Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

11. Otto

Otto

W e followed Elana into the house until we reached the war room. Several maps had been spread out on the table since we’d walked past earlier. Thal looked at me and I shrugged. I’d warned him Elana knew what happened in her house; it clearly extended to the grounds beyond.

“Otto, please seal the room,” Elana said once we’d all entered. “What I’m about to share is too sensitive for outside ears.”

The request surprised me and it didn’t. We’d discussed other sensitive topics in the house without such protections. Then again, I suspected Elana and the others had been withholding critical details. Her request proved me right.

The red light from my stone pulsed in gentle waves. I made sure the sealing covered the entire room before I pocketed my mage stone. “Done.”

“Thank you.” She used the chair in front of the biggest map and motioned for us to take seats. “First, the reason I waited this long to share these details is I was waiting for Otto and Thalion to bond. If they hadn’t, I’d have been forced to cancel the mission.”

I refused to acknowledge Elana when she looked my way. She and the others had manipulated me. They’d given us a mission we couldn’t survive unless I’d accepted my mate bond.

My anger suddenly was smothered by a warmth I hadn’t expected. Thal had reached out through our bond and reminded me what I’d gained. It had been instinctual because he didn’t even realize what he’d done.

“This better be the last time you and the others withhold information to control us,” I said. When I faced her, Elana didn’t show any remorse. “The ends do not justify the means.”

“I apologize for deceiving you and Thal,” she said. “Understand, this wasn’t all my doing. You and Thal are meant to be mates. Your resistence, no matter how good the reasons, placed the world at risk. The earth took desperate measures.”

The apology lacked sincerity, but it was honest. I ignored the confused expressions on Owen and Lysandor’s faces and turned to Thal. “I hope you understand I don’t regret accepting our bond or being your mate.”

“If it means anything, I resent their interference,” Thal said. “This was our decision to make. No one had the right to insert themselves.”

I should’ve known he’d adopt my feelings. “I accept your explanation, but I still want your word you’ll stop withholding information.”

Elana glared at me, but too bad if her feelings were hurt. I wouldn’t agree to go if she refused to be forthcoming.

“I think we’ve earned the right to what Otto asked,” Thal said. “We’re being asked to risk our lives. Don’t we deserve to know everything?”

I wanted to kiss Thal and not just because he was my mate. Thal said it better than I had, but the point was the same. They owed us full information.

“You do,” she said, her tone cool. “I only withheld information when there was no chance you’d be sent on this mission. Now that you’ve bonded, I give you my word I won’t withhold information.”

Her promise wasn’t as satisfying as I’d expected. Herding me in a direction of their choosing was still wrong. “Thank you.”

Without acknowledging me, Elana tapped the map. “This is the house. The area in green surrounding it is protected by magic. I had the corrupted lands shaded in black. The darker the area, the stronger the evil.”

The land immediately to the east of Elana’s estate was light gray. It hadn’t stretched around the property. In fact, if the colors were accurate, the corruption had come directly toward Elana’s house. North and south of the unicorn enclave the gradation was lighter than the area abutting protected land.

The darkest place began at the mountain to the east, and it got lighter as it moved west. Except for one place. “What’s this?” I touched a small island of green, halfway between us and the mountain, that stood out like a mistake.

“It is your first stop on your trip,” she said with a smile. “I was raised there. I had your father’s mages preserve the village because my parents still live there. They used the same magic that protects my home to keep them safe. But the real reason you need to stop there is to meet the Southern Guardians.”

The others appeared shocked by the announcement. I was surprised but not because we were going to meet the Southern Guardians. The other guardian pairs had made visits to my brothers and their mates. They didn’t, however, announce their pending arrival.

“Do they know where to find Jalen?” I asked.

“Unless they’ve learned new information, they do not,” Elana said. “My parents don’t, either, but they’ve had contact with Jalen. He tested the magical defenses, and then agreed to leave them alone. He said out of respect for me, but that was nothing more than saving face. The magic was far too strong for Jalen and his unicorns to penetrate.”

“Which makes it a great base of operations as we search for Jalen and the weapon,” Lysandor said.

“My parents have lived in the village their whole lives,” Elana said. “They have invaluable information on the area and where to search.”

The new information helped ease some of my reservations. The village was protected, and we’d have access to Elana’s parents who knew the terrain as well or better than anyone. If the guardians could provide any help, I liked our chances of success.

“I’m satisfied,” I said to Thal. “What do you think?”

“If you’re happy, so am I.”

Thal’s blind trust in me was daunting, but we’d have time to bring things into balance. I swept the room with my gaze, settling on Elana. She was good at not showing her emotions, but I’d bet she was anxious.

“Thank you for the additional information,” I said. “Thal and I are in.”

T he moon cast a silvery glow on the formal gardens as Thal and I followed the path. My body thrummed in anticipation I’d never felt before. I’d wanted more with Thal, but we’d respected Elana’s rules. The restrictions, however, only applied to her house, a fact she’d made clear to our brothers.

The thin, rolled-up pad he carried was a twin to the one I had in my hand. Bedrolls, infused with magic, were almost as comfortable as a mattress.

We left the cultivated grounds and followed the same path we used the day before. This time, we turned left before the hallowed glade. The new path had been maintained, which meant it led somewhere beings visited. Another few minutes of walking and we reached the path’s end.

The clearing was covered in lush grass, which smelled freshly mowed. In the middle of the field, a gazebo stood a lonely watch. Its white marble columns and polished floor were perfect reflectors for the light of a nearly full moon.

I paused, removed my mage stone, and created an anchor for the ward I was going to make.

“This place is safe,” Thal said.

It wasn’t Jalen and his unicorns that worried me. “You’re not the only one who knows about this place. I’d rather not have our brothers join us tonight.”

Thal laughed softly and left me to my work. I walked three-quarters of the way around the space, placing markers at ninety degree angles to each other. After setting the fourth one, I activated the spell to ensure our privacy.

Seated inside the marble structure, Thal watched me with a hunger that matched mine. The pads rested against the bench, beckoning with a soon-to-be fulfilled promise.

“Is it safe now?”

I held out my hands and he allowed me to pull him to his feet. “No one can enter, and they won’t be able to see or hear us, either. Not that I’m expecting anyone. Our brothers had the last few days to think of this place, and they didn’t.”

He didn’t answer me. Instead, he pulled me close, and I used the momentum to kiss him. It started as a gentle peck and grew until it consumed me. Thal filled every speck of my being. His essence coursed through me like liquid emotions. I put my hands on his cheeks and leaned into our kiss.

Thal pulled up my shirt until it was completely untucked. He slid his warm hands under the fabric, and I felt his strength through the contact. I brushed my thumbs across his cheeks, as he pulled me tightly against him.

By the time our lips separated, my cock was straining to get out of my pants. Thal unfastened the strap on the bedroll and flicked it so it uncurled. I did the same with the second. Using the magic in the fabric, I merged them into one wide pad.

I tugged at the hem of his cotton polo and didn’t stop until I’d lifted it over his head. Tossing it on the nearest bench, I raised my arms for him to remove mine.

The fine silvery hair on his chest reflected the white light, giving him an almost god-like aura. My fingers traced a pattern across his tight muscles. He shivered from the contact and pulled me back into a kiss.

With quick, agile fingers, Thal unfastened the button on my pants and slipped his fingers between the cloth and my skin. My cock twitched, making clear its approval.

I let my hands drift lower, over his eight pack and down to the top of his shorts. Pressing my palm across his crotch, I rubbed his hard-on through the fabric.

The moment was as perfect as I could’ve planned.

Breaking our contact, I slowly made my way lower. The trail of feathery kisses on his torso caused him to tremble in the warm night air. With my nose pressed against his hard abs, I inhaled as I unbuttoned his shorts.

Thal’s masculine scent amped up my arousal to levels I hadn’t felt before. My need pushed other thoughts from my brain.

Using both hands, I worked his shorts lower until I freed his cock. Parting my lips, I pulled the leaking head into my mouth. He shuddered and let out a soft moan.

I cupped his butt and swallowed more of him, running my tongue along the sensitive skin of his shaft. Keeping a firm hold on his ass, I gently pushed him back. Together we moved until he sat on the stone bench.

I continued sucking him as I slid off his shoes and helped him step out of his shorts. Running my hands up his muscular legs, I gripped his thighs and plunged as far down as I could. I gagged as the tip of his cock hit the back of my throat.

Lifting up, Thal stopped me before I could dive down again. He pulled me to my feet and knelt before me.

“You are the most beautiful being.” He made my knees shake when he ran his tongue along my stomach.

There was nothing subtle about how he removed the rest of my clothes. My shoes were tumbled around the stones, and my pants were pressed down in one swift motion.

The warmth of Thal’s mouth covered half my dick before my nakedness registered. He pressed his tongue tight against the bottom of my shaft, creating an incredible friction as his head bobbed up and down.

“Thal!” I hissed and pulled him off. “I’m too close.”

He guided me down onto the soft cushion. We lay side by side staring at each other as his fingers traced an imaginary pattern across my arm and shoulder. I ran the tip of a finger over his lips and he kissed it as it passed.

“That feels wonderful,” I said.

“Good, because I love to touch you.”

He leaned closer, and my lips grazed his. I felt it all the way to the soles of my feet. An energy thrummed through me like a drug.

Cupping my nape, he pulled us together. Our lips touched and he pushed his way into my mouth. He kissed me hard, his tongue roaming to places he hadn’t gone before. A moment later he rolled me over and blanketed me with his body. We repositioned ourselves on the soft mat until he hovered over me.

“I want to give you everything,” he said, looking down on me with barely contained desire. “Tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

Before I agreed to our bond, I imagined us in dozens of positions. In those fantasies, I didn’t consider he was the alpha in waiting. “I imagine you’re a top.”

“No being has penetrated me before, but I would happily allow you.”

I wasn’t an alpha in waiting, but I preferred top over bottom. With Thal, however, I didn’t want more than to be together. “Before we met, I would have said I was mostly a top. Now, I don’t care, so long as it’s with you.”

“Then we are well matched.”

It wasn’t a surprise. Mates had a way of working things out in every aspect of their lives. “Would you be unhappy if we saved that for another night? Tonight, I want to feel and taste you. To explore without expectations and enjoy being close.”

“That sounds perfect.”

He gently pushed my arms over my head, and then ran his hands over my chest and sides. I watched him dip his head and saw his tongue snake out and licked my left nipple. The slow, deliberate circles were like an electric spark that cause my body to shake.

“Oh, fuck!”

Thal wore an impish grin as he met my gaze.

“Found a spot, did I?”

And how! I closed my eyes and dropped my head back onto the pad. My brain had just processed the stimulus, when a sharp nip on my left nipple had me nearly jump off the mat.

I clamped my hands around the edges of the cushion. My fingers trembled as I tried not to thrash around. He’d pinned my cock against his chest and the friction felt better than my hand ever had.

“Gods that’s—” I groaned as he applied more pressure. “Thal!”

He kept the erogenous skin between his teeth until I couldn’t take much more. I reached for our bond and let him feel how his ministrations excited me. Latching onto our link, he released his hold and feathered my goose-pimpled skin with soft kisses.

I tried to move my hands to stop him, but he pushed them back. He clearly had a plan and wanted me to experience all of it without interruption.

Linked, he knew when he’d found a spot he could exploit, how long he could tease me, and when I needed a moment to come off the edge. Over and over, he brought me to the brink of exploding without touching my cock. I lost count of how many times I thought I’d come.

He stopped suddenly and locked his gaze with mine. It was a filthy leer that promised more erotic torture. Dragging his skin across my straining dick, he slid lower until he sucked me into his warm mouth.

I slapped the ground so hard my palms stung. Words fled my brain and all that came out was a lust-filled moan.

Thal took most of my length and then moved up slowly, dragging his teeth against my sensitive cock. Teasing my head with his tongue, I arched my back and tried to thrust up. His strong hands held me down, keeping me where he wanted me.

“Please!” I croaked.

Slowly, his lips moved down my cock again, but this time, I put my hands in his silver hair. Using gentle yet steady pressure, I pushed him lower. I hit the back of his throat and held him there. Thal gagged and pulled up. He tried again, and this time my cock slid partly down his throat.

When he gagged a second time, I let him up. He gulped a lungful of air, and without any urging from me, deepthroated my cock again. I’d had some intense blowjobs before, but nothing matched what Thal was doing to me.

His throat muscles contracted and I heard him choke. The added pressure around my cock pushed me over the precipice Thal had me teeter to. “Thal! I’m too close.”

Thal rose up, breathed in deep, and plunged back down. Hands squeezed my ass, urging me up. My thrust met his attempt to suck me in and my cock slid down his throat.

He quickly pulled up but kept my cock in his mouth. Stroking my spit-covered shaft, he blasted me with sensation. I gasped and instinctively bucked up and down.

My nerves sizzled, and my skin tingled. The first salvo nearly sent me off the bedroll. I lost track of how many times I fired into his mouth.

Thal drew his mouth to the head of my cock, sucked hard, and pulled every last mind-blowing dreg out of me. I collapsed onto the mat, boneless.

“Liked that, did you?”

I reached out and pulled Thal into a deep kiss. He covered me with his body as our tongues danced. I slipped my arms around his sides and dug my fingers into his back, kneading the tight muscles.

The emotional energy flowing back and forth across our bond was exhilarating. It was said a mate bond was one of indescribable beauty. For once the rumor paled in comparison to the truth. My love for Thal should have scared me, but it was too perfect. I’d found a place I never wanted to leave.

We broke our kiss and I used the moment to flip Thal onto his side. “Your turn.”

Pinning him with my body, I ground our hard, naked bodies together. I kissed his neck and his warm breath tickled the sensitive skin around my ear.

I slunk down Thal’s front, tasting his faintly salty nipples and slightly damp skin. My lips floated over his stomach, and I looked up as I pressed a kiss to his firm muscles. Thal watched me, propped on his elbows, his lips slackened with lust.

Our gazes caught, and I flicked my tongue into his belly button. Thal undulated under me; his cock moved against my skin. I did it again, and Thal dropped his head back and cursed softly.

I smirked and spoke against the wet skin. “Found a spot, too.”

“Oh Gods, Otto. That feels amazing.”

He tried to haul me up, but it was my turn to push his arms away. “I’m leading now.”

Groaning, Thal squirmed, empowering me, making me want to please him like no one else. Thal thrust urgently, but I raised up enough to keep him from taking control. Skimming my hands down his warm skin, my mouth continued its journey south toward my prize.

“Fuck,” Thal gasped. “You’re killing me with that mouth.”

I worked my fingers under his tight ass and cantered my head enough to see his face. “I haven’t started yet.”

Using my knees, I spread his legs enough to give me better access. Blowing air across his hyper-stimulated skin, I peppered kisses on his treasure trail. Connected as we were, I knew Thal was getting closer. I wasn’t sure I could edge him the way he’d done with me, so I didn’t stop until Thal’s leaking head touched my chin.

“Otto . . . you have to . . .”

He didn’t finish his thought because I captured his cock in my mouth. Another garbled plea slipped from him, and he dropped his head back against the roll.

I leaned forward and swallowed all of Thal, burying my nose in the patch of hair. He put his hands on my head and held me down for a second before releasing me. I tugged at his balls, hoping to keep him from coming too soon.

He pushed my head down, and I flicked my tongue back and forth on the underside of his shaft as I moved.

“Oh, fuuuuuck.” Thal said, his body arching for more. “Keep doing that.”

I bobbed up and down, fighting the urge to gag as Thal forced me to take all of him each time he pushed me lower. Using my hand, I increased the friction on his cock. Thal released my head and grabbed the sides of the mat as he bucked up, trying to fuck my mouth.

Thal’s cock thickened between my lips and for a second I wondered what it would be like to have Thal’s girthy dick buried inside me. I moaned at the thought, but it was drowned out by Thal’s raspy groans.

The first shot surprised me with its intensity. It hit the back of my throat and almost made me gag. With a fierce determination, I refused to release him until he’d finished. I managed to keep my tongue swirling around his shaft until his cock finally stopped twitching.

Moving slowly, I pulled my lips off his hard-on with a wet, slurpy pop. Thal trembled beneath me, and I lifted my gaze until our eyes met. He let out a heavy breath, slipped his hands under my arms, and dragged me up for a kiss. “That was amazing,” he said. “You’re amazing.”

I couldn’t lie. I loved the stroke to my ego but only because I wanted to please him like no one else could. For a night at least, I’d succeeded.