The Elementals Collection Read online

  The Elementals Collection

  L.B. Gilbert

  Contents

  Dedication and Credits

  Titles by L.B. Gilbert

  Fire: The Elementals Book One

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Air: The Elementals Book Two

  Introduction

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Water: The Elementals Book Three

  Introduction

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Earth: The Elementals Book Four

  Introduction

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other books by L.B. Gilbert

  Discordia

  Fire

  Air

  Water

  Earth

  Kin Selection

  Eat You Up

  Tooth and Nail

  Writing as Lucy Leroux

  Making Her His

  Confiscating Charlie

  Calen’s Captive

  Stolen Angel

  The Roman’s Woman

  Save Me

  Take Me

  Trick’s Trap

  Peyton’s Price

  Cursed

  Black Widow

  Codename Romeo

  The Mercenary Next Door

  Dedication and Credits

  In loving memory of Francisco R. Gilbert

  Cover Design: Siren Book Covers

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/338807490129354/

  Logo Design: Juan Fernando Garcia

  http://www.elblackbat.com/

  Editor: Cynthia Shepp

  http://www.cynthiashepp.com/

  Titles by L.B. Gilbert

  Discordia, A Free Elementals Prequel Short,

  Available Now

  Fire: The Elementals Book One

  Available Now

  Air: The Elementals Book Two

  Available Now

  Water: The Elementals Book Three

  Available Now

  Earth: The Elementals Book Four

  Coming April 20, 2020

  Kin Selection, Shifter’s Claim, Book One

  Available now

  Eat You Up*, A Shifter’s Claim, Book Two

  Available now

  Tooth and Nail, A Shifter’s Claim, Book Three

  Coming Soon

  Writing As Lucy Leroux

  Making Her His, A Singular Obsession, Book One

  Available Now

  Confiscating Charlie, A Free Singular Obsession Novelette

  Available Now

  Calen’s Captive, A Singular Obsession, Book Two

  Available Now

  Take Me, A Singular Obsession Prequel Novella

  Available Now

  Stolen Angel, A Singular Obsession, Book Three

  Available Now

  The Roman’s Woman, A Singular Obsession, Book Four

  Available Now

  Save Me, A Singular Obsession Novella, Book 4.5

  Available Now

  Trick’s Trap, A Singular Obsession, Book Five

  Available Now

  Peyton’s Price, A Singular Obsession, Book Six

  Available Now

  The Hex,
A Free Spellbound Regency Short

  Available Now

  Cursed, A Spellbound Regency Novel

  Available Now

  Black Widow, A Spellbound Regency Novel, Book Two

  Available Now

  Haunted, A Spellbound Regency Novel, Book Three

  Coming Soon

  Codename Romeo, Rogues and Rescuers, Book One

  Available Now

  The Mercenary Next Door, Rogues and Rescuers, Book Two

  Coming Soon

  *As Lucy Leroux

  Fire: The Elementals Book One

  Introduction

  "Reminiscent of a hard-boiled detective novel, Fire is gritty, sharp, with an edgy quality and a snarky humor." - Liz Konkel for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★

  A kick-ass heroine with pyrokinetic abilities and a license to kill. Enter Alec...vampire, scholar, and worst of all—fan. What could possibly go wrong?

  Diana, the fire Elemental, is nearly burned out. Tired of traveling the world and losing innocent lives, she's slowly slipping into a depression that may consume her. But when she discovers that a child's life is in danger, she feels compelled to help. However, teaming up with one of the most powerful vampires in North America is the last thing she wants to do.

  Academic scion, Alec Broussard prefers his studies over the opulent and vicious lifestyles of vampires. And when he learns of another missing child, Alec can't shake the suspicion that his coven may be to blame. Joining forces with an Elemental may be his only hope to save the child and clear his coven's name.

  As Diana and Alec work together to save the children, they must relinquish their prejudices and trust one another. In time, Alec is wearing down the walls around her. But just when their friendship intensifies, Alec's future is threatened. Now, it's up to Diana to save him before it's too late. Can this Elemental find the fire within her to protect him once and for all?

  Also Available as an Audiobook!

  1

  He ducked into the dark alley, just steps behind her, biting back his excitement to finally have her alone. He couldn’t give himself over to the pleasure until everything was ready. He’d made a few mistakes in the past when he’d gotten lost in the moment. The women had flaunted themselves and made him angry. It had been their fault. He had to remember to be firm with his girls, but not so angry that he became enraged. If he did, he lost control, and they slipped away so fast. That wouldn’t happen this time. This one was special. Very special.

  He’d been watching her for weeks. She was perfect. He had been wrong about the others. It never lasted with them because they weren’t his one true love.

  Diana. A clerk had called her that when she had stopped for takeout food.

  The other women were nothing compared to her. Her perfectly formed features accentuated her soft skin and its fine pearl luster. Not a single blemish, not even a freckle. Just perfect, creamy, glowing skin. And her hair—deep red and shiny. He couldn’t wait to run his fingers through it.

  He crept farther into the alley, unable to believe his luck. The alley was deserted and dark was swiftly falling. No one would notice if she never came out again. He would subdue her and bring the van around to take her to his place.

  Their place.

  Images of the other women floated through his mind. He could judge them dispassionately now, and he knew why they were wrong. But she was perfect. She was his angel. And she’d been waiting for him. That was more-than-clear to him.

  There was no man in her life. She was alone in the world, just like he was without her. He knew everything about her. She liked candles and Thai food, and she never watched television. He didn’t watch television, either. He supposed there could be one in the bedroom of her sparsely furnished apartment. He had spent a lot of time peeking into her windows, but unfortunately none looked into her bedroom. He wanted to watch her sleep. Soon he would be in bed with her, next to her. . .inside of her.

  They were going to be so happy together.

  Taking another look at the garbage-filled alley, he wondered why she was in this neighborhood so late. Or why she had to have those bagels from the corner store. She went out of her way to get them. He’d tried them immediately after he’d seen her buy them. He didn’t think they were any better than the ones just down the block from her place, but he didn’t begrudge her choice. The fact that she detoured every day to this neighborhood where no one ever saw who came and went was a blessing to him. And now she’d entered this alley as the light was dying in the sky. It was like she was extending an invitation to him.

  Except he had lost track of her. She should be just ahead. He peered around the dumpster—it was the only thing large enough for her to have hidden behind.

  She isn’t here!

  He spun around, looking for any sign of where she had gone. With an inarticulate growl, he yanked up an empty crate sitting to the side and threw it at the wall so hard it smashed into pieces, knocking over a piece of plywood leaning against the wall. It slid to the ground, revealing a large hole in the wall of the adjoining building. He forced himself to calm his breathing and examined the hole. It was definitely large enough for his angel to have passed through.

  “Fuck!” he muttered through gritted teeth.

  If this was the way she had gone, then there was a chance she had heard all the noise he’d just made. He stepped back to size up the building. It was the back of decrepit warehouse. Why would his angel go inside there?

  He looked around again. No, there was no other place she could have gone. He waited for a count of ten and then ducked into the hole. It was a large, dark space. He couldn’t see much beyond the clutter surrounding the doorway. His angel wasn’t anywhere to be found. Maybe she hadn’t heard him. Relief flooded him. Maybe he still had a chance to surprise her.

  He picked his way through the mess and stopped to listen. It was too quiet. He doubled his effort to stay silent in case she was nearby. For another few minutes, he picked his way, trying to move like the shadow he pretended to be. Reaching the midway point of the warehouse along the right wall, he paused. Light flickered from the back of the room.

  A fire? He crept closer. Yes. It was definitely a fire. Maybe there were people here after all. Anger boiled inside him.

  Is she meeting someone? A man?

  His angel was really starting to piss him off. Maybe he wouldn’t be so gentle with her.

  He crept around a pile of broken crates. No one was there. He waited several minutes, hoping his angel would appear. . .alone. She had to have wandered farther into the warehouse. Impatient now, he walked out from behind the pile and up to the fire. A piece of paper lay on the floor on the other side of the fire. After looking around to make sure he was still alone, he knelt down to pick it up. It was an index card, a new one in pristine condition. He turned it around and read the words.

  Got you, it said in a neat cursive script. He whirled around.

  And there she was. His angel. But something was wrong.

  Very wrong.

  Diana smiled at the killer. “Hello, Donald. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Donald Stevens, rapist and murderer of over a dozen women, stopped in his tracks. His narrow, greasy face froze in a mask of surprise. It was comical with its wide gaping mouth and protruding eyes that she had to stifle a laugh. But soon Donald’s astonishment faded, his expression transforming into a dark and predatory hunger. He shifted his weight, broadcasting his intention to rush her.