glowed angry gold, and when it was over, they crisscrossed down the parts of his flesh that could be seen from his neck, arms, and hands. Gabby imagined that the clothing didn’t protect the covered skin, not against magic that powerful. She’d felt the heat and power of it from thirty feet away.
Once it was done and the whip was no longer wrapped around Ra, it appeared his temper had abated. He stood there with his chin up, shoulders back, and eyes glaring at Aviur. “I will not forget this,” Ra said.
Aviur stared back, and Gabby could tell in his gaze that he cared for Ra. “I know, but you will live long enough to rescue her, and that is what matters.”
Elias and Liam closed the distance between them and their brother and, without hesitation, wrapped him in a tight embrace. Elias had one hand on the back of Ra’s head as he pulled it to his shoulder. He said something, and Ra nodded. Only a few seconds passed before Ra put an arm around his two brothers and embraced them back.
Tara wrapped her arm around Gabby as they stood and watched the three best friends. They looked incomplete without Aston.
“I’m glad you're okay,” Tara said softly, her eyes watching the scene before them.
“I’m glad that you’re glad,” Gabby said. “And I know that must sound weird because—”
Tara cut her off. “No, it doesn’t. You worked hard to keep from caring about people. People who could care about you. Because losing them hurts like hell.”
“How’d you know?” Gabby asked, turning to look at Tara.
“Shelly and I talked about it. She’s good at reading people and relentless when she decides she cares about someone.”
Gabby smiled. “She’s crazy. But so am I.”
“Yay, me too,” Tara said with a smile. “That’s why I know she will be okay. If anyone can go to hell twice and make it out without being demon dinner, lake of fire fodder, or becoming the bride of Satan, it’s her.”
“I believe it,” Gabby agreed.
The guys were heading their way as Professor Frost walked up to them. Her face was sorrowful, and her eyes shined with unshed tears. “We will begin making a plan to get Aston and Shelly back. But first, we need to send off the fallen warriors. Then we can regroup.”
“Josie and Miles,” Gabby said, swallowing back her tears.
Frost nodded. “And Jax and Zuri.”
“Too many,” Tara whispered as she wrapped her arms around Elias.
“Yes,” Frost said. “But it also could have been much worse.” She paused and glanced over at the royal elementals. The reunited mates were either embracing one another or speaking intently. It was clear they were relieved to be back together. “The royals are stronger together, and with their mates returned, they will be able to assist in getting Aston and Shelly back.”
Gabby glanced at Ra. He hadn’t spoken a word since the guys had returned to them. His face was void of any emotion. His eyes were the only thing that indicated he felt anything at all. They danced with flames, and the pupils had enlarged so much that the whites no longer showed.
Liam must have picked up on her concern through their bond because he leaned over and said softly in her ear, “He’ll be okay. We will make sure of it.”
Gabby nodded, hoping with everything inside of her he was right and that Shelly and Aston would be okay, too. She’d only just begun to accept that these were her people. And she actually wanted to be a part of their group. It would be so unfair to lose any of them, especially Shelly, the one who had pretty much said she wouldn’t give up on Gabby. The girl had been as relentless in her pursuit of friendship as Liam had been in his pursuit of her heart. And both had been successful.
“I’m opening portals to each of the academies,” Frost said, interrupting Gabby’s thoughts. “Go where you need to. Get cleaned up, get some food, and get some rest. You will be notified when the send-off for the warriors is scheduled.”
They said their goodbyes and agreed to meet up after getting some rest. Gabby was exhausted. Her emotions were all over the place, and she just wanted to curl up in a ball and try to process all that had happened.
“Will you trust me to take care of you right now?” Liam asked her.
She looked at his handsome face and took in the concern in his beautiful, ocean-colored eyes.