, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She jerked her hand out of Elias’s and ran for the open door. She made it just a few steps outside when a strong arm closed around her waist and pulled her back.

  “Stop,” she yelled, her voice sounding hysterical even to her own ears. The person holding her didn’t pull her any further.

  “Tara, don’t you dare give yourself to this traitorous vermin,” Shelly yelled. “I will kill you if you do.”

  “Shut up, Shell,” Tara growled.

  “I will not,” Shelly snapped. “You don’t get to decide to rescue me. If I want to remain captured, then that is my choice. I can be a hostage if I want to.”

  “Do you realize how dumb that sounds?”

  “Or it’s a genius way to make him think I will be compliant.”

  “And now you just gave your plan away,” Tara pointed out.

  “Or so you think,” Shelly said. “I don’t need you to rescue me, Tara. I’m tough. If you put yourself in danger, I will annoy you for the rest of your life.”

  “You already do that.”

  “But I had plans to give you a break when we graduated.” Shelly let out a yelp when Tucker turned her and slapped her hard across the face.

  “Shut the hell up,” he barked at her. Then he turned back to Tara and his face softened. His demeanor changed so fast it gave Tara the creeps. “Have they hurt you, babe?” Tucker asked, his voice full of concern.

  Tara’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I’m going to cut your balls off for touching my best friend because you are a spineless, gutless, ridiculous excuse of a man. Don’t pretend like you give a damn about me. If you did, you wouldn’t be hurting one of the very few people in this world that I care about.”

  “I’ll let her go if you come with me. It’s up to you what happens to her,” he said. “I just needed your attention. Tara, these aren’t good elementalists. You need to come with me where you will be safe.”

  She tried to take a step forward, but the arm around her held her fast. “Let me go.”

  “Can’t do that, luv,” Elias’s voice said near her ear. “I can’t lose you, but I can promise you we will get Shelly. I give you my word.”

  “You’re not going to get her,” Shelly said as she tried to slap Tucker but missed when he shoved her away from his body. Then he spun her, yanked her back against him, and wrapped an arm around her, locking her arms to her sides to prevent any further strike attempts.

  “This looks bad,” Shelly said as she stared up at Tara. “But I’m just pretending to be subdued.”

  “Sure you are. You’re a badass,” Tara said.

  “Damn straight.”

  Tara saw people step up on either side of her. She turned her head slightly and saw that Ra was now standing on their right, and Liam and Aston were on their left.

  “You have sentenced yourself to death simply for touching the human,” Ra said. His deep voice was so menacing that Tara shivered. “Give her to us and I will allow you to get a head start when you run,” he continued.

  Tara shifted her eyes back to Shelly and noticed her friend’s eyes land on Ra. They grew wide and her mouth dropped open. If her best friend’s life hadn’t been in danger, Tara would have laughed at the lust in Shelly’s eyes. She was definitely smitten by the muscular, stoic guy.

  Tucker ignored Ra and looked back at Tara. “Are you going to come with me?” he asked her.

  “Let me go you damn, impotent, son of a monkey’s ass.” Shelly growled as she tried to kick Tucker, but he held her fast. Apparently she’d finally been able to tear her gaze from Ra. Or maybe seeing him had made her want to try and get away instead of sacrificing herself.

  “She is not coming with you.” Elias answered Tucker’s question before Tara could. She made a note to kick him later for that.

  “Very well,” Tucker said and then literally tossed Shelly to another man who suddenly stepped from the shadows.

  His hands were covered in flames, and Tara was sure her best friend would burn the minute he touched her. Tara screamed and lunged forward, but Elias wouldn’t release her.

  “Shelly,” she bellowed, and her heart felt as if it were going to beat up out of her throat.

  When the burning hands grabbed Shelly, she didn’t scream. She tried to fight, but the man was too strong. He held her effortlessly. Instead of hurting her, he simply held her and then began to chant.

  “What is he doing?” Tara asked as she panted from trying to get away from the Neanderthal holding her. “Is he opening a portal?” The chanting reminded her of what Zuri had done when she’d brought Tara through the portal to the academy. There was a flash of light, and Shelly’s body went limp.

  Tara felt her legs go weak. Had Elias not been holding her, she would have collapsed. Her friend looked dead. There was absolutely no movement. “No,” she breathed out as tears fell from her eyes. “No! Shelly! Dammit, do something!”

  A portal did indeed appear. To Tara’s horror, all she could see were flames through the shimmering opening.

  “I’m sorry you’re making me do this,” Tucker said, but Tara didn’t take her eyes off the man holding her best friend. He turned to the portal and tossed Shelly’s limp body through it like a ragdoll. Ra roared an inhuman sound and flew through the air. A rush of heat hit her face, and Tara saw he was being trailed by a line of flames. At the same time, a huge sword bathed in fire appeared in his hand.

  Ra brought his sword down with such speed that the other man had no time to defend himself. One second, he was standing there, and the next he was headless, and his body crumpled to the ground.

  Ra turned to the portal and jumped toward it. Before he could pass through, it disappeared.

  “Shelly,” Tara screamed, and it seemed to be the herald of a battle because people suddenly erupted from the forest and from the door behind her. Bodies clashed in a torrent of swords, light, fire, and wind. The earth shook beneath their feet, and the sky opened up as sheets of rain fell, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

  “You have to go inside,” Elias said as he picked her up effortlessly. That was when she realized her fighting his hold had been a joke. He’d let her stay outside because he wanted to. Maybe he wanted her to comfort Shelly. Maybe he'd wanted her to see Tucker for what he was. But it was clear by his strength he could have taken her back inside without any trouble.

  “We will get Shelly back, but I can’t lose you, Tara. You’re too vulnerable out here.”

  He carried her back into the mountain as the battle sounds went on behind her.

  Once inside, he put her down and an arm was suddenly around her. She looked up and saw it was Ittera, the headmistress.

  “I will keep her safe. You are needed out there.”

  “Elias.” Tara reached for him. Despite her anger at him, right or wrong, for Shelly, she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

  “I will make this right,” he said as he cradled her face in his hands. “I’m sorry, luv. I couldn’t let you go. I couldn’t.”

  “She’s dead.” Tara wept.

  “No, she isn’t,” he said, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t have put her in the underworld if she’d been dead. I can’t explain now, but I will. Just take comfort in this, she isn’t dead.”

  He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Tara could feel his pain and remorse. He hated that he’d allowed her friend to be hurt, but she could also feel his desperation and absolute need to keep Tara safe.

  Tara pressed a hand to his face. “I’m pissed at you, but I can’t yell at you if you’re dead. Do not die.” She ducked her head as she said, “I wouldn’t be able to recover if you did.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, princess. I’ve got too much to live for. Besides, the best part about fighting, so I’ve heard, is the making up.”

  She lifted her eyes to his. His words were playful, but the look on his face was serious. “I love you,” he said. “And I will be back as soon as I kill Tucker. Then we will get Shelly.”

  He released her and bolted for the open door. Tara’s arms reached out for him of their own accord. Her stomach twisted in fear as he ran out of sight.