Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series

When I stepped out of my house, I was shocked to see a crowd already waiting for me. I’d always known gossip traveled quickly in a small town like Sparkport, but I had no idea just how fast until now.

“Oh my,” Mom said, as she moved out from behind me and took in the throng of people before us. “It seems the entire town’s come to see you off.”

“How many people did you tell about this?”

She shrugged. “Only Sucy, of course.”

I groaned. I should have known. Derel’s mother was the town gossip. Then again, he would have to tell her why he was suddenly leaving town, so I supposed it was inevitable that all of Sparkport would soon know about the Fire God’s visit and my destiny. Along with my upcoming relationship with four men.

I caught sight of Derel standing with his parents, who were giving him hugs and wiping at their eyes. Nearby, Falon was saying goodbye to his family too. I felt horrible for taking them away from the people they loved, who’d depended on them to take over their trades in a few years. Falon’s brother could take over his family’s carpentry business, but Derel’s family would have to find themselves a new apprentice butcher now.

Blane, on the other hand, was alone. He leaned against the side of my house with his bag hanging off his shoulder, looking the total outcast. As an orphan and the town pariah, he had no one who would miss him here—but I was happy he’d be at my side for the rest of my life.

But then I caught sight of an unexpected face in the crowd, one that stood out with its mix of flaws and perfection. Roth pushed past people until he emerged in front of me, while people stared at his scarred face. It was rare for him to be out in public like this, especially in bright daylight.

“You’re here,” I said, breathless and afraid to hope that he’d changed his mind.

“I’m here,” he said. “I couldn’t let you choose some stranger to be your fourth. Though I’m not sure what use a fisherman will be at the Fire Temple.”

I smiled at him, while resisting the urge to hug him in front of all these people, which I knew he’d hate. “Valefire is on the coast, and we’ll still need to eat. Even if that weren’t true, I’d want you with me anyway.”

“I knew you’d change your mind,” Derel said to Roth, who just scowled.

“We ready to get moving?” Blane asked.

“Don’t rush her,” Falon said.

Blane rolled his eyes. “I’m not, but if we want to make it to the temple by tomorrow night, we’ll need to get on the road soon.”

“I’m almost ready,” I said, before turning back to my mother and sisters. Emotion clogged my chest and tears filled my eyes as I hugged them one by one.

“Good luck,” Krea whispered in my ear.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Loka said.

My mother hugged me so long and tight I started to feel like she was never going to let me go. Then she pulled back to look at me. “This is your destiny and I’m very proud of you. Your father would be too. Take care of yourself and those four young men, and come visit whenever you can.”

I sniffed. “I will.”

“Remember, you’re descended from a long line of priestesses.” She patted my cheek. “Now get to the Fire Temple before the volcano tears apart our town.”

I chuckled through my tears. “Yes, Mom.”

I turned away and grabbed the bag that held the few things I’d decided to take with me. It was time to face my destiny.

My four men formed a circle around me as we moved through the town, parting the crowd like a wave. The people I’d known my entire life now looked at me with a mix of awe, fear, and hope. Many of them called out their blessings or wished us well, some even thanking us for protecting them from the volcano, while others frowned or turned away. Maybe they didn’t believe the Fire God had truly chosen me, or maybe they didn’t agree with me taking four mates.

“Whore,” someone muttered in the crowd, and Blane lurched forward like he would strike the person down. Falon gripped his arm and held him back. I bowed my head, my face heating up and no doubt turning red, and picked up my pace. Though it was sad leaving my village and family, there were definitely some people I would not miss.

We kept walking and soon left the crowd and the town behind. I’d gone over the map with my mother last night, since she’d visited the Fire Temple once as a child, though she hadn’t left Sparkport in many years. According to her, people in our village used to regularly visit the temple and leave offerings, but that fell out of practice. It was likely no one had visited for at least twenty years now.

As we followed the road, I hefted my bag higher on my shoulder. I’d only brought one, and it had been hard to leave a lifetime’s worth of belongings behind, but for this journey I only needed the essentials. Plus a few books, of course. I would return and get the rest of my things once I was settled in the temple.

“Thank you again for coming with me,” I said to the men, who had fanned out around me. “I know it was a lot to ask and on such short notice too. I mean, you had to give up your families, your professions, and your homes. I’m still in awe that you all said yes.”

“You had to give up all of those things too when the Fire God chose you,” Falon pointed out. “At least we had a choice.”

“The Fire God did give me a choice, but it didn’t feel like much of one. How do you say no to a God?” I smiled faintly as I remembered my fear upon meeting him. “Although I wouldn’t have said no anyway. Though it was a shock at first, I truly feel this is my path. As if I’d been searching for myself my entire life and now I finally found her. And all of you are a part of that. Maybe there was a reason I felt so strongly for all of you…” I trailed off, stealing glances at the men, wondering if I’d said too much. I still didn’t know if they felt the same for me. They were here with me, but was that because of duty, friendship, desire…or love?

“Anyway, I really appreciate that you’re all going on this journey with me,” I added quickly. “For the last few years I’ve been torn between each of you, unable to decide who I wanted to spend my life with. I’m so happy that now I don’t have to decide. I can have you all.”

Falon cleared his throat. “I can’t speak for the others, but I’m happy to be here, even if it was unexpected.”

“You know I’m always up for an adventure,” Blane said.

“No kidding,” Roth said. “Did you bring the fireworks?”

“Of course I did,” Blane said.

Derel rolled his eyes. “You’ll probably shoot off your arm with them.”

Blane grinned. “If I do, we’ll call it an offering to the Fire God. He’ll love it.”

I laughed and shook my head. If nothing else, I would never be bored at the Fire Temple with these four around.

It wasn’t long before we had to diverge off the road to begin walking on the rough terrain. The volcano was almost directly north of Sparkport on the coast, and while there might have been a road leading to it years ago, it had all but vanished now. This journey would have been a lot faster and easier if we were all riding horses, but our village didn’t have any that could be spared. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to get horses up the volcano anyway—we were in for a bit of a climb once we reached it.

I glanced up at Valefire in the distance, which was still releasing a never-ending stream of white smoke into the sky. Journeying there seemed an impossible task, and no one in their right mind would ever want to live there. I could only trust that the Fire God knew what he was doing—even if it was hard to banish my fears and doubts about what was to come.