Page 68 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

Elias was flung backinto a tree for the fifth time. The breath was knocked from his lungs, and he fell forward and tried to suck air in.

“We can do this all day if we need to,” Jax growled as he motioned toward Aston.

Elias glanced up and saw his air elemental friend raise his hand. As soon as his friend's mouth began to move, Elias slammed his fist into the ground, causing it to buckle and ripple. Aston couldn’t back up quickly enough, and he ended up on his back staring up at the sky a second later.

“You have to focus,” Professor Warren, the Hydro Academy teacher said. Her voice was laced with the frustration Elias felt.

“I am,” Elias snapped. He wouldn’t normally speak so sharply to a professor, but he was so agitated. It felt like someone was running his nails across a chalkboard. His muscles were tight, and his lungs wouldn’t expand fully, despite the fact he wasn’t exerting a lot of physical energy.

“Then why do you keep getting caught by surprise?” she asked.

He wanted to scream that he didn’t know, but that would be a lie. Elias knew exactly why he was getting caught by surprise. He was distracted and didn’t want to admit it because it felt like he was revealing a weakness. Was that what Tara was? A weakness? No. The soul bonded made each other stronger. It was a good thing, a blessing. It would only become a weakness if he allowed it to.

Elias forced himself to relax and reminded himself that Tara was with Zuri, who would protect Tara with her life.

“You good?” Liam asked quietly as he stepped up beside him.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Ready to show these profs what we’ve been doing for the past two years?” Liam’s smirk was contagious.

Elias chuckled. “Aston,” he called out. His friend brushed himself off from where Elias had knocked him on his arse.

“Yep,” Aston hollered and raised his hand as if to say he was ready.

Elias looked at Professor Warren and narrowed his eyes. “This might hurt, just a little.”

Elias began to murmur under his breath as he chanted the words that would pull the magic from the trees and earth around him. Dirt rose from the ground, and he knew Aston had his own hands raised to use the wind to spin the dirt into a whirling tornado. Next to him, Liam gestured and called the moisture in the air. The temperature dropped, and Elias knew Aston was making it colder.

“Focus it,” Elias growled as he turned his attention toward the four professors. He noted that Jax had stepped to the side, away from the others. Damn Jax’s prejudice, after he’d given his speech about students not acting that way.

Elias turned his attention back to the mock battle. The cyclone of dirt and freezing air mixed with ice sharp enough to cut skin began moving toward the professors. The trio could have sent it flying toward the professors at a speed they wouldn’t have been prepared for, but the students weren’t trying to mortally injure their instructors. They were just demonstrating what they could do with their combined power.

Elias realized the professors weren’t sure what to do so he shouted, “Hart, Warren, combine your power and throw up a shield. NOW!” He hoped they’d forgive the lack of formality considering he was saving their asses.

The two professors raised their hands, and an instant later, there was a sheet of ice in front of all the professors.

Elias looked at Ace. “This is where you come in.”

Ace understood immediately. He raised his hand and said, “Sol.” A stream of fire burst forth and hit the wall of ice. A minute later it was a puddle on the ground, and the professors were once again vulnerable.

Professor Hart shouted, “Imperium ventus,” and a mighty gust of wind hit Elias and the others so hard they lost their concentration and flew back several feet. Elias slammed into a tree while the others rolled back up on to their feet.

“Stop,” Jax yelled.

Oh, now he decides to jump in.Elias forced himself to his feet. Liam, Aston, and Ace walked toward the professors, who were staring at them with wide eyes.

“You have been working together for some time,” Professor Bernhardt, the Crimson Academy trainer said. “You used your powers seamlessly.”

“Ace hasn’t been working with us,” Elias said as he turned to the fire elementalist. “You did well.”

“Thanks,” Ace said. “That was wicked, what you guys did.”

“I’ve told you for two years, Jax, that we are stronger together,” Elias said, giving him a pointed look.

Jax simply stared at him, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

“What else can you do as a team?” Professor Warren asked.

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