As Raja joined Natalia in their sitting room for dinner, he found her standing motionless at the window, staring out at the darkening Vale. She tightly clenched her lower lip between her teeth and fixed her eyes on a distant point, lost in deep contemplation. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest as if trying to shield herself from the world. Her furrowed brows and intense gaze revealed the inner struggle Raja felt through their bond. She grappled with the weight of all they had learned that day, but he couldn't yet read her well enough to know which part worried her the most. The silence was palpable, and only her breathing broke it. Since their arrival, these moments of solitary contemplation had become more frequent whenever they were alone together.

Natalia's red hair glistened in the last rays of the setting sun, and her pale skin had a radiant glow. Raja found her most beautiful during these times, and he felt a yearning for her that he had only once felt for Lukas. Whenever this yearning threatened to overwhelm him, he would leave her alone to commune with Lukas. However, Raja could not feel at ease even then, as Natalia often used that time to visit with her priest, Destan. Whenever Raja thought of Destan, he suppressed the surge of anger and possessiveness he felt. He knew he had no right to demand anything of Natalia and should not begrudge her friendship with the gentle healer. That night, Raja remained with Natalia, waiting for her to tell him what had put her in her mood.

"She feels more distant," Raja confided in Lukas several nights earlier. His head laid on Lukas' bare chest, in the bed that had been the most prominent feature of their last home recreated in the Mindspace.

"Natalia needs comfort. Push it through the bond. Let her know you are there for her," Lukas recommended, his breath tickling the top of Raja's scalp.

"I will try that, but is it enough?"

"Honestly." Lukas pushed Raja up to capture his eyes. "I don't know her as well as I once did. The Natalia you describe has so little resemblance to the Nati I married."

"How?" Raja knew she had been through too much for her ever to be the same woman she had been in her youth, but maybe by knowing how she had changed, he could connect with her more.

"Nati held the joy of the world in her chest and shared it with everyone around her. Every beautiful thing sparked excitement in her face. She danced and sang as easily as she breathed, and no secret ever remained safe in her hands. Nati was my lifeblood, the only source of purity I had." Just as Raja contemplated how much of the Nati in Lukas's memory was true to reality, pain ripped through Lukas's happy expression, and he turned away as if to hide it. "And I threw it away so easily. I didn't even listen to her when she told me to stay, and I didn't understand her fears. I was angry with her, angry that she didn't believe me."

Raja pulled Lukas closer to him, trying to squeeze the sorrow out of his usually unremorseful mate.

"I killed our child," Lukas whispered, sending a dagger of pain into Raja's heart.

"Do you want another?"

"That time has passed," Lukas regained his composure and backed away from Raja's embrace. Understanding his mate's moods well after a decade together, Raja stood just before the bed, and all surroundings disappeared.

"Natalia is not a simple woman any longer," Lukas concluded, all vestiges of vulnerability lost. "It will take years to understand who she has become."

"Yes," Raja agreed. Suddenly, the revelation that both assumed he would have many years with Natalia struck him. As Lukas disappeared, Raja realized how entangled his life had become. Although Natalia wasn't as deeply embedded in his life as Lukas was, Raja knew she would become more important to him over time.

As she stared out the window, he pondered his feelings for his second bond mate. At first, he was confused and worried about his attraction to her. He had always loved women like sisters, mothers, and elders, but he had never desired them as lovers. This small woman, who did not look like a man, stirred feelings in him that no other woman had before. Although it was not as strong as his passion for Lukas, he couldn't ignore it. He accepted it as a part of who they were. He did not know whether she felt the same way, but he sometimes suspected that she did. Their intimacy became more physical even as she drew away from him. When she slept, she held onto him with abandon, and he did not push her away. Although they had not yet crossed the line into lovemaking, he did not believe that he could resist it for much longer.

"Will you not go to Lukas tonight?" Natalia's voice startled him out of his thoughts. He looked up to realize at some point, she had turned her contemplative gaze toward him.

"No," Raja answered. "Will you go to the priest?"

After a prolonged hesitation, Natalia answered Raja's question. Her voice was soft and hesitant as if she was unsure of her answer. "No, I would rather stay here with you," she finally said, her eyes downcast.

Raja could sense the turmoil in her emotions, and he instinctively pulled her closer to him, hoping to provide her with some comfort. He felt the warmth of her body next to his, and he could smell the faint scent of soap on her freshly washed body.

"What bothers you?" Raja asked after silence had settled between them for a little too long.

"Nothing and," she paused, separating herself from his embrace to examine the table contents, "everything. We have met the four Elementals, and they have given me such joy and comfort."

"Yes." Raja reached for the basket at the center of the small wooden table, filled with freshly baked rolls, their warmth emanating through the wicker weave. He absently chose the topmost roll, feeling the heat against his fingers, and broke it open, releasing a burst of fragrant steam. The scent of the bread filled the air, mingling with the aroma of cheese and meat that he placed on the soft and warm center of the roll.

"But I am uneasy as well." Natalia followed Raja's lead and made her own sandwich.

"Why?" Raja queried after he had chewed his first bite, enjoying the sweetness of the roll contrasting with the savory fillings.

"I don't know," she answered before biting into her sandwich and looking towards her preferred window.

Raja waited. Already, he had asked more questions than he should have. Raja needed to let her tell him what she wanted to say on her schedule. But he did wonder how much of it matched his concerns.

"I guess," she continued. "I feel that so many things have been moving towards getting us here and introducing us to our magic. I have been so caught up in it all that I haven't stopped and thought about what it all means to me. What it all means to us." Her mixed emotions leaked through the bond, her joy, fear, confusion, and desire. It was the first time he had felt it from her, the first time she'd let it leak towards him.

"These are heavy thoughts," Raja managed to whisper as he stared into her blue eyes and tried not to lose himself.

"Yes," she whispered back. "The elementals are extraordinary but much more volatile than I had expected."

"You did not expect Fire to be volatile?" Raja teased with a wry smile.

"It was not Fire that surprised me, or not in that way." Natalia shook her head slightly. "I don't know. It is just so much. And -"

Raja sat silent, feeling the echoes of her thoughts and feelings. She was sharing more than usual through the bond. Natalia worried about what would happen to him the next time one of the elementals possessed him or if they could possess her. The thought of losing herself so entirely to another being, even one she felt such an affinity to, disturbed her the most.

"If you wish, I will not let it happen again," Raja said quietly. She raised her head to look at him again. "We are in this together. Both of us must be confident in each other. If the possession scares you, we will learn to prevent it in the future."

Natalia rose from the table, and as she got up, Raja felt a mix of emotions surge through their bond. The feelings that he experienced were a combination of gratitude, anger, confusion, and regret. As she approached him, his heart pounded heavily, and his palms grew sweaty. When she kissed him lightly, he was taken aback by the suddenness of the gesture.

He placed his hands on her cheeks and held her in place when she tried to pull away. It was as if his body was telling him to keep her close.

Raja fought the urge to kiss her again, but his mind struggled to keep up with his heart. He knew he had to follow her lead if anything happened between them, and he reminded himself of the patience that Lukas had taught him. The fleeting thought of his other bondmate came to his mind and helped him regain his composure and loosened his hold. Natalia lingered close to him, and he could see the warmth of her breath on his face.

Natalia broke the kiss and moved to one of the cushioned sofas near the table. Her expression conveyed warmth and understanding. However, Raja was experiencing mixed emotions that he couldn't quite understand. He felt grateful for the kiss, but at the same time, he was angry with himself for giving in to his impulses. This inner conflict was new to him, and he struggled to comprehend it. Raja had never felt such intense emotions for a woman before, and he wasn't sure how to proceed.

"Raja, I am confused at how glad I am that you are experiencing this all with me. I don't understand why I feel this way, why I don't hate you more. Why I -" She stopped herself before she said the following words, but Raja felt the echo of the sentiment.

"It has been so much newness in so little time," Raja said as he moved to the empty spot beside her.

"Yes," Natalia agreed, laying her head on his shoulder.

"But I, too, am glad you are part of it with me," Raja admitted. "I still do not know how or why we bonded, though the how becomes more apparent as we meet the elements." This provoked a small, conspiratory smile from Natalia. She must suspect the elemental's interference as well. Raja paused, not wanting to go on but needing to. "Lukas has been the center of my world for many years; now, he is not."

"He isn't?" She didn't move her head, but Natalia sounded more intrigued than surprised.

"No." Raja laid his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. During one of their late-night talks, Raja and Lukas had a heated discussion about the matter, but eventually, Raja realized that Lukas was correct. "You have split my concentration. My focus now has two anchors. But it does not feel like I am hopping between two worlds."

"You aren't," Natalia concluded. "You are now the center, Raja, and we are orbiting around you."

Lukas had said this as well. These two powerful people were orbiting around him. The intensity of their presence was palpable, and Raja couldn't help but feel the weight of their expectations bearing down on him. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that this arrangement was temporary and the balance of power between them would eventually shift. He sensed their interactions and dynamics would change and braced himself for whatever lay ahead.

They sat in silence, lost in their thoughts, until Raja noticed a change in Natalia's breathing. When he looked down, he realized that she had fallen asleep. Though her mind seemed still racing, she was at least getting some rest. Not wanting to disturb her, Raja decided against carrying her to her room - he knew she was a light sleeper. He propped his feet on the table, settling his head against the cushion behind him again. It wasn't the most comfortable position, but he drifted off to sleep. They both knew they needed to rest for the challenges ahead.

***

"Well, I am not sure what I will tell the council," Paulo announced, pulling Mara's eyes from the restoratives she sipped. Leena laid a comforting hand on her thigh, and Mara realized she had tensed. Taking a deep breath, Mara contemplated the question Paulo had posed.

"You tell them the truth." Mara leaned her head back against the chair and closed her eyes. "Just not all of it. The fact that they can see and hear all four elementals is enough to cause a furor without mentioning siblings and possession."

"If they know even that much, will they insist on meeting them? Testing them?" Paulo's voice held more anxiety than it should. He had the most power of anyone in the Council Lands, and yet still worried about how the Councils would react to him.

"They might, but you are The Master. Say no," Mara was unsympathetic to the politics of being The Master. She did not want the role, though Paulo told her repeatedly that it would be hers when she was ready. Politely appeasing a council member's pride was not her way yet, but she would learn from Paulo if he insisted. And he was very good at it.

"Say, 'Not yet,'" Leena interrupted. "Say: 'soon,' once their powers have stabilized. Once they are not a danger to themselves when surrounded by the most powerful of our Masters." She stroked Mara's hair slowly, then stood to walk towards her brother.

It was never a good sign when Leena was the voice of conciliation and reason. This tone meant she had some plan she was working through, which was not always the best thing for the Council. Mara loved the woman but understood her well. Leena's loyalty went first to herself and what she believed to be the right thing. Next came family, and then came anything or anyone else.

"We have all trained or been trained," Mara began, ignoring Leena's current motivations. "They may not like it, but they must respect the trainer's isolation of his trainee. It is unusual but not unheard of. And you have called your brother, who is well known and respected among the Earth Masters and the Council. You have called Persephone, who would challenge an Inyone Wind Walker?"

Mara felt it best not to mention Destan, who remained an enigma. His presence was controversial. Only The Water Master's firm endorsement of him to the Elemental Council had kept them from calling him to be judged. Paulo did not need this added stress over the one he named friend. Mara frowned but knew Destan would be her friend in time, too. Anyone who had gained The Master's friendship was worthy of hers.

"But we have no Fire Master," Paulo said, nodding, understanding the women's attempts.

"Rosamund will not come?" This surprised Mara. "What happened?"

"She has chosen to stay with her order to ensure its safety." Paulo released a puff of air that signaled his frustration with her choice. Rosamund would not survive the Queen for long, and her death would complicate matters.

"So she has become a priestess after all." Leena laughed. Mara had not seen Rosamund in years, and then only briefly. It had been enough to be impressed with her relationship with Brother Fire, but to become a priestess of Fire meant to worship him as a God. Could a Master ever do this?

"Maybe, or perhaps she is just loyal to her people, like any good leader. But it does not help us with Fire training," Paulo answered.

Mara nodded and finished her drink. This was consistent with what she knew of the woman. Rosamund should have been The Fire Master, but she chose to serve her Council and the Council Lands differently. It was too bad she was not an Elemental Master; this type of leader would be helpful on the Elemental Council and save Mara the trouble of the job.

"Your brother's wife is a Fire Master of no little strength; name her teacher for now," Mara ventured when the silence had grown too long. "And the Councils know I am here; few on the Fire Council can argue with my strength in Fire."

"True. Though I would not have chosen Agnes to teach them, I guess it is the best we can do if I want to keep the circle small." Paulo seemed satisfied. Mara found his dislike of Agnes perplexing, but she had never understood his battle with his brother. The reasons for their animosity remained his secret, and she respected that.

"Then it is done, brother." Leena sighed and hugged her brother's shoulders from behind his chair. "You will leave in the morning?" Her cheek was resting on his head.

"Yes, Diddero and Jiyun will begin their instruction while the other Masters gather. I do not know how long I will be gone."

Leena must have been pushing some of her healing power to Paulo; Mara could see it in the release of tension in his face. This level of affection for her brother made Mara trust Leena despite everything she knew about the woman.

"You will be in charge of them while I am gone," Paulo announced with renewed vigor. You must monitor them closely. I do not think they know how unusual the elementals' response to them is. They do not even mean to call them, yet they come."

"I will do my best. Leena will help with Lady Water and I, the Brothers. Will the Mother control herself while you are gone?"

"It seems so, but my brother will arrive soon, just in case." Mara was satisfied with that. It would be good to have Jordan here. His mastery of Earth was unparalleled. She wondered if he had timed his arrival to settle in while The Master of the Vale was away.

"Well, we are all set, and you should rest!" Leena got up from behind Paulo's chair and approached Mara, indicating her desire with her eyes. Mara smiled; Leena was a curious person, but spending time with her was always rejuvenating. She stood up and accepted the older woman's unspoken invitation.

When Mara reached the door, she turned back to her Master. Paulo's eyes were already closed as he napped in the chair. He had used more of his energy today than either had expected. And yet, he would go to the Council tomorrow and project confidence and strength, as he always did. Mara didn't want the responsibility he gave her, but she would take it because he asked so little of her, and she owed him so much.

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