Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

18. Thal

Thal

I t was eerily dark when we returned to the village. Gio told me most of the villagers left for Elana’s estate when the blackness encroached on their homes. Few wanted to be trapped on an island in a sea of evil. Only three houses were still occupied, and these were older beings who’d lived there so long, they preferred death to leaving.

Hopefully it wouldn’t come down to that choice.

Otto brooded the entire ride home. Through our bond I knew why, and lacking anything helpful, I hadn’t disturbed his thoughts.

The moment we rode onto ground clear of all tainted magic, I got an energy boost. I’d suppressed my connection to the earth to avoid the corruption, but now I drank deeply. The flood of nourishment was like finding a water hole in the middle of a desert. I’d forgotten just how much I depended on the earth to sustain myself.

I shared some of my renewed strength with Otto and he gratefully accepted. Checking out the others, Percy’s aura was duller than it was before we’d left. Gio’s hadn’t returned to normal, either. There was only so much earth magic could do for a being. Rest and food were required for complete recuperation.

Once we’d seen Percy and Gio safely home, Otto gathered the three guards sleeping in the house. I shifted and got dressed, and we escorted them to where the four were sleeping outside the village. Understandably, our brothers objected to releasing them, but Percy and Otto didn’t budge.

I saw both sides, but ultimately agreed with Otto. Not because he was my mate. I’d experienced the darkness that corrupted Jalen. It tempted Otto, as good a being as any I knew, so I couldn’t agree the guards were inherently evil. Killing his followers might be satisfying, but it was still wrong. They were victims, too.

It would also open us to the darkness.

Red light from Otto’s stone enveloped the group, and he concentrated hard. I didn’t know what he was doing, but whatever spell he worked, it took a lot of his energy . . . more than the spells he had used to stop Jalen’s unicorns from following us.

When he finished, the seven shifted without removing their clothes and rode northwest toward Jalen’s camp.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I tried to block anything from overriding the command I gave them to run back to Jalen’s camp.” Otto sagged against my side. “Probably a wasted effort, but it will give us a little breathing room.”

I watched the group ride until they merged into the dark horizon. When they were out of sight, I relaxed a little. We were still surrounded, but the magic around the village would protect us. We also had three powerful mages.

The image of Otto, standing tall, countering every attack made my heart swell. His mild demeanor hid his true power. I had more confidence in him than the magic of some unknown mages.

I turned and he was watching me. He’d closed himself before entering the minds of the captured guards. Now that he’d finished, I was surprised he hadn’t opened himself again. Shutting me out left me feeling empty. “Are you OK?”

“Not entirely.”

He released his walls and I saw the anguish he’d managed to hide since our brothers were abducted. He was physically tired but emotionally exhausted. I sorted through the flood of feelings he shared. His confidence masked a deep-seated worry he’d fail those he loved most. Jalen capturing Owen and Lysandor was his fears made real. A near-crippling guilt consumed him for the trauma they suffered.

“Otto.” I reached for him but he pulled away.

In the span of a day, he’d convinced himself he wasn’t worthy anymore. I stepped closer and he tried to recoil again, but I didn’t let him. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged tightly. “You can’t let these unrealistic expectations you set for yourself define you.”

“I should’ve stopped Owen from lowering the ward.” His voice shook as he whispered the words.

It was hard to remember it had been less than a day since the attack. Otto needed time to work through everything in order to heal. I stroked his head softly. “You couldn’t have known he’d pull up the stakes without checking first. No one can anticipate every ill that could befall us.”

Now that the boys were safe, Otto couldn’t keep his emotions buried under the single-minded resolve to rescue them. With time to think, he considered all the ways he’d failed them. It wasn’t healthy.

I cupped his face and forced him to look at me. “My love. You are such a beautiful being. No one blames you, least of all Owen and Lysandor. What they remember is you came for them.”

Pressing our lips together, I reached through our link so he could feel the truth of my words. He was one of the most selfless beings I’d ever met, and it hurt me that he blamed himself for what had happened.

Otto tried to hide from my love, but I wouldn’t be deterred. Together we would move past this, but we needed to do it together. In that moment, I realized why we’d been chosen to be mates. Only a being who shared the same desire to protect could understand how to help. I had no doubt when, not if, the situation was reversed, Otto would tell me the same things.

Showing him what was in my heart drew him closer until he couldn’t deny me. Just as our brothers would need time to fully heal, so would Otto. He wouldn’t, however, need to do it alone.

I lowered my hands and drew back enough to place my forehead against his. Otto’s aura was more settled, but not fully at peace. “Let’s go back to the house.”

He gave me a tiny smile. “OK.”

Slipping his fingers between mine, Otto let me lead us away from the last reminder of the terrible day. He’d allowed me to siphon away the worst of his negative thoughts, but he was still drained.

Until we’d joined, I had no appreciation for what it took to work magic. Intellectually, I knew there were limits, but I couldn’t put them into quantifiable amounts. Otto had done things no average mage could handle and then did it many times over. Our bond sustained him, but even that had limits.

Percy and Gio’s house and the one next to it showed visible signs of life. Light streamed through the windows of both dwellings, a stark contrast to most of the others in the small village.

A door opened and an elderly shifter couple carrying large, covered dishes emerged from the neighboring house. They glanced in our direction and paused.

“Young masters if you would take these inside, my mate and I can bring the rest of the food,” the female said.

Otto and I exchanged confused looks, but he recovered first. “Of course.”

We took their dishes and watched them go back into their small house.

“Should we wait for them?” I asked.

“Maybe?” Otto said with a soft laugh. “Do you think they were waiting for us to come back or it was chance we arrived just as they came outside?”

I wasn’t sure it mattered. They clearly intended to bring the food to Percy and Gio. “Happenstance.”

The couple reemerged and the husband gave us a quizzical look. “Why are you still here? The food will get cold if you stay out here much longer.”

“I know a spell or two that can warm it up if needed,” Otto said. “We wanted to be sure you didn’t need more help.”

“Silly boy,” the woman said. “We’ve managed quite fine for centuries without you.”

Otto smiled at them. “In that case, I can hold the door for you.”

Her mate grunted in displeasure. “Get those dishes inside before they get cold. Percy and Gio should eat it when it’s warm.”

I smirked because that could easily be me, the grumpy half of our pairing. Despite their protests, I waited to keep the door open and then followed Otto to the kitchen. Owen and Lysandor were setting the table. The guardians, Percy in particular, appeared exhausted. The food from next door was a gift from heaven. I wondered how they knew Percy and Gio needed help.

The table had been set for six. I was about to tell the boys to add a place setting, but Gio stood and greeted his guests. “Thank you both for your generosity. Normally, I’d insist you stay, but tonight there are things we need to discuss you’re better off not hearing.”

“Silly old horse,” the woman said with affection. “We know you both made it possible for Stefan and me to stay where we belong. This is a pittance compared to what you’ve given us.”

“Agnes is right,” Stefan said. “Besides, this can hardly be considered a gift when you and Percy have made sure we’ve had fresh food since this madness began.”

Percy stood and he lacked his earlier grace. “Will we see you in the morning for breakfast?”

“When has Stefan ever missed your pancakes?” Agnes pointed toward the dishes. “Make sure you four younglings wash those before you go to bed. Otherwise, these two will stay up until they’re clean.”

Her concern for Percy and Gio was clear, and I wouldn’t want her to worry. “Of course,” I said. “I’ll make sure they’re clean and ready for you in the morning.”

Otto escorted them out, while the rest of us uncovered the food they’d brought over. The large painted tureens held a thick, savory, vegetable stew in one and hearty lentil soup in the other. One platter had sautéed greens and the other roasted potatoes. There was a plate piled with various wedges of cheese, a basket with loaves of bread, and a bowl of diced-up fruit.

Owen was cutting the loaves of bread, while Lysandor was directed to where he could find butter in the guardian’s refrigerator. Among such industrious activity, I felt lazy and useless.

“Sit,” Gio said, pointing toward a chair. “You and Otto did more than enough to justify sitting now that everything is ready.”

Otto returned and headed toward his brother, but Owen held up his hand and pointed to the seat next to me. “Everything’s done, Otto. You can relax for a minute.”

I was surprised Otto didn’t argue. Instead, he sat as directed and when the boys returned, we proceeded to devour most of the mountain of food provided.

The four of us insisted Gio and Percy relax and let us handle the cleanup. Rather than argue, Gio filled the kettle and turned it on. Percy filled two plates with various cookies pulled from tins I hadn’t seen earlier.

Gio found a wooden tray in a closet, and carefully stacked, cups, saucers, small plates, spoons and napkins. Percy added the cookies, and they disappeared into the main house.

The water was boiling by the time we finished washing and drying. Gio, who had stayed to watch the kettle, took out his box of teas, and we followed him to the living room.

Once everyone had a chance to pick their tea and select a few cookies, Percy put his cup down.

“We need to discuss what has happened, and what’s next.”

He said it like no one wanted to have this conversation. We all inched forward in our seats and waited for the guardians to explain things long overdue. If we were going to risk our lives, it was about time we were told what we were up against.