Magic of the Wood House (The Elemental Phases Book 6) by Cassandra Gannon Read Free Book Online Page A

of his face was
hidden from view.  He did that a lot.  The movement brought the lava rock walls
into his direct line of sight.  He finally seemed to process that he was in a
stone prison cell.   “Fucking Cult.”  He let out a long sigh and glanced over
at Djinn.  “You’re so under arrest right now, dickweed.”
    “And
you’re a little bit outta your jurisdiction.”  Djinn shot back.
    “We
just need to talk with you…”  Alder began.
    Sullivan
cut her off.  “You can talk down at the police station.”  He got to his feet. 
“I’m going home and you’re going to jail.”
    “Good
luck with that.”  Djinn said snidely.  “It’s a long walk to the human realm
from here.”  He glanced over at Teja.  “Can we take a vote on you keeping him? 
‘Cause, I vote you toss this guy back.  I mean a Wood Phase and a
human…?”  He rolled his eyes.  “You can do way better.”
    Except,
very few Matches did better than a Wood Phase.  They all knew that.  The Wood
House bred some of the greatest warriors in the realm.  They didn’t cheat, or
lie, or half-ass their way through life.  Everything they did, they did with
their whole heart and fanatical dedication.  They were honorable and selfless. 
Wonderful parents.  Caring Matches.  Fearless soldiers.  They’d die to protect
the people they loved.  Gladly.  Having a Wood Phase as a Match was something
girls prayed for.
    Shit .
    It
just got worse and worse.
    “Teja,
you can’t let him just leave.”  Pele insisted, in her “I’m the smart one”
tone.  Pele always thought that she was the smart one.  Utterly
self-assured about all aspects of life, Pele would never understand the fear
eating at Teja’s insides when she thought about having a Match.  “He needs us. 
He needs you .  The boy picked a fight with the Air Phases.  Kinda shows
you how bright he is.”
    “I
didn’t pick that fight.  I was standing on the beach and they attacked me.”
    Pele
didn’t give any indication that she’d heard Sullivan’s objection.  She had a
habit of tuning out unimportant things, such as everyone else’s opinions.  “You
know how many scumbags will be trying to kill your handsome human?”  She didn’t
bother to wait for an answer.  “All of them.  And he seems really easy to
kill.”
    Sullivan
shot her a glare.  “I’m leaving.”  He announced.  “Anybody who tries to stop me
is gonna have to kill me.”  He stalked out of his cell, looking around
the maze of stone corridors with a disparaging roll of his eyes.  “Perfect. 
Tell me we’re in your parents’ basement, now.”
    “You’re
in the dungeon of the Fire Fortress, human.”  Djinn informed him with a demonic
smile.  “A place nobody escapes from.”
    “The Fire Fortress?   Jesus, you people seriously need to get a life outside
of Super Mario Brothers .”  Sullivan headed for the stone steps leading
upstairs, studiously avoiding Teja’s gaze as he passed.
    Teja
watched Sullivan go and felt a moment of alarm.  No matter how frozen her
emotions were, she was still an Elemental.  For centuries she’d imagined this
man and the life they could have.  Just the idea of him had been enough for her
to pull back from the edge of the roof after the Fall.  Rationally, Teja knew
that it was a gift to find your other half.  Not everyone got a chance at it. 
Especially not these days.
    But,
her frozen emotions told her that getting close to Sullivan would be waaaaay
too dangerous.  Caring meant pain.  She’d been avoiding Sullivan for weeks,
because she couldn’t let this human get under her skin.  Distance would be
best.  Lots and lots of distance.  Except whenever she saw him, all she felt
was a punch-in-the-gut desire to be as close to him as possible.
    …And
now he was just leaving .
    “Wait.” 
Teja ordered, trying to think.
    “No.” 
Sullivan snapped and kept going.
    Teja
blinked.  No Elemental would have done that.  Even one as