Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

10. Thal

Thal

O tto’s hand shook, but he didn’t pull it back. I blinked, my heart believing what my mind couldn’t quite accept. My fingers trembled as I reached across what felt like an ocean between us.

I watched his face closely, hoping I didn’t see any hesitation. Something had changed within him. He was scared, but so was I. We were about to tie ourselves together for as long as we lived. Unlike a marriage or some kind of commitment, this was unbreakable. Despite that, Otto didn’t waiver. His brown eyes were focused with a clarity that eased my doubts.

Before I second-guessed myself, I placed my hand in his. The warmth of his skin on mine settled over me like a comforting blanket. The constant ache of our unfulfilled bond was soothed until it was barely a memory. His soul spread into me, not like an invader but like the teeth of a zipper. Each piece perfectly filled the open space inside me.

Our souls intertwined, and I was overwhelmed by the raw intensity of his essence. Our connection ignited a fire within me that would have terrified me only seconds ago. Now, all I felt was his pain dissipating as my love and hope flooded through us.

Armed with a newfound clarity, I moved closer and pressed our lips together. His response was urgent, bordering on uncontrolled, as his fingers tangled in my hair. I cupped his face in my hands and lost myself in the emotion. We kept it chaste for a second before his tongue touched my lips. I opened to let him in, and we melded into each other.

In the shadow of my ancestors, we committed ourselves to each other for eternity. Though our bodies were aroused, this wasn’t sexual. Our bond demanded more than physical satisfaction—it required complete consumption of each other. And in that moment, we became one entity.

We broke apart, and I felt the full force of our connection wash over me. It was terrifying yet so wonderful, it left me gasping for air as if I had been submerged. Since we first met, I’d been drowning, but no more. I was whole. More than whole, I was Otto’s mate.

His smile, shy yet joyous, communicated better than words. I pressed our foreheads together and we wrapped our arms around each other. We stood swaddled in the safety of finally being together. The purpose of our bond tapped at the edges of our consciousness, but we kept it at bay. There’d be time to deal with our destinies. First we were allowed to enjoy this beautiful moment in peace.

“Ride with me?” I asked softly.

“You’d let me?” He sounded shocked, which was understandable. “I thought unicorns didn’t let anyone ride on their backs.”

I’d blurted the offer without thinking it through, but it was in my heart. “You’re not anyone. I want you to experience the joy of running and the wind on your face like I do. This is something I’ll only share with you.”

Stepping back, I pulled my shirt over my head before he had a chance to say no. He held out his hand as I was about to toss it on the ground. When I gave it to him, he folded it neatly on the rock and waited for the rest of my clothes.

Standing naked in front of him, I was nervous he might be disappointed.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. “But you were just as beautiful with your clothes on.”

Earth magic swelled into me as I willed myself to shift. Once when I was younger, I thought I’d want to spend all my time in my unicorn form. I was sleek, powerful, and magical. When I was older, I realized I was blessed to be able to live in both worlds. Now, it would depend on Otto. I wanted him to be part of both worlds.

Otto approached me cautiously.“ Is it disrespectful to run my hand along your body?”

There was nowhere he couldn’t touch, but I appreciated his not treating me like a horse in a petting zoo.“ Whatever form I’m in, you’re welcome to touch me anywhere.”

He started at my flank, gliding his fingers gently over my coat in the direction of my shoulder. I felt his touch long after he’d moved on, like he’d left part of himself behind wherever his hand passed. His skin was warm and energizing. Shuffling his feet to reach more of me, Otto’s hand drifted to my mane, combing gently through the silken strands.

Standing in the heroes’ grotto, I felt an intimacy with Otto like nothing I’d imagined. The intensity of his admiration brushed aside my last doubts. He fit in my world as naturally as he did in his own.

“I’m not one for superlatives, but you are amazing. This side of you shows me your true power. I hope you don’t get bored with someone as common as me.”

Funny how we worried about the same thing in different ways. “I didn’t have an image of who I’d mate with, but I knew they’d have a big heart, capable of caring for the entire herd if necessary. You are that and so much more. I’d never get tired of being by your side.”

Otto continued tracing his fingers along my body until he reached my jaw. Dropping his hand, he moved in front of me.“ I’m sorry I caused you pain trying to protect Owen.”

The ache I felt was hard to remember. Those unhappy moments seemed like a path to the present. “Ride with me?”

“How do I do that?”

It was a valid question. No unicorn would wear a saddle or stirrups. I searched around and saw our answer.“ Stand on the rock and climb onto my back.”

Otto did as I suggested, but it was still going to be difficult. Before I could recommend something else, he had his glowing stone in his hand. Slowly, he rose off the rock and settled onto my back.

I’d never had anyone ride me before, and had it not been Otto, it would’ve been a humiliating experience. His body, however, clung to mine. It energized me, and I was anxious to just run.

“Wow!” Otto exclaimed.“ It’s like I’m glued to you, but I’m not.”

Our lore said if we let another being ride us, they wouldn’t fall off unless we willed it. “It’s part of our magic. Lean forward and hold on.”

I gave him a few seconds to do as I said, but even if I hadn’t, he’d have been fine. We were inseparable—literally—until we didn’t want to be together. Once he felt more relaxed, I started walking. My gait increased until I was galloping around the circle.

On the second loop, I turned at an opening opposite where we entered. The path was wide, and the foliage was high enough that Otto could sit up had he wanted and not hit anything. He chose to bury his face in my mane. His breath washed over my skin, giving me greater strength than a magic elixir. I could feel his heartbeat against my neck, and his excitement spurred me on to run faster.

Though I ran hard, I drew on the strength of our unity and felt invincible. We truly were greater than the sum of our parts. In less time than I expected, we reached the edge of the forest. I pulled up and stared in disbelief at the land stretched before us.

A sickness spread from the mountains. Where we stood it was like a bad odor, offensive but harmless. The closer to the source, the greater the damage. I blinked and it was gone.

“I used my mage sight. Through our connection, I let you see what I could. The blight we saw is the effects of black magic. Whoever is behind this has set powerful magic into motion.”

To a being steeped in earth magic, the wound hurt like an open sore, consuming healthy land. It was painful to see.

“We should go back,” Otto said. “I want to speak to Elana.”

Otto was upset, but I didn’t understand why. We’d been told about Jalen’s connection to something dark. I sent my consciousness across our link but quickly pulled back from this break of trust.

“There is nothing I would keep from you.” Otto opened himself fully for me to read his thoughts.

His trust reminded me of our bond. I wouldn’t want to keep anything from him either.“ I’d rather you told me. Reading your thoughts too often might cause us to lose our individuality.”

“You’re right. I hadn’t considered that.” He pointed toward the compromised land.“ This is more than what we were told. The spread of its influence creates a problem for us if we expect to sneak in undetected.”

If Elana was aware of this, why hadn’t she told us?“ Let’s go back to the circle.”

W e arrived back at the castle and Elana was outside on a patio waiting for us. She studied us as we made our way up the path to where she sat. After a few seconds, she broke into a smile.

“I’m so pleased for you.” She stood and opened her arms to hug us both. “May you live long and happy lives.”

I assumed Elana would know when she saw us, but her wishing us well drove home the truth of our bond. This was forever. “Thank you, Elana.”

“What made you do this now?” She motioned for us to sit.

“Please don’t pretend, Elana,” Otto said, a slight edge to his voice. “I resisted the bond hoping to save my brother, but you and the others are sending us out to find Jalen. Thal and I are stronger together. We’ll need that strength if we are to succeed. And survive.”

With the benefit of our bond, I didn’t take his words the wrong way. He’d always wanted to accept, but he had denied his heart to save someone he loved. “We rode to the edge of the forest,” I said.

“Hmm,” she said, pouring us each a glass of white wine. “You see why Jalen must be stopped.”

Before either of us could ask questions, Owen and Lysandor opened the French doors. All smiles and barely contained emotions, they walked close enough their hands brushed twice before they reached the table. They were so wrapped up in their own bond, they hadn’t noticed Otto’s and mine.

Otto hadn’t closed our link and his concern for his brother spilled out. Unlike Otto and me, our brothers struggled to focus on anything other than each other. Perhaps it was their age, but their bond felt different from ours.

“Yes, but I don’t understand why you’re asking us to do it alone,” Otto said. “Poisoning that much land takes powerful magic. It’d be smart to have more mages.”

“As I said, that was tried already,” Elana answered. “The magic that controls Jalen doesn’t want to be found. It subverts and claims those who come near it. You four were chosen because your mate bonds will help you resist the corruption.”

“If the mages that were sent had found him, they’d have been corrupted?” Owen asked.

“Exactly,” Elana said. “Not only do you four have some immunity, you’re also stronger than any other four we could send. You’re not just the right beings for this job, you’re the only ones.”

We’d been maneuvered into this decision, but it was hard to say by who. Many had a hand in steering us to this point. I didn’t need my bond to see it annoyed Otto as much as me. Or maybe he was being influenced by my emotions. “You shouldn’t have manipulated us like this. We should have been given a choice.”

“There wasn’t any other way.” Otto looked at me. “We couldn’t choose to be mates; it was given to us. And we do have a choice. Dad said he wouldn’t force us to undertake this mission.”

But none of us had agreed to yet. I didn’t need to ask whether he’d accept. Seeing the blight spread across our land was enough for both of us.“ I don’t want to speak for us, but I assume we accept?”

“I don’t see any other options,” he said. “If not us, then who?”

There were others, but the current guardians were needed to maintain the Great Ward. That left his three brothers and their mates, but they weren’t here.“ Other than your brothers, I can’t think of anyone.”

“It can’t be any of them because they are already chosen to be the next guardians. Right now, the earth hasn’t chosen new Southern Guardians. If any or all of us die, a new pair will be chosen.”

The casual way he talked about death would’ve unnerved me before we’d met, but he was just stating the facts. The earth wouldn’t pick until it knew who’d survived.“ I don’t like being a puppet, but we also can’t let this darkness spread.”

“Before we agree, I want more information,” I said.

Elana didn’t look mad at my ultimatum. If anything, it pleased her. She stood, opened the door, spoke to a being standing nearby and then came back. “Very well, let’s get started.”