The Elementals: Lost in a Turbulent Sea (Book 3 in Elementals Series)

Chapter Eighteen: Elevation

July 26th, 2016

Málaga, Spain

Soft morning light filtered into the darkness of a large bedroom, creating enough light to stir those inside it. A pair of silver eyes open and a smile makes its way onto the person's lips.

"Good morning."

"Buenos días, mi amor." Journey responds as he looks into his husband's eyes, "why are you so happy?"

Soren offers a smile to his husband. "Should I not be?"

Journey smiles in response. "You should always be happy."

The phone on the nightstand begins to ring, Soren sighing in acceptance while Journey rolls his eyes. "Cabot residence, how may I-" Soren is cut off and nods as he sits up in bed, "Councilwoman, how nice to hear from you."

Journey sighs softly as he watches his husband on the phone. "What does she want?" He mutters.

"I-I see...well, I'm glad everyone's alright, then. Yes, Rhydian is here. He hasn't gone and I'm not sure he will," Soren says into the phone, "Mrs. Stryker...he's lost a lot of people. He's not sure how he'd do in a fight, anyhow. After what happened to him, I can't force him to do anything like that."

"Tell her no," Journey whispers, "whatever it is."

"Yes, Councilwoman, I'll try," he murmurs before hanging up, "she wants me to convince him to go to America."

"To fight? No. If he doesn't want to, he shouldn't have to."

Soren shakes his head before sighing softly. "Delilah's house was attacked last night, a girl was injured, badly," he tells his husband who rests a hand on his shoulder, "I don't want anything like that happening to you or the kids."

"I know you don't, mi amor. Talk to Rhydian. But don't tell him she's demanding it, then he'll feel like he has to go," Journey murmurs and Soren nods before sighing softly, "do you remember the Civil War?"

"Sí, how could I forget?" Soren murmurs, "bloodshed, war between our own kind. How can we stop the killing? By killing other Elementals? That isn't the way."

"Then what is?" Journey asks softly. "There's no other way."

"I don't know. I'm just afraid for you, for our family. The life we've built, I'm afraid it will be ripped away from people who want us dead," he murmurs and Journey squeezes his husband's shoulder.

"Soren, listen to me. You have always found a way for us. I know you'll find a way this time, too," he murmurs and Soren smiles softly before turning his head to gaze at Journey, "that's the smile I love."

"This one?"

"Sí, because it's so simple, yet so lovely."

Soren smiles wider before shaking his head. "I love you."

"Por siempre y para siempre," Journey murmurs, the pair smiling at one another in the early summer morning.

"I'm not leaving. I don't care what the Council wants me to do. They're a group of close-minded people who care about themselves."

"At least we're not the only ones who see that," Journey says, smiling at the teen, "you're right about them. When we were fighting one another, they didn't help their own side. They just stood by and watched."

The Lightning Elemental sighs softly before looking at the two men. "That's why I don't want to go. What if something happens? What if you're killed and I'm not here?" He asks quietly. "I can't lose another family."