Page 100 of Slaying With Sylphs

Laerith stalks past me. Grabbing the spear, she pulls it from the tree and swirls her hand in the air. All the flames rush to her and disappear into her skin as I watch in amazement.

A slow clap echoes through the air. I whirl around to see my mates standing about twenty feet away. Dirk comes closer, looking at the spear in Laerith’s hand.

She bristles. “Don’t know who you are, but we’re in the middle of something here. Get lost.” She flips the spear, and it disappears into nothing.

Connall follows Dirk into the clearing, coming to my side and rubbing his cheek along mine. “You alright? Abe got us up to speed, but Dirk felt compelled to make sure you were okay…”

I smile and tickle his chin. “I’m fine.” Turning to Laerith, I offer a smile. “Laerith, these are my mates, Connall and Dirk.” Holy shit. I introduced them as my mates. And it didn’t even feel weird. No, it felt good. I felt proud to introduce them.

Laerith doesn’t bat an eye, instead giving Dirk a once-over. She looks at me. “We need space to work, girl.”

I give my mates an imploring look. “I’ll be home soon, I promise.”

Laerith snorts. “She’ll be home when I think she’s learned something.”

Dirk visibly bristles.

What is going on here?

Laerith snorts and points lazily at him. “Got to love air elemental posturing. You must be the hunter. Go puff yourself, boy.”

Dirk grins like he’s about to blast her to smithereens, but comes to me and wraps an arm around my neck, pulling me to his chest. He peppers me with kisses all over the side of my face.

“What’s gotten into you?” I try to extricate myself from his cool embrace.

“Air and fire are opposites on the elemental spectrum,” Laerith coos. “We pretty much always hate each other.” She barks out a harsh laugh. “Tell me, hunter, has Evenia got your nuts in a vice like the rest of your kind?”

Oh okay. Elemental drama. Dirk stiffens but holds me tight.

“But those elements can also be incredible partners,” Connall breaks in evenly, sparing us from whatever Dirk’s answer was about to be. “Air can bolster fire, help it to burn hotter by providing oxygen to the flames. And fire can turn air deadly.”

“Or suck it out of a room,” Laerith snaps.

Dirk growls, something I’ve never heard him do, and glares at Laerith.

“Okay, this is getting a little too much for me.” I push out of Dirk’s hold. “Why don’t you two go so I can learn something that might help us?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Connall kisses my forehead. “Kick ass, Sweetheart.” He turns to Laerith. “And I’d like you to come for dinner, please. I’m making chicken marsala.”

Dirk’s still an irritated looking, frozen popsicle by my side. “Be good to my woman,” he barks.

Laerith grins. “Maybe. Now scurry along, males.”

Connall smiles despite her insult. I push Dirk toward him. Threading his fingers through Dirk’s hand, he pulls my sylph toward the road.

When they’ve gone, I stare at Laerith. “What gives?”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

I point at the direction my mates left in. “With Dirk. Why would you take an immediate dislike to him, and he to you? Is it just because he’s a hunter? It was his idea tofindyou.”

She rears back and laughs. She laughs so long and hard, I start thinking maybe she’s a little nuts. When the laughter begins to fade, she wipes tears from her eyes.

“Not to worry, little blue, your mates seem quite lovely. Elementals and those with elemental gifts often posture like that. Elements work together, as your wolf mentioned. Most of us can be strengthened through partnership with another. But talking shit is in our nature. Prepare yourself for a dinner full of insults.”

“Gods, you’re all weird,” I mutter. “I might be the only normal one.”

Laerith points at me. “Call your flames, Lou. I’m very hungry, and now that your mate mentioned food, I’d like to get this first session done.”

---