Saved Elemental (Evelyn Storm Series Book 2) Page 13

  Kylan

  I’m sure each of us wants to run after Evie and put her in bubble to keep her safe, but I know she won’t allow it. The only thing we can do now is hope and pray that the consequences won’t be harsh.

  Right now, we’re going to have to put all our focus in what we have to do to defeat millions of demons. If what Richard says is true, we have a long road ahead of us. We need to try to access Evie’s elements so we’re stronger together. We should also train her how to use her elements to the full extent she’s capable of.

  “I take it you have a plan?” I ask Richard.

  Whenever our fathers are around, we always seem to revert to children being told what to do by our parents. Yes, we’re still young and have to learn a lot more, but no way am I going to let them boss us around where Evie’s concerned.

  Teddy seems to be the only one letting what his father has done affect him. I mean it’s a big deal and don’t get me wrong he doesn’t have to forgive his father, but we will need to work together if we want to protect her and the rest of the world.

  You ok? I project to Teddy

  He looks at Richard and then my father before responding, No, I have no idea what to do. My father may have been possessed, but I just can’t get over what he’s done. I feel like Evie should hate me for being related to someone like him and I wonder if every time she sees him or I, will she automatically think of her mother being murdered? I don’t know if I can do it to her. Will me being around just bring her more pain?

  I imagine the others are feeling Teddys sorrow just as much as I am. I really feel for him. I think like that sometimes, but I know Evie loves us, and nothing will change that.

  Knowing it took so long for us to find her, and that our parents had her all along was hard for us, and I thought she would hold it against us for not automatically thinking she was here, but we figured no way would they keep her here of all places, it would just be too obvious. Well, that was a big mistake.

  I don’t think we’ll forget that any time soon. It haunts all of us knowing we could have saved her sooner if we’d just checked instead of following Max’s advice about finding her grandfather.

  Teddy, you’d hurt her more by leaving. She loves you so much, and she just wants us all to be happy. If you really believe she thinks of her mother when she looks at you then you need to talk to her. It’s the only way you’ll find out for sure. You know she doesn’t lie to us, well about things that are important to us and her.

  I hope I’m able to reassure him to stay, but I have a feeling it’s not going to be enough. Teddy has always felt things more strongly than the rest of us, and it must be eating him up inside. I should find Evie later just to tell her she should talk to Teddy after everything that’s happened, to reassure him she doesn’t think that way. I doubt she does but the conformation might help.

  Dane

  The award for the biggest moron in the world goes to…………… Me.

  I’m mentally beating myself up, knowing how bad I screwed up. In a moment of anger and despair, I lost all ability to think rationally and lashed out. Not only at Evie, but Raphael too. How do I fix this?

  I need to find Raphael to find out what could happen, but I’m scared of what he’ll do to me. Can he honestly blame me, though, for suspecting him when he was the one who passed on the message in the first place? I mean, how am I supposed to know he didn’t just want me to keep it to myself so no one would realize when she got betrayed?

  This all sucks. My dad wants to hurt my bonded, Richard, who was the person possessed by demons, tells us they plan to break through with millions of them. Teddy and Ky are feeling doubt about their relationship with Evie, and Mike wants to beat some sense into me. It doesn’t take an empath to feel his intentions.

  Evie’s gone and I don’t even know how to begin to apologize to her. She knew I was keeping something from her to protect her, but the guys knew it was much more serious than that.

  Teddy, Ky, and Mike are in the corner of the study, while their dads are looking over maps on the desk getting ready to prepare our kind for a war we have little chance of winning. I don’t know how they’re focusing on the war when all I’m worried about is Evie.

  “I’m sorry. I screwed up and when we’re finished here, I’ll find Evie and Raphael to make it right. I promise,” I say with all the regret I’m feeling.

  Teddy and Ky forgive me instantly, but Mike’s still angry.

  “You’re sorry? That’s what you’ve got to say? You just pretty much threw Evie under the bus! You told us that if you told one of us what was said, it could mean Evie or the babies would be hurt and then you, in a moment of pure idiocy, not only tell her, and us, what was said, but you manage to blame Raphael too, and make him leave. He’s probably the only one here that could have helped us undo your damage and now we have no idea where he is!” he finishes, panting from his rant.

  I don’t blame him if we were in opposing roles, I’d be reaming him out just as much.

  Mike

  How dare he?! He thinks he can just apologize, and I’ll forgive him. Who know what damage has been done now? I hate that I’m up here, instead of protecting Evie, but I trust that Christian will protect her, and I know Zach has been following her so she has twice the protection she thinks she does.

  Dane is staring at me speechless. Yeah, I may have yelled but you know what, he deserved it! Evie and the others let him get away with so much. I’m fed up! He needs to learn that it’s not just his feelings that needs to be accounted for.

  Sure, His father didn’t leave the room, but he should have known Evie or her grandfather wouldn’t tamper with it. Not everyone forgives him straight away when he apologizes. He needs to learn that his actions have consequences and others shouldn’t have to pay for i

  “You know what, Dane, you keep doing the stupidest things without thought of anyone but yourself. You need to snap out of it! Evie could get hurt because of you, and all I want to do is knock some sense into you!” I snap at him.

  Everyone’s stopped what they’re doing to watch Dane and I, but I don’t give a shit. Let them see me rip Dane a new one.

  “I didn’t mean to. I got upset and my anger made me say those things,” Dane shouts back at me.

  “Oh, here we go. Dane and his excuses. No, I’ve had enough. Fair enough, if you make a mistake, you own it, then you apologize. Don’t make excuses so everyone feels sorry for you. Own your mistake and find a way to make it right. Or better yet, stop fucking making mistakes!”

  Chapter 18

  Evie

  Oh My God! I can’t even imagine what Christian went through. Knowing you killed the person you loved! How is he even sane right now?

  “I’m so sorry Christian. I had no idea. I can’t even imagine what you went through,” I say holding his hand for comfort.

  “It’s ok I have closure now and I know it was an accident. Josie wouldn’t want me to be angry, she’d want me to move on and be happy with my life. In a way helping people deliver their babies fulfils a need inside me, and makes me feel like I am making the best of my life,” Christian says with a sad smile.

  This man’s amazing. He’s been through so much, and persevered through everything, doing what he loves while helping others. I don’t think I could cope with losing someone I love, and still find the hope to move on.

  “You’re so brave. I have no idea how you’ve kept yourself so focused on helping others after everything you went through. Why did you choose to keep helping? I know the others say it’s hard for an elemental to lose their bonded. Is it the same for you?” I ask, hoping he won’t see my curiosity as prying.

  How did he find the will to go on? I don’t think I could ever handle losing someone I loved and living with the blame that I was the one to cause it.

  “Honestly, it took me a lot of time to get the closure I needed. The first six months after she died I sat around doing nothing. My mother and father had no idea what to do, so they just let me be.
>
  After my mother was sent to prison for murdering my father, I found out about Zach. Curiosity got the better of me, and I went to meet him. For a 15-year-old boy he was amazingly wise. Being with him for those few weeks helped me realize Josie would be ashamed of me for sitting around wallowing. She would want me to keep helping others and try to find a way to live without her. So, I went back home to the hospital where I had to enter mandatory therapy before I could start work again. It only took two months of therapy before they allowed me be back in the delivery ward, but I decided to keep seeing the therapist, as I had so many issues I needed to make peace with.

  I rarely deliver human children any more. I saw a pregnant elemental come into the maternity ward having serious complications, and I assisted her with the birth of her first child. The day after she thanked me for helping her. She explained it was only because no one else knew how to help her that she came to the human hospital. I realized that day I could help more by helping elementals deliver their babies.

  Did you know an elementals birth mortality rate is 80 percent? Most babies were dying because no one was qualified enough to help deliver through surgical methods. They had general doctors helping and while that’s ok they had no idea what to do during complications. It usually happens because the way an elemental pregnancy progresses. It means labour can also go faster and it can be too harsh on some elementals bodies.

  The last year or so the mortality rate went from 80 percent to about 20 percent and even then, it’s only that high still because some women don’t want their bodies cut open to get the babies out. It’s silly, really, considering they can be healed by a water elemental.

  I’ve actually been meaning to ask if Dane can heal? I have an assistant that comes with me to most births that can heal the wounds once I stitch up the stomach. But if Dane can heal, then it may make things a lot easier. It’s fascinating, really, watching the wound grow back together,” he says staring into space.

  I’m glad one of us thinks it fascinating because I’m still stuck on the mortality rate. Why would anyone risk their baby dying because they don’t want to have a caesarean, and what about the mothers? Is the mortality rate as high?

  “Do the mothers survive?” I ask fearing the answer.

  Imagine how hard it would be on the male bonded? Not only would their child die, but the possibility of their bonded dying too. Is that what I have to prepare myself for the future? Dying in childbirth with my babies living, or my babies dying, and I survive? All of us dying leaving the guys alone?

  Oh god, it’s getting hard to breathe. I feel as if everything’s closing in on me. I close my eyes and try to breathe slowly but it feels as if I can’t get enough air.

  “Hey, calm down, Evie, look at me!”

  I open my eyes to see Christian squatting down in front of me. It doesn’t reassure me too much, because I still feel close to passing out.

  “I’m sorry I told you that. I didn’t think that it would freak you out this much. You need to understand nothing’s going to happen to you or your babies. I won’t allow it! The stuff I was talking about was before I started helping out, and I was one of the top students in my class so you have nothing to worry about. You’re probably the safest pregnant elemental there is because I refuse to leave you until the babies are here safely. I’ve only just met you, and I’m not ready to lose you. Plus, I’ve taught Zach nearly everything he needs to know so if I’m not around he will be. We’ll make sure nothing goes wrong, and I’m sure your bonded will all be there with you. If it makes you feel better, I can teach them the things to know in case a complication arises?”

  My breathing’s returned to normal, and I feel more in control. Christian’s being so sweet and I can definitely see why Josie fell in love with him. He’s so concerned about me and the babies, and I love that he’s trying hard to not push the bond. He barely mentions it and the same with Zach, he’s given me space the past few days while I’ve been reconnecting with my guys. I want to sit down with him and talk about what happens next.

  “Thank you, Christian. I know you’ll do everything you can for us,” I say, pulling him to me for a hug.

  I know I shouldn’t get too close after I told the guys I wouldn’t bond without them knowing, but he makes me feel the same way as my guys. Don’t get me wrong, I felt the same way when I met Zach, but the bond with Zach doesn’t feel anywhere as strong as the bond with Christian. For a while, I thought something was wrong with me for not feeling the bond as strongly, but now I wonder. Why don’t I feel it as strong with Zach as I do with Christian and the guys?

  Christian

  Being hugged by Evie makes me feel like a new man. I haven’t felt truly appreciated in a long time, and while Zach filled the hole I had when I lost Josie, Evie has healed it. I feel like this was my purpose in my life. To meet her and fall in love with someone as beautiful and kind-hearted as her. Josie was an important part of my life and I miss her every day, but maybe now I can have a chance to move on?

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Zach says, spooking us from our hug.

  I feel bad for him only because I seem to have an instant connection with Evie. He keeps saying he wants to give her space, but he’s pretty much avoided her for the last few days. He described his bond being weak and barely formed, whereas mine’s strong as if we’ve known each other for weeks. I don’t know why it’s so weak, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s because they haven’t had a chance to connect properly.

  “Hi Zach. Where have you been? I keep looking for you so we can talk, but you haven’t been around,” Evie says, pulling away from me and turning on him.

  If I was him I’d be afraid because Evie sounds upset. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last seven years, it’s that a pregnant woman is like a ticking time bomb ready to go off at any moment. I hope he has a good explanation.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to give you space to spend alone time with everyone else. You have your bonded back after weeks apart, and your family too. It just didn’t feel right to try and hog your time when you obviously missed them. It’s been a challenge staying away, so I’ve been checking the grounds making sure no one can get on the property without us knowing. We have sensors that weren’t activated, so I’ve set them up so we’ll know if someone crosses the gate without us inviting them in,” Zach explains to her.

  “Oh, ok then. As far as excuses that’s pretty good. Are you ready to stop avoiding me now?” she asks him, with a cheeky smile.

  It’s a smile full of mischief, but with just as much longing. Huh, she must have missed him more than I realized. I wonder if he sees it?

  Zach

  Doing my rounds on the property, I come upon Christian and Evie hugging. I’ve been avoiding Evie for a few days to give her some time to adjust to everything, and work through some things of my own. Like the fact that my brother has a bond with her and seems to be getting more time with her than anyone. I guess being her doctor helps.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not upset about it, but more apprehensive of what it means. I don’t want to overwhelm her with my presence when she already has everyone else vying for her attention.

  It killed me not being able to be around her the last few days, but I knew it was for the best. She needed the time with her bonded.

  “Yes, I’ll stop avoiding you,” I say, laughing at the smile on her face. It’s a smile that says I have no choice, but to do what she wants.

  “Good, now do you want to come sit down with us? It would be nice knowing a bit more about each of you. I also have something I should tell you both,” she says, the smile vanishing from her face.

  I sit in the grass next to her and wait for whatever she has to tell us. I’m so nervous and I hope she’s not going to say we can’t bond.

  “So, I talked to the guys about us, and I told them I won’t bond with either of you unless I’m in love with you. They’ve all agreed that’s fair, and I told them I would try not to form the actual bond wi
thout them being aware first. The thing is, though, I’m still so new to this so it could happen accidentally. It did with Dane, neither of us knew we had bonded for almost an hour after. It wasn’t until I realized I could feel everything he was feeling, that I knew what had happened. It was the rainstorm that tipped the guys off. When the bond formed, it showered the whole school and caused a lightning strike,” she says looking at each of us.

  I have to say I’m a little shocked she bonded with Dane and neither of them felt it. How’s that even possible? I know most bonds happen in an intimate moment, but it must have been crazy intense for them not to feel it until later. Ok, I need to stop thinking about this before it gets too out of hand.

  We sit here for a while talking about what it was like for each of us growing up without the other. I had wished I had a sibling, but was still shocked meeting Christian for the first time. Evie tells us about what she went through growing up, and I don’t know who’s angrier, me or Christian.

  Those parents deserve to be locked up. Evie’s going to talk to them tomorrow before they’re taken away but I don’t see why? Her heart is so big that I fear one day it will lead to disaster.

  The alarm on my phone goes off telling me someone’s crossing the sensor in the back yard.

  “Sorry guys, I have to run. I’ll find you later so we can talk some more,” I say getting up and taking off, not giving them a chance to respond.

  Most likely it’s her father again, but I better check it out to be sure. He’s been crossing the property at random times, for what feels like no reason at all.

  He acts like the perfect father around Evie and her bonded, but there have been times where I’ve caught him sneaking around the property. Well, sneaking may not be the right word because he sees me watching him, but he’s been leaving for hours at a time. He comes back with stuff for Evie but the thing is, I feel like it’s an excuse. And why doesn’t he leave through the main gates? Why leave through random parts of the property? It feels as if he’s testing the security.