Free Elemental Air (Paranormal Public Series) by Maddy Edwards Page A

existing difficult.”
    “News flash,” said Lisabelle,
“existing is already difficult.”
    “Can’t argue with that,” said
Sip. She pulled up her dress so that it wouldn’t drag on the ground and headed
down the path.
    “Can I get that in writing?”
Lisabelle asked.
    “Only because I haven’t glued a
wand to my hand,” said Sip, grinning.
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Night had fallen while we were in
the cabin discussing whether or not Caid was a traitor. As it happened, I really
didn’t think there was much need for discussion. It was obvious that Caid had
turned to darkness. Now I just wanted to know why.
    The lake was ablaze in a million
white lights. The trees were hung with lanterns in the shape of leaves, while
strings of white lights hung off of branches. It was a very beautiful and
delicate scene. I hadn’t realized how many paranormals had arrived, but the
whole back yard of the summer house was overflowing.
    Everyone wore his or her finest.
    The paths, normally just well
trodden forest floor, had been sprinkled with white stones and pebbles.
    “This is pretty,” said Sip
happily. “I wonder if Lough laid the stones.”
    “I sure did,” said Lough, coming
up to us and grinning broadly. He was in gray dress pants and a light blue
button down shirt. He also wore a silver flower in the top buttonhole of a long
blue jacket.
    “You clean up nice,” said Sip
approvingly. “I had no idea.”
    Lough grinned. “It’s dream giver
garb.”
    “So, Trafton will wear something
like that too?” Lisabelle asked, eyeing Lough.
    Lough growled. “Uh huh. He is,”
he said reluctantly.
    “He’s here already?” I asked. “I
had no idea.”
    “Yeah,” said Lough. “He’s talking
to Rake.”
    “Rake’s here?” Sip chirped.
    “Why are you happy to see that
vampire lug?” Lisabelle asked.
    “That vampire lug has saved your
life numerous time,” said Rake, walking along the path. Trafton was behind him.
    “Ladies,” Rake greeted us. “You
all look wonderful.”
    “Hey, thanks,” said Sip, blushing
a rosy shade of red.
    “Flattery will get you nowhere,”
said Lisabelle, waving dismissively at both young men as she brushed past them.
    “Yeah, we noticed,” said Trafton
dryly.
    “I have a couple of paranormals
to find,” said Lisabelle, ignoring him.
    Trafton stepped up to me,
smiling. He was dressed similarly to Lough, only his pants and jacket were
silver and he wore sandals instead of dress shoes. As usual, he looked
beautiful. His curly blond hair, worn a little longer than most of the other
guys at Public kept theirs, was perfectly messy.
    He watched Lisabelle walk away.
“I just wanted to say hi,” he said plaintively.
    “I’m sure she’ll let you talk to
her later,” said Sip comfortingly. “In five or six years, maybe.”
    Trafton shrugged. “I can’t
believe there are faeries here,” he said, changing the subject. It was a good
thing, since Lough looked like he was about to explode.
    Be careful of the darkness. The
darkness is careful of you.
    Darkness calls to darkness. I
remembered the dream I had, all the way back during my Starter year, in which
Lisabelle had killed our friends, and I flinched. It was just a dream. Just
because I had lived some of dreams after I had them did not mean I would live
that one. I already hadn’t.
    “Are the faeries here?” Sip asked
excitedly, scanning the spacious grounds.
    “Yes,” said Trafton with
amusement.
    “Wow,” said Sip reverently. “Any
paranormal who isn’t a fan of the pixies is a friend of mine. Did you know
they’re on good terms with dragons?”
    By this time we had arrived in
Caid’s large back yard. There were now white chairs and tables everywhere, with
a space cleared right next to the water for dancing. Immediately in front of
that space was one long table, where I assumed Caid would preside over the
dinner that Dacer had spent all day helping to prepare.
    “Charlotte Rollins?”
    An important-looking man