Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

1. Otto Hollen

Otto Hollen

I read the note for the hundredth time, but the message hadn’t changed. Neither had my concern. Not for the first time since I’d received the communique, I considered refusing. My career would be over, but losing my position wasn’t what held me back. The consequences of not going were potentially much worse.

The sun peeked over the horizon, spilling its first rays into my office. It had taken the last seven months to transform the ambassador’s residence into something I could call home. There’d been no updates for close to a hundred years, and the renovations had been extensive. I didn’t think of myself as fastidious or fashion conscious, but the personal quarters and particularly my office had needed massive upgrades. My predecessor hadn’t wanted the new technology but had been forced to accept it by the ministry. His solution had been to stick it wherever there was an open space. I had cords crisscrossing the room like spaghetti thrown into the air.

Now the stone floors gleamed, the new rugs provided color, and the furniture had been restored to look almost new. The room had my imprint on it, and I finally felt comfortable in the space. None of which would’ve stopped me from leaving.

A sharp knock preceded the door opening and my younger brother Leo entered before I could give him permission. Even as the king’s mate, he couldn’t have gotten away with that breach of etiquette, but this wasn’t an official visit.

Balancing the tray in one hand, he pushed the door shut before approaching my desk. “Good morning, Ambassador Hollen.”

Ever the smart-ass, he pulled a large, insulated cup off the platter and held it up. “One large coffee, no sugar, and a splash of heavy cream.”

Setting my drink in front of me, he gestured to the array of pastries he’d brought. “The staff outdid themselves, giving us a wide assortment for your dining pleasure.”

I’d have joked that he’d taken to the role of queen consort remarkably well, but he’d own the insult and thank me for the compliment. “I liked you better when you slept away most of the morning.”

“The old me would’ve agreed with you, but Gund and I go for a run first thing in the morning. Some days it’s the only quiet time we get together during the day.”

Leo took the other cup and helped himself to a fruit turnover. Spying the almond croissants, I put one on a napkin. “I stand corrected,” I said. “I love you as much as ever.”

He preened, but he didn’t need my words to know how I felt. His gaze landed on my new orders, and he put the pastry down. “You can’t refuse Otto. It wouldn’t change anything other than make them replace you.”

I’d told myself the same thing repeatedly, but I didn’t quite believe it. Not with the same conviction as Leo. “There are always options.”

“Take it from one who’s experienced this firsthand. You can’t prevent fate, only delay it.”

Raising my pastry, I saluted him with it. “Thank you for remembering.”

“Always, bro. I love you, which is why I’m going to say it again, you can’t refuse.”

I took a bite and stared at the family portrait we’d taken a few months ago. This wasn’t about me or my job, it was about my family. One specific member. “I won’t let him be the fifth.”

“No one is closer to Owen than me, and I’d take on the world to save him, but that’s exactly what you’d need to do. The earth is choosing its new guardians, and none of us get a say.”

As if it understood our conversation, the earth magic in the palace thrummed around us. It had nothing to do with us, it was resetting itself for the new day, but it reminded me of how little control I had. But we had some. “I may not get a say, but I also don’t need to agree.”

Leo took a long, slow drink, watching me the entire time. “Why are you so convinced it will be Owen? What if it’s you?”

I hadn’t realized it until then, but Leo was scared. He had the certainty of knowing it wasn’t him because he’d already found his mate. There was twice the risk he’d lose someone he loved. “I want it to be me.”

“I don’t want it to be either of you.” He set the mug down and got up. The deep breath couldn’t hide his emotional turmoil. We were all close, but now that Bart, Jan, and Leo had been chosen, they dreaded finding out who’d be the fourth. The odd man out might be asked to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

“Me neither, but if it has to be one of us, it should be me.”

“Why does it have to be you?”

Now who refused to accept fate? “Because I don’t want it to be Owen.”

Leo turned back and took his seat. “What makes you think it will be either of you? No wait, hear me out. If the earth is recreating the pattern it used last time, the fifth should be a female.”

I’d considered this many times, but it didn’t feel right. “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme. It’s following the same outline, but I don’t think it will be exactly the same this time.”

“Not going won’t ensure he’s the fourth and not you,” Leo said. “It might just delay you finding your mate. Which is entirely presumptuous of you to think the fourth and fifth must be either of you. It could be any mage in the world.”

He wasn’t wrong, but ever since I’d learned I was earth magic sensitive, I knew Owen and I were connected to the earth’s plan to protect us all. “Perhaps, but tell me you think either of them will be filled with a mage outside our family. The Hollens have been at the forefront of this fight since before the Great Ward. You think that’s a coincidence? Whatever spell Katarina cast, it’s bound our entire family to protecting the world. Maybe I’m wrong, but my gut tells me Owen and I are part of the grand scheme.”

“Which brings me back to my original statement. You can’t change what will happen. Even if you don’t go, and throw your career away, it won’t change who gets chosen.”

I didn’t share his conviction. Although I “knew” Owen and I were part of the plan, I had less clarity on what part we’d play. I was also certain I’d get a choice, which would have an impact. I didn’t know when or where I’d come to that crossroad, but when I did, it would change both our lives forever. I wasn’t, however, convinced this was the decisive moment.

“Agreed. Which is why I’m going.”

S igning the last document, I handed them to my new secretary. It had taken several months for the ministry to send a replacement for Agatha Jutul. Most of the delay had been caused by the need to truth test all existing employees before hiring new ones. I learned that even if she was a traitor, Agatha had been very good at her job.

“Please see that Veronica gets these right away.”

“Yes, sir.” Timothy nodded, and gathered the documents. “Is there anything else you need, Ambassador?”

One day I’d convince him to call me Otto. Even Mr. Hollen would be a step up from my title. “Other than call me Otto? No, that’s all.”

He smiled and I got it. There were a lot of asshats in the major mage families. Timothy had worked for a few at headquarters. I’d gotten away with flaunting the unwritten rules because I was the son of the mage chancellor, and he was “ridiculously” informal with staff in the opinion of my superiors. That included my Uncle Theo, who despite being a good man and very good diplomat, clung to formalities like a shield.

“Sorry, Otto. Old habits.” He finished straightening the documents and then paused. “It should be easy to be more informal because I volunteered to work for you. I’ll try harder.”

What was it Grandpa always said? “Show, don’t tell.” Timothy took my words as a rebuke when none was intended. “It’s not a problem if you don’t. Just don’t be surprised if I keep trying.”

I ended with a smile, and it worked. He relaxed enough to return the grin.

“That sounds fair.” He nodded and left the office.

I finished a few last notes, made sure all my appointments had been shifted to my deputy, Veronica, and shut down my laptop. I was overthinking this trip. It might be my first extended time away from the embassy since my appointment, but I’d be back in less than a week. Less if Owen settled in quickly.

A flurry of voices followed by laughter in the outer room snapped me out of my thoughts. Leo and Timothy got on well, so I was pretty sure who’d come to visit. Before I got to the door, it swung open.

“Otto!” A voice as bright as sunlight on snow filled the room. Owen, with a grinning Leo in tow, burst into my quiet office. His blond hair was as rebelliously messy as ever, but his blue eyes sparkled with excitement. He reminded me of myself on my first assignment.

“Good gods, Leo. What did you let into the palace?”

I swept my kid brother into a big hug. It was a bittersweet moment. Owen was the last of our generation to reach adulthood. Soon we’d be the old guard watching the next one arrive.

“I tried to have Gund bar him, but Dad sent a special request to the king.” Leo shrugged as if he hadn’t wanted to see Owen more than me.

“Funny guys.” Owen tried hard to scowl, but it wasn’t in him. “Thanks again for agreeing to be my chaperone.”

I’d never tell him I almost didn’t agree. “I couldn’t have your first mission buddy be Uncle Theo, could I?”

Owen visibly shuddered. “I heard he’s awful. Is it true he makes you share a room with him?”

I laughed because that rumor had been going around since I’d joined the Ministry. “No. But he does make everyone else double up when they travel. Everyone except him.”

“Still,” Owen ruffled his fingers through his hair, “I’m much happier it’s you.”

Winning a popularity contest with Uncle Theo didn’t do much for my self-esteem. “I’m glad it’s me, too.”

Leo fixed his gaze on me and shook his head. Damn. I’d told Dad I’d do this only if he told Owen the truth. Leo quietly turned and pulled out his mage stone. It flashed yellow, and Owen instinctively had his stone out. Bathed in the light of his purple spinel, Owen reminded me of our brother Bart. The similarities reignited my fears for our trip.

Katarina Hollen was the last archmage before Bart. If the fifth guardian required massive mage talent, and Bart was already the Western Guardian, Owen was the next strongest. Leo could talk about what we don’t know, but the fifth guardian needed to be a strong mage.

“What are you doing, Leo?” Owen didn’t depower his stone.

“Sit down, O.” Leo nodded toward my desk. “We need to share some information before you go on your mission.”

Owen looked confused, but Leo’s tone was calm. He probably thought it was a mission briefing. Poor kid. “Don’t put your stone away just yet,” I said.

“I expect weird shit from Leo, but you too?” Owen sat, but we’d crushed his good mood.

The whole situation pissed me off. Why was his first assignment to the unicorn alpha’s residence? Yes, it was to witness the investiture of the new heir, but this was more personal than professional. Avie and some staffer could’ve handled the trivial task. Dad was up to something.

“Sorry, Owen. I didn’t mean to make this mysterious. I expected Dad or Avie to have had this talk with you already. I’m sure you understand the significance of Bart, Jannick, and Leo being mated.”

“Someone is creating a new set of guardians.”

“Not someone,” Leo said. “The earth is selecting new guardians because the Great Ward is failing. There’s one more pair to be chosen.”

I gave Owen a second to make the connection. “It’s not a foregone conclusion you’ll be chosen, but it’s a strong possibility.”

“Or you,” Owen said. “If I were betting, my money’d be on you, Otto.”

Leo smirked and I wanted to smack the stupid out of him. “That’s also possible, but you should give yourself better odds on you being selected. Bart first, then Jan, and Leo. The earth started with the oldest musketeer and is working its way down to you.”

I wasn’t sure who I tried to convince with that argument, but even Leo seemed surprised by the pattern.

“You never mentioned that theory before,” Leo said.

Given his deductive skills, I assumed he’d seen the pattern already. “I didn’t want you blabbing to Owen before we could talk.”

Leo knew I was lying, but he wouldn’t say it in front of Owen.

“Percival Hollen was the last one chosen and the oldest of the four,” Leo said. “Eldwin was older than Darius and Anso was the youngest of the four. History isn’t repeating itself, but it is rhyming.

The smug little shit enjoyed tossing my words back at me. “So, I’ve heard.”

“My point is, we don’t know which of you will be picked, or even if either of you will be chosen,” Leo said. “The reason for this discussion wasn’t to suggest you’d be chosen, but to point out it was possible.”

“Well, duh. You’re not the only one who can add, Leothius,” Owen said. “But why did I need to keep my stone out for you to tell me that?”

I choked on a laugh at the face Leo made. Served him right for thinking no one else figured it out. “You didn’t, but for the next bit you need to swear a binding oath.”

I took out my stone and engaged the spell. This had gone better than I’d hoped. Owen didn’t seem to know about the fifth guardian, and I had no intention of telling him any year soon.

Hopefully I’d make it to Wyoming and back without either of us finding a mate. Unfortunately, my instinct said I was going to be disappointed when that wish failed to come true.