and shoot out her palms. Flames erupted and flew like arrows toward the water.
Liam’s power flowed steadily into her, and she was proud of her ability. The emotions he was pumping into her nearly caused her to falter.
“Focus, baby,” Liam whispered into her ear. “You got this.”
Gabby turned her full attention back to the water and pushed even harder. Minutes passed, and the ice began to thaw under their combined efforts. She had no idea how long they’d been heating the water, but sweat was running down her forehead and back. She no longer felt the cold. Gabby wondered if she was burning Liam, and he must have felt her worry.
“I’m fine, Gabby. You aren’t hurting me.”
Gabby heard a hollow grinding sound. There had been a steady hum of an engine the entire time they’d been there, but now the sound was rattling the bridge and practically vibrating the air.
“We’ve managed to heat the water so that the turbines that hadn’t been working have started back up again,” Frost called out.
That’s something at least.
She wondered how they were going to keep the water and turbines from freezing back up when they stopped. Because they would have to stop … wouldn’t they?
“Professor Frost,” Gabby called out, “how will we keep the water from refreezing?”
“The water elementals will take over once it’s completely thawed,” she answered. “They just needed our help in thawing it quickly. The salamanders will take a little swim.”
Well, okay then. Gabby continued to keep her power flowing out of her hands. Just when she thought she was going to pass out, Frost yelled, “It’s enough!” She lowered her hands, and Gabby did the same, pulling her power back inside and extinguishing the fire.
Liam caught her when her legs started to give out. “I’ve got you,” he said as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“That was freaking awesome!” Shelly yelled as she pumped a fist into the air. “Did you see me?” She looked at Gabby then her eyes shifted to Liam and then Ra. “I was like, boom, there's my fire, bitches.”
Gabby couldn’t help but laugh. “You totally kicked that frozen water’s ass.”
Shelly nodded. “Hell yeah, I did.”
“So, it wasn’t a problem then?” Gabby asked. “You didn’t seem to think you’d be able to do it.”
The other girl waved her off. “Ra was right. All I had to do was follow his lead. He sent his power into me through the bond, and then it was like I just knew what to do, like it was instinct.”
There was a splashing sound. Gabby and the others turned to look over the edge of the bridge.
“Are those blue-and-green giant lizards?” Shelly asked, her words stilted as she tried to figure out how to describe the large, swimming beasts.
“Those are fire elementals. The salamanders,” Frost said.
Gabby turned when she heard Shelly gasp. She shoved Ra, who didn’t move an inch. “You didn’t tell me they were as big as dinosaurs,” she huffed.
Ra looked at her blankly and said, “You didn’t ask, Mery.”
Gabby frowned at that. What did Mery mean? He obviously wasn’t calling Shelly by her name so that meant it was a nickname or something.
“I shouldn’t have to ask. When something that is supposed to be small is actually the size of a yacht, just go ahead and tell me.”
“My apologies, beloved. I’ll make sure to accurately describe the size of things we speak about so there are no further misunderstandings.”
Shelly narrowed her eyes at him. “Perhaps you’re the one who needs the next spanking.”
“Shhh,” Liam said, nudging her. “Let’s hear more about this spanking thing they’ve got going on. I’m taking notes for us.”
Gabby’s head whipped around. Her eyes narrowed on him. “Do you remember that dagger I had at your throat recently?”
Liam’s lips tipped up in a sexy smile. “Yes, ma’am. Hottest thing that has ever happened to me. I’m totally into dagger play.”
Gabby smacked her palm to her forehead. Of course, she would be the one to get the soul bonded freak.
“Dagger what?” Shelly said as she turned, suddenly more interested in their conversation than threatening her mate with a spanking. Damn, that was an image Gabby did not need in her head.
“Nothing,” Gabby said quickly.
“That was not nothing, new BFFF. That is something we will be talking about later. You will spill it because that’s part of the BFFF code.”
“There’s a code?” Gabby said, her voice rising an octave.
“Of course. There has to be a code,” Shelly answered. “Chicks