Page 22 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

Carol’s eyebrows shot up as she looked first at Shelly and then at Tara. “More? You two?”

Tara sighed. “We should probably sit down for this.”

Shelly started to sit down but paused as she watched Ra walk over and, to her surprise, kneel down on one knee and bow his head. “It is an honor to meet the parents of my bonded.”

Shelly’s eyes widened, and her stomach dropped to her toes. Okay, so much for subtlety. She heard Elias chuckle behind them and had the strongest urge to throw something at him.

“It’s, uh, nice to meet you,” her mom responded.The statement sounded like a question, as if she wasn’t really sure if meeting Rawasin fact nice at all.

“Yes,” her dad added. “We are glad to make your acquaintance. I think.”

Ra stayed there a moment longer and then stood and walked back to the spot he’d claimed.

Elias was next, but he didn’t move from behind the spot Tara had claimed on the couch. “It is very nice to meet you both,” he said, and Shelly could hear the sincerity in his voice.

Shelly’s parents both nodded at him then turned their attention, albeit somewhat hesitantly, back to Shelly.

“I don’t want to sound rude,” her mom said, “but what the hell is going on? How did you meet them?”

Shelly took a seat next to Tara. Aviur sat in the recliner, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. He looked like a king lazing on his throne, waiting for his subjects to fawn over him. Tara snorted as Shelly shook her head at him. Aviur saw them staring at him. He winked as if spilling the secrets of the supernatural world to three freaked-out humans was just normal, everyday stuff.

“With all due respect, fire king—” Elias said in a tight voice.

“Relax, Elias Creed,” Aviur interrupted. “I was not flirting with your female. I swear you soul-bonded males are going to be the death of me.”

“They are a bit much,” Shelly agreed.

“You are in enough trouble,” Ra rumbled. “Do not provoke me further.”

Shelly pinched the bridge of her nose as her mom gasped at Ra’s words. “Reel it in, pharaoh,” she muttered.

“Well,” Carol said as she sat in the chair next to Aviur, “I can agree with Shelly in this, despite not knowing the two gentlemen. You are both quite intense. But you”—she pointed at Ra—“if you are Shelly’s beau, I do believe that will be a good thing. She needs a firm hand to keep her in line.”

“Mrs. Carol,” Shelly gasped as if she was insulted by the words. Tara knew her friend was not. The outrage in her voice was as fake as a three-dollar bill.

“Hush,” Carol said, waving Shelly’s pretend exasperation away. “We have important things to discuss. Like where you two have been.

“I keep trying to explain, but people can’t seem to shut their traps,” Shelly said, her exasperation clear in her voice. When everyone just stared at her, she took that as her cue to get on with it. “Well, this is where things get a little strange. I mean, stranger than it’s already been. If that’s possible. You see, well, it’s that, I mean…” Okay, she was totally botching the whole explanation thing.

“I will begin,” Tara said, saving Shelly from her mess of a beginning. “As you know, my parents died in a car accident. It turns out that the crash wasn’t an accident at all. They were murdered.”

Shelly’s mom sucked in a sharp breath, and her hand rose to rest against her heart. “I’m so sorry, Tara.”

“I am sorry you had to find that out on your own,” Carol said, her eyes full of sympathy.

“Thank you. But I wasn’t alone,” Tara said as she looked over her shoulder at Elias. He brushed his finger across her cheek. Shelly loved how tender he was with her best friend.

“The ones responsible for the crash are called acolytes,” Tara continued. “They are humans who’ve become supernatural because they’ve agreed to serve creatures called dark elementals. The elementals are magical beings that draw their power from an element of the earth.”

Shelly’s father cocked an eyebrow. “Elements? You mean like oxygen and radon?”

“No, even more basic than those types of elements. I’m talking fire, wind, earth, and water. The dark elementals, like any villains, want to take over the world and put the whole human race into slavery and yada, yada. But they aren’t the only supernatural beings.” Tara paused. “With me so far?”

Shelly watched her parents and saw the panic in their eyes. They obviously thought Tara had lost her ever-loving mind. Carol stared at Tara intently, as if she was digesting everything her foster daughter was saying.

“I’m not really sure,” Shelly’s mom said. “I mean, I hear your words, but what you’re saying is—”

“Crazy as the dude fromThe Shining,” Shelly offered.

---