Elemental Release (13 page)
Authors: Elana Johnson
Tags: #New Adult, #elemental action adventure, #Young Adult Romance, #elemental romance, #elemental magic, #action adventure, #elemental, #new adult romance, #elemental romance series, #elemental fantasy series, #elemental fantasy, #Young Adult
Rusk remained quiet for a few minutes, a sign that he agreed with me. Finally, he said, “Adam, look at me.”
I raised my eyes to his, which were filled with kindness and love. “You are the best Airmaster I have ever had the privilege to train. You can do things with air it takes others years to learn.”
That he thought so humbled me, but I didn’t believe him.
“Did you hear the jet stream?” he asked, and his tone had a challenge to it.
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. You heard it. Only an Airmaster can strip away the protective currents and hear the jet stream. In fact, I know Airmasters on functioning Councils of major city-states that have never heard the jet stream.” He smiled, but this time it held compassion as well as determination. “What did it say to you?”
“You mean it doesn’t always say the same thing?”
Rusk chuckled. “Tornadoes, no. The jet stream can provide answers to an Airmaster in a time of need. It signifies that one has ultimate control over their emotions and the air. And that, Adam, is why I am exceedingly proud of you. Just eight months ago, I thought you might be better served by one of our mental health technicians. You have overcome so much.” He looked away and wiped his eyes, so when he looked back at me I couldn’t tell if he’d actually shed a tear.
“Accept it,” he said. “You might be an extremely skilled sentry, but you are also an exceptional Airmaster.”
I opened the door to the fifth and last boxcar on the train. If Liz and her away team weren’t in here, I didn’t know where else to look.
“Adam?”
I pulled myself into the car and strode to her. I held her at arm’s length, noticing a bit of dried blood in the corner of her mouth. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine.” She pointed to the men behind her, who had all stood. “Where’s Rusk?”
“He’s staying in Rhyss for a few days until he feels up to full strength,” I said. “But I had to check on you. You were in the open and….” I cleared my throat. “But you’re okay.” I pulled her to my in a friendly embrace. “You’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” she confirmed. “Thank you for coming.”
We rode the train for three days, and when it pulled into Tarpulin, I vowed I’d never get on a train again. I’d helped Liz out of the boxcar and taken two steps when someone called my name.
Glancing up, I saw Gabby running toward me. How she knew I’d be arriving on this train in the middle of the night, I didn’t know. I surged toward her too, catching her around the waist and swinging her around before setting her on her feet.
“You’re back,” she said breathlessly.
“I promised,” I said, already bending down to kiss her. She threaded her fingers through my hair, and I’d never been so happy to be in Tarpulin.
Days later, after all the reports and conferences, I was finally able to close the topic of Theodore Wellington and Rhyss. I’d made sure Liz received the right medical attention, and when I finally got her alone, I questioned her about Victor.
“Yes, we’re….” She bit her lip. “He’s going to request to be assigned to our Council. We want to be together.”
“You trust him?”
“Yes,” she said. “He saved my life twice on the way to Rhyss. I helped him out of a sticky situation in Rhyss. We trust each other.”
“I want you to be happy,” I said carefully. “And I’m sure you know our Council comes before anything. If you trust him, I’ll take your word on him.”
“He said he knows you,” Liz said. “That you were on the same sentry squad for Alex.”
“He’s right,” I said. “But I didn’t know him well, and I’m distrustful of everyone who associated with Alex.”
Liz thought about what I’d said. “I trust him,” she finally said. “The same way I trust you.”
I thought about our conversation as I opened the door to Gabby’s apartment. I couldn’t control who Liz fell in love with, and I couldn’t make Victor more trustworthy. I trusted Liz, and that had to be enough.
I showered and fell into bed, hoping Gabby would be done with her meeting soon.
I woke with a change in air pressure. The apartment door had opened. Sleep still fuzzed my mind, but I pushed myself up. Night had fallen outside the balcony doors, but the light from the living room fell through the bedroom door.
Gabby entered the bedroom, saw me awake, and smiled. The gesture looked weary, and she climbed into bed next to me. I tucked her into my side and asked her about the meetings.
“They’re done,” she said. “And I’m so glad. I’ve petitioned for a vacation.”
“That’s great,” I said. “Where are you going?”
“Hesterton,” she said, and my heart did a jealous flop.
“You’ll love that city,” I said. “And the mountains are majestic in the winter, covered with snow.”
“I hope I’ll love it,” she said. “I’m not overly excited about the snow, honestly. I had enough of that in Crylon.”
“Well, go somewhere else,” I said. “The eastern shore is mild in the winter. Downright tropical compared to Hesterton.”
Gabby snuggled closer, her breath falling across my bare chest. “It’s not entirely a vacation,” she said. “We’ve been assigned there for our apprenticeship. We leave next summer.”
Her words rattled in my head until I made sense of them. “Apprenticed already? Next summer will be just over a year of training.”
“Davison thinks we’re ready,” she said.
“Are we?” I asked.
“I think we will be,” she said. “And I know you love the mountains, so when he asked me where I’d like to go, I chose Hesterton.”
I pushed her away so I could see her. “You did? Even though you hate the snow?”
She shrugged a little, and she’s never looked more beautiful, tired as she was. “I love you.”
I kissed her, suddenly wishing she’d changed into her soft pajamas before collapsing into bed. I wore only boxer shots, and suddenly that wasn’t enough. She kissed me deeper, wrapping her arms tighter around me, and I decided I didn’t care what we were wearing.
After a few minutes, she pulled away, leaving me cold and wanting. “I think I’m ready for this too,” she said real soft, almost to herself. She slipped out of my grasp and out of bed, disappearing into the bathroom.
I stayed in bed, wondering if she was really ready, if I was. I wasn’t exactly experienced with women. Sentries didn’t have time for romance, and I’d never been given the opportunity of falling in love the way Victor and Liz had.
When the door opened, I felt like I had lightning skating under my skin. Gabby returned, now wearing her pajamas and a vibrant smile.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted as she climbed toward me.
She laughed. “You? Why would you be nervous?”
“I spent twelve years in the sentry program, and then a year as a fugitive.” I turned away so she couldn’t see my face. “Not exactly a lot of experience with girls.”
“Everything will work out,” she said, sliding next to me. She put her hand on my cheek and turned my face to hers. “I love you, Adam Gillman.” She kissed me, and my insides felt like liquid with her heated words and soft lips.
I moved slowly, carefully, giving her every opportunity to change her mind and stop whenever she wanted.
She never did.
Elana Johnson is the author of the
Possession
series, which includes full-length novels POSSESSION, SURRENDER, and ABANDON, and short stories REGRET (ebook only) and RESIST (free).
She is also the author of ELEVATED, a young adult contemporary romance novel-in-verse.
Her
Elemental
series includes prequel novella, ELEMENTAL RUSH, full-length futuristic fantasy novel, ELEMENTAL HUNGER, and a concluding novella, ELEMENTAL RELEASE.
Elana wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult novels. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog, a regular contributor to The League of Extraordinary Writers, and a co-organizer of WriteOnCon.
Find her on
Facebook
,
twitter
,
tumblr
,
Wattpad
, or
her blog
.
If you liked this book, please take a few minutes to leave a review for it. Authors (Elana included!) really appreciate this, and it helps draw more readers to books they might like. Thanks!
ELEMENTAL RELEASE
an ELEMENTAL novella
by Elana Johnson
Copyright © 2014 by Elana Johnson
Published by AEJ Creative Works
All Rights Reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Cover Design by Erin Summerill Photography
Fonts used: Cinzel, Kontrapunkt, and DISCO - Fontsquirrel.com
Cover photograph © Ase - Shutterstock.com
Map drawn by Mikey Brooks - www.insidemikeysworld.com/
Interior Design by AEJ Creative Works
Chapter headings done in Cinzel.
Table of Contents
