Page 88 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

“Glad you’re back,” Elias said as he pulled Ra into a hug.

Liam was next, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “How was hell? Any hot women? Get it, hot? Because it’s hell?”

Ra chuckled. “I see no one has kept you in line while I’ve been gone.”

Aston stepped up when Liam let go. He hugged Ra and said, “I tried, but he’s just not intimidated by me like he is you.”

“Not to worry, I am back now,” Ra said as he looked away from his friends back to Shelly. He wanted to pull her to him, where she was safe. But she needed her friend, and he wouldn’t take that from her.

Tears randown Shelly’s face as she held onto Tara. She wanted her mom still, but Tara was almost as good. She was home, a safe place, and, wow, she’d missed her best friend.

“I was terrified, Shell,” Tara whispered. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Shelly pulled back and wiped at her tears. “Sorry, babe, but not even hell could keep me down. I’m like the Energizer Bunny.”

Tara laughed. “Damn right. But seriously, don’t get thrown into hell again.”

Shelly saluted. “Sir, yes, sir.”

Tara rolled her eyes. “Don’t start that again.”

“It sort of fits. I mean, you’re in cargos, for goodness’ sake,” Shelly said as she pointed to the pants Tara was wearing.

“I’m sorry to interrupt this reunion, but we should take this inside,” a tall man said from behind Tara. He looked at Shelly and his kind eyes smiled. “Welcome back to Terra Academy, Shelly. I do hope you will stay longer this time. We are so very glad that Ra was able to bring you back. I am Terrick, the headmaster.”

Shelly’s mouth made an O shape. “You’re like Dumbledore,” she said in awe.

The group around her laughed.

“I suppose so, in some ways,” he said.

Tara grabbed Shelly’s hand to pull her inside. But before she could take a step, Ra suddenly had her in his arms, and Elias had grabbed Tara.

The others had moved into what could only be called fighting stances as they faced the forest. Ra pushed her behind him, and wicked-looking swords appeared in his hands. Shelly looked around his broad shoulders and saw a woman and a man step out of a portal.

“Stand down,” Terrick said. “It’s Miles and Josie. They are hydro warrior elementalists. They must have received the call to come in.”

“Why are they here and not at Hydro Academy?” Elias asked as everyone relaxed.

“Probably because, now that I remember, they are a soul-bonded pair.”

Shelly looked over at Tara and met her friend's eyes. “You get a two-for-one special today, BFFF. Me, back to bless your life with my glorious presence,andpeeps in the knowto ask about your sexy time with your soul mate,” Shelly said with a grin.

Tara narrowed her eyes on Shelly and glanced at Ra. He sheathed his blades and put one arm back behind him so his hand was pressed to Shelly’s back, keeping her pushed against him. “I havejustas many questions forthemas I doyou. I haven’t forgotten what I overheard. Married, Shell? Really? Only you could go to hell and come back married.”

Shelly felt her face heat up as she glanced up at Ra. “Not going to lie, BFFF, hell sucked. But, I did get something amazing out of the whole experience.”

“We need to speak with the soul-bonded couple, Tara and Elias,” the woman, Josie, who’d come through the portal said, interrupting Tara’s interrogation.

“Time is of the essence, Terrick,” the man Terrick had called Miles said.

Shelly shivered at the ominous tone and also because she realized that it was freaking cold.

“Why is it so cold?” she asked out loud to no one in particular.

“That’s why time is of the essence,” the man repeated. “The world is beginning to freeze.”

Tara frowned. “I thought the problem was global warming?”

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