Natalia had never ventured into the Fire room. When, over dinner, Master Paulo asked them to meet there in the morning instead of the courtyard, a prickle of uncertainty and excitement danced across her neck.

"Do you think it will be like the Fire Temple?" Natalia ventured later to her mate as they curled together in her bed.

"I imagine there will be some elements that are the same. Fire burns the same whether it is a God or an Elemental." Raja's eyes did not turn to her as he spoke. She followed them to the flickering shadows on the simple canvas canopy over their heads. Natalia's thoughts slowed as they danced, no longer racing with anticipation.

When she arrived in the space dedicated to Fire training, it felt familiar and foreign. The ceiling soared as high as the atrium at the Fire Temple, and the room was just as impossibly big, but there the similarities stopped. Where the stone and metal of the temple were all placed to inspire fear and awe, this room felt practical and safe. In the middle of the floor was a giant fire pit surrounded by benches of black stone. A hole in the ceiling would allow smoke to vent, but substantial barriers covered the space to prevent anything else from escaping. As she passed the first bench, Diddero and Jiyun pushed more strength into the barriers. They held hands as they paired their magic with precision. When she was young, she and Lukas had been able to blend their magic this way. Perhaps someday, she would do the same with Raja.

Leena sat down by a fountain in the corner of the room. Water trickled down from the wall and flowed around the room, encircling the fire pit. As the water increased its flow, Natalia could hear the Lady singing. She shared her amazement with Raja through their bond, and he smiled and cocked his head to listen.

Mara's face twisted in a scowl etched deep into her features, making her look even more intimidating than usual. She seemed lost in thought, focused on something far away as she absently flipped a small, smooth stone in her hand.

Paulo's expression had shifted from interest to concern as he stared at the petite Master, his brow furrowed with worry. But when he caught Natalia's glance, his features softened into a warm, reassuring smile.

"Ah, you are here. Give us time to finish the preparation." Paulo gestured to a nearby bench, and the couple sat. The tension in the room was palpable to Natalia, unlike the first two days of testing.

"They are nervous about having me meet the brothers." Raja's soft voice whispered in her mindspace as if he was afraid the other would hear him.

"It seems so. I guess after the courtyard almost burned down, they decided to be more careful." Natalia tried to be light-hearted, but when she had to unclench her teeth, she realized how much the mood affected her.

"Yes, maybe." He held her hand a bit tighter, calming her growing anxiety with his cool reassurance.

***

Raja took some comfort in Natalia's returning squeeze. He couldn't help but wonder if the long days of testing had been too much for the Master, leading to the tension in the air. His attention shifted to Mara, a younger Master who had arrived more recently, and he pondered whether she, too, could feel the weight of the trials. However, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a small smile forming on her olive face and her eyes finally focusing on the people in the room.

"Fire first," she announced, her smile broadening. "Air has claimed the privilege of being last of all the elements. And he will do any, um ..." half of her smile curved further up her face as her lips pursed together in thought, "'necessary clean-up.' as he put it."

"Clean up, that's funny." Paulo chuckled and nodded before glaring lightly at Natalia. "You can join in the mindspace, Natalia, but try not to engage Fire or Air. We are here to test Raja, not you."

"Understood, Master." Natalia bowed her head forward and squeezed Raja's hand again. Her excitement reassured him. His tight nerves loosened as Natalia traveled the bond and nestled into his Mindspace. She did not materialize, but he could feel her.

The Masters, however, did materialize. The Master was as solid as he was in the physical space, but Mara was like a ghost. He felt Natalia's power flow to her through him and understood she had no mind magic of her own. She must have moved nearer to Natalia in the physical space to allow for the touch that would bring her into Raja's mind.

"This must be partially why they asked you to come, to be the bridge for Mara." He pushed the thought toward his mate, confident in the privacy of their exchange.

"He speaks so loud when he thinks." Mara's gravelly voice held suppressed laughter.

Warmth flooded Raja's face. He had never received so many guests in his Mindspace; he did not know why Mara could hear the thoughts directed at Natalia, and the sharp-edged Master gave him no time to query Natalia for her opinion.

"I am here, yes, because your mate has the extraordinary power to pull me into the Mindspace. But she is also here to keep Fire calm."

Natalia was a fire tamer, a fact that should not have slipped his mind. This magic existed only in legend among the tribes—the power to tame the ravaging flame. Few masters in history have held this talent. Without it, Masters or mages could stop Fire's rampaging only by expending enormous energy.

He felt a tug along his other bond. Lukas was with him; he did not challenge Diddero's barriers today but prepared to come should he be needed.

"The three are here." As Raja registered the words, flames erupted, burning the images of trees and grass that always formed there. The intense flames disrupted any sense of peace the appearance of his wild home had given him.

"We are here." The ebony man with smoldering red clothing appeared in front of them.

"You wonder why they are afraid? You wonder why we are so excited to meet you, brother?" The black hand stroked Raja's hair, setting it on Fire as he spoke. His deep voice resonated through his body as he felt the heat tickle his face. "We will not delay; we will confirm their hopes and fears." Unexpectedly, the beautiful Elemental reached for Raja, embracing him with abandonment. Even as Fire's Heat enveloped him, Raja felt no pain, only a sense of fullness and completion.

***

Mara's eyelids fluttered open. However, she kept her connection with Natalia in the Mindspace. As she focused her gaze on Raja, she noticed his hair had come loose from its binding, likely being burned away by the intense heat emanating from his body. His locks whipped around in a frenzied dance while his hands crackled with flames, and his eyes burned with an infernal intensity. The air around him seemed to ripple and shimmer like molten glass, yet Raja's flesh remained unchanged, unblemished by the scorching heat.

She heard a gasp from his mate. The noise drew Mara's attention to Natalia, and she also glimpsed echoes of Fire in the young woman's widened eyes. Unlike Raja, though, the woman's face still possessed its humanity. But when she turned back to Raja, she saw only the overlay of Fire's visage and could not distinguish Raja underneath. Fire had possessed him fully. Mara had suspected but had not truly believed it was possible. Her stomach dropped at the implications of the possession, and a cold sweat loosened the grip between her hand and Natalia's. Fire now had a body in the physical space, and what he could do with this body, Mara could not fathom.

"He is still here, but we control his body," the strange voice of Fire blended with Raja. "We can feel the power surging through his body; we want to burn." Fire flew from his fingers toward the wood in the fire pit; it flashed to life.

"Brother Fire," Natalia spoke before Mara could chide the exuberant Elemental. Her calm voice immediately spread a sense of peace over the room. Raja's hair stopped its wild motion around his head and began to float down to his shoulders. "You must let him go."

The heat emanating from Raja sapped the moisture from her lips, making it difficult for her to speak without tearing her skin. Nevertheless, Mara managed to press angry words from her parched mouth, "He is not ready to be your vehicle. He will burn himself up."

As Fire's eyes scanned the room, they finally settled on Mara. The once merry twinkle that had danced within them was replaced with a more severe and contemplative look. Mara knew it was more than the heat that dried her mouth then, and she wondered if he would be receptive to anything she had to say.

But then, he slightly softened around the eyes, almost imperceptible to anyone else in the room. But to Mara, it was a beacon of hope, a sign that he was still willing to listen to her. And that emboldened her.

"Let him go!"

"He is not without his protectors," Fire said as he shrugged in Mara's direction. "The third is pushing us out anyway, and he is not as gentle as you or our Sister," Fire announced before he bellowed with laughter. The sound shocked Mara. She did not like this merger of Elemental and Man; it was too much, too dangerous. "But we like his anger! And he is powerful!"

Raja's eyes flared, then returned to their usual brown color. He blinked before his eyes searched for Natalia.

"He has left," Raja started slowly, "I think Lukas pushed him out."

"No, he left on his own, but the boy could have pushed him if he was closer," Mara countered as she released her grip on Natalia, allowing the woman to focus entirely on her mate.

Raja tilted his head to the side, studying the scene before him. Mara watched him closely, anticipating his response. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded in agreement as he took the hand of his bondmate. As he turned to look away, his face lit up with wonder as he beheld the magnificent walls of water that the tranquil stream had formed. The walls had expertly directed the flame into the pit instead of toward the nearby house. Despite this, tiny embers had managed to jump out of the hole and spread along the ground, igniting anything they could find. Paulo and Leena stood hand in hand, working alongside Lady Water as they battled the tiny elemental fires.

Mara was furious with her friend Fire, yet she couldn't help feeling exhilarated at the same time. Fire's eagerness to claim Raja had revealed a lot. No Master had ever survived being possessed by Fire, as far as Mara could remember. As Fire had pointed out, it was more than they had hoped for and likely more than they had ever feared. This was why the Elements referred to them as Brother and Sister.

***

Lukas solidified in Raja's mindspace just after everyone else had left.

"What was that?!" Lukas emitted a guttural growl, his lips forming a thin, taut line that betrayed the intensity of his anger. Despite this, his eyebrows remained raised in a slight expression of surprise while a glimmer of fear flickered within his crystal blue eyes.

"Fire possessed my physical body; it controlled my magic. I think I can gain control in the future with practice."

"Well, let's not practice that until I am closer to you! I strained myself chasing him out just now."

"Love, thank you, but preserve your strength. The Masters and Natalia would have saved me if needed."

"I will never trust another as much as I trust myself when it comes to you. Well, except Natalia," he added as her form solidified in Raja's mindspace, then whispered. "You are too precious to me."

"The Fire was already responding to you, Natalia. This is how I could overpower him," Lukas announced as he smiled with pride at his once-wife.

"It does not need to be a battle, Lukas. The Elementals are our friends, our siblings," Natalia argued.

"I cannot understand this yet, and if I cannot trust the Masters," he started, then looked from Raja to Natalia. "I certainly cannot trust these overpowered magical entities you have named Elementals." Lukas reached for their hands. "Everyone has their own agenda; they seek their futures. You are what is most precious to me. I am always afraid I may lose you."

"We cannot promise never to get hurt, but we will not leave you, Lukas," Natalia reassured. "You are precious to us as well."

"Something is coming." Lukas was grim. "There is movement again in the Queendom. She is rebuilding her power. Be wary and watchful. The King calls me often to his war room."

"You be careful too, love." Raja touched his face lightly. "Do not overextend yourself. Don't forget to rest."

"I will try." His form faded, leaving Raja and Natalia alone.

"I miss him," Raja admitted.

"I know." Natalia also turned away and faded from his space, Leaving him alone to contemplate his extraordinary introduction to Fire.

***

When Natalia reopened her eyes, the room had calmed considerably. Mara stood behind the bench Natalia and Raja had been sitting on before the possession. Paulo and Leena were wet but had lights beaming from their eyes and smiles. They looked more like siblings in that moment than they had since she met them and looked more exhilarated than exhausted. The water was again small streams, now trickling back towards the fountainhead.

Once Mara noticed Natalia had returned to the physical space, she waved her to the bench to sit.

"Brother Air is impatient to complete the introductions," Mara explained as her hair whipped playfully around her. Natalia's hair and clothing begin to dance about as well.

"Friend, we know you have the strength to possess him, too, and he has the strength to survive. But we could do without the drama now." Mara turned to Paulo, "The seal?"

The Mother entered the space as Paulo directed her energy towards the vent. Slate rose from the walls to cover the roof's vent, creating a solid ceiling. Mara's hand on her shoulder startled her enough to flinch. As Paulo came to sit beside her, she reached out to touch both hands.

"Shall we?" Paulo invited her to join them as they entered Raja's mindspace.

***

The wind blew through the space like a hurricane. Despite this pounding gale, Raja stood silently, waiting for his final test.

"Once, we had no more consciousness than this useless gale." The tall white-haired Elemental walked towards them in priestly robes. Amidst the chaos of the wind, his clothing and long hair remained still. His stare caught Raja, and the three observers faded.

"But, like you, there was one who could contain us," Air continued. "Our sisters were already closer to humans than us; they adapted quicker. But we fought what felt like a trap. This brother talked with us and taught us the importance of his words." Air touched Raja's hair. "By entering his mind, we learned about humanity, how to be more human-like, how to work with those who could call us. After he left us, we could talk with some and hear many. But rarely comes a brother or sister who can carry us with them. These are the ones who can let us live in their world as humans." Raja followed Air's glance as it floated to Natalia's faint form. "She could contain us, but with less ease."

"Brother," Raja started with trepidation, "will I lose myself to you?"

"Possible, or it would be if you didn't have your mates." The gale transitioned to a gentle breeze brushing against Raja's body.

"Will you come when he calls?" Mara's voice asked.

"Yes."

"Will you stop when he orders you to?" was Paulo's question.

"If he means it." Air smiled as he backed away from Raja and turned fully towards the Masters. "We will protect him when he needs us and fight for him when he is angry," Brother Air said, his lips pressing into a tight frown. The pale Elemental then waved his hand dismissively at the Masters.

A tornado surrounded Raja. He felt the abrupt disappearance of the Masters from his Mindspace. Natalia and Lukas remained, though more distant than they should have been.

"Brother," Air put his hands on Raja's shoulders and stared earnestly into his eyes, "we will sit with you when you are sad and celebrate when you are happy. We can be as close as you allow. We will sometimes struggle for power and control over you and our sister. The future is not certain, and your success is not ensured." A chill raced down Raja's spine as Air spoke; the brother's tone was forbidding. The Elemental looked like he had more to say, but Lukas began pushing. Air frowned as Lukas worked to push him out of Raja's Mindspace. "He is powerful, your other bondmate. But he is not yet stronger than us." The tornado faded to a light breeze, and the two masters returned.

"All of you plot and pursue your own goals. Yet, none of you understands fully," the Elemental laughed as he spoke. "We will enjoy watching everything unfold. The pieces coming together. The plans falling apart. And our brother and sister growing stronger will be our favorite part."

The weight of Air's hand lingered on Raja's face long after the Elemental's handsome form had dissolved, as did the dread his words had seeded in his belly.  

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