Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

cornered.
    A volley of shots rang out and Judith’s heart skipped a beat. Stefan!
    Levi!
    Rikki’s voice burst through Judith’s head, anguished, terrified for him.
    I’m all right, baby. Calm down a little, I’m drowning. That was definitely Levi, finding a little amusement in his wife’s storm.
    Judith realized she was connecting all of them, all five elements, Levi and Stefan. She even felt Blythe’s presence.
    Judith, since you’re here, stay where you are. Keep out of sight. I’m going to use the boost of power to try to free Levi’s leg. Stefan was the calm in the middle of the turbulent storm. Levi, whatever you do, resist the impulse to move around. You know he set more traps.
    Then I’ll have to find them and spring them before some innocent kid stumbles on them.
    Judith couldn’t fail to hear the pain in Levi’s voice. He was every bit as calm as Stefan, but he was hurting.
    Thomas. Even in the middle of a crisis, she noted Levi kept to Stefan’s cover. Don’t take any chances. He’s all over you.
    Stefan didn’t reply and two more shots rang out. Lightning slammed to earth a street over and flames raced up and over the houses following the lightning. Fortunately Rikki’s violent thunderstorm seemed to be able to keep the glowing blaze from setting the wood on fire.
    “Lissa!” Blythe hissed her name. “Reel it in. I’m telling all of you, get control before something terrible happens.”
    “If we could see this Ivanov,” Rikki said, “we could keep him away from both Stefan and Levi. Maybe even drive him out of the village.”
    Judith didn’t bother to point out that Ivanov would surely return, he’d already come and gone once before, but Rikki did have a good idea.
    “We came to keep him off our men,” Judith affirmed, “so let’s do it.”
    Blythe sighed. “You know not only are those men going to wring your necks, but so is Jonas. And I’ve got my cell phone out to dial. The storm’s interfering with the signal so back it off, Judith.”
    Judith didn’t care if Jonas was called, all she cared about was making certain Stefan and Levi weren’t in immediate danger. She sprinted to the narrow space between two storefronts that connected the street to the one behind it where some of the residents had homes. Her sisters followed her. The moment they were close to the street, still hidden from view, she halted and peered cautiously around the corner.
    She was disappointed when she couldn’t locate any of the three men, but she knew she was much closer to the actual battle zone. The street pulsed with violent energy. A bullet splintered wood on the back gate of the neighboring house. The shot came from across the street, but she couldn’t see anyone, nor could she see Stefan, but he had to be in that yard somewhere.
    You hit? Levi asked.
    No, he’s fishing. But I’ve got to get that trap off you before he circles around.
    “Why isn’t he shooting back? They have enough weapons for a small army,” Rikki said.
    Judith shrugged, trying to pinpoint Stefan’s exact location. She felt his concentration, an intense energy focused directly on an object a great distance from him. She caught the picture in her mind and nearly cried out. The surge of fear added to Rikki’s mounting terror. Both caught a glimpse of the medieval, vicious-looking device—a modified bear trap with serrated teeth honed to a razor’s edge.
    Judith’s breath caught in her throat. A collective gasp came from her sisters and Rikki gave a shattered cry.
    Is that thing on your ankle, Levi?
    Rikki’s wail of horror was loud in Judith’s mind, amplifying her own near panic.
    Raindrops turned icy cold, pummeled the street in the form of small icy golf balls. The wind bit at the fences.
    More like my calf, honey, but Stefan will get it open. Stay put and trust us to handle this. I need you out of harm’s way.
    The love in his voice only added to the mix of emotions the women were sharing. Clouds swirled and the wind blew sheets of rain down the street. In the center of the dark overhead mass, lightning danced and on the street, driven by the wind; a tower of flames rose high in spite of the rain—or maybe because of it. The flames fed by Lissa’s fiery element.
    Another volley of shots sprayed the dancing fire tower, but the sheer force of the wind caught the bullets midflight and held them hovering in the air.
    “Airiana,” Blythe hissed. “Stop playing with ammunition.”
    “Sorry,” Airiana