Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates #4)

20. Thal

Thal

I helped spread the map over the table, and it was obvious this was busywork for me and Lysandor. Gio had all the information, and we were just following his lead. He touched the parchment and a three-dimensional image rose from the flat surface. My eyes opened wider.

“Whoa!” Lysandor said before I could express the same sentiment.

“Percy and I have had centuries with little to do. The house is filled with many similar oddities, which generally have little practical application.”

The image allowed us to zoom in and out, side to side, and up and down. It was almost as good as being there. “How does the magic turn a flat map into this three-dimensional image?”

“We scoured the country and imprinted the scenery into his mage stone. We’ve been up and down the mountains dozens of times searching for the source of the darkness, but it was able to evade our scans.”

I found it ironic the demon lost its cloak of invisibility because it took a unicorn to be its servant. The thing meant to free it was the thing that might destroy it. “It seems odd we can find it because of Jalen. Is Percy sure this is the right place?”

“It is possible the demon managed to twist Jalen’s memories, but doing that would leave signs of tampering,” Gio said. “The demon probably never envisioned Percy could take over Jalen’s mind. Percy said it battled hard to free Jalen.”

“Excuse me, Uncle.” Lysandor waited until Gio acknowledged him. “Isn’t it risky to rely on guessing what the demon did or didn’t do?”

Relying on a probability didn’t instill me with confidence, either. The terrain around the supposed location of the demon's cave was a great place for an ambush or three. We might end up fighting our way to this cavern only to find it was a false lead.

“Everything we do from here on is risky,” Gio said. “We were fortunate to get the information we did from Jalen’s mind. It’s the best information we’ve recovered in twelve hundred years.”

Gio and Percy had protected the world for twelve centuries. They wouldn’t toss aside that obligation now and pursue excessively dangerous actions. If they were committed to this plan, it wasn’t a desperate gamble with little chance of success.

“What’s our role in this mission?” I asked. “Everything is magic based. How do we help fight that?”

“When we were in Jalen’s camp, did either of you feel the pull Percy and Otto mentioned?” Gio pointed toward Lysandor. “Did you experience the same dark feelings as Owen?”

“No,” Lysandor said. “A couple times his anger was so great, I had to talk him down.”

Otto’s challenges were greater, but he’d relied on me to resist the darkness. Through our link, I’d felt the efforts to convert Otto, but it was never directed at me. “I didn’t, either, but it tried to take over Otto.”

“Much as you’ve realized magic will be the key, so has our enemy,” Gio said. “It’s efforts require energy and like everything else, it only has but so much. Our job is to keep our mates from succumbing to the darkness.”

The supporting role we’d been assigned would’ve offended me before I met Otto. Now, I didn’t see this as him and me. There was only us. “This is why it had to be us.”

Gio raised a brow and smiled. “Yes. Mates are greater than the sum of the parts. You truly become one on a level most beings can’t comprehend.”

“Including a demon and a human mage locked into a sword,” Lysandor said.

“Very good, nephew.” Gio patted his shoulder. “We are three, not six. Once our mates finish their part of this night’s work, it will be even more difficult for our foe to find a foothold on any of our souls.”

As if he’d resolved all doubts, Gio returned his attention to the map. “This ravine is the easiest approach, but it also funnels us into a narrow path, making us vulnerable to an ambush.”

“What about this ridge?” Lysandor leaned closer and pointed. “It offers a better vantage point, and we could spot any potential threats. Then all we need to worry about is finding a way down that won’t leave us too exposed to attack.”

I let Lysandor and Gio work out the details. Lysandor hadn’t caught on that Gio already had the best route selected, and this was simply to make us feel like we contributed. A few weeks ago, my ego would have demanded I be allowed to contribute, and I’d be making suggestions along with my brother.

While Gio gently guided Lysandor toward the right path, I focused my thoughts inward. The demon's corrupting influence threatened to twist Otto into something that went against everything he held dear. He and other mages would find ways to block the effects, but I didn’t need to be told to know they couldn’t negate everything. I needed to be strong enough to keep Otto in the light.

“Thal?” Lysandor's voice pulled me from my thoughts. “What do you think?”

Gio had surmised I’d guess the true nature of this exercise and had done his best to shield me from commenting. There were, however, limits to his ability to deflect. His finger pointed toward a route in red. “I think the path along the ridge makes sense,” Gio said. “We should run it by the mages to confirm they can defend us if we use the gully to get down.”

“Right,” Lysandor nodded quickly. “Let’s ask them before we make a final decision.”

We discussed the merits for a few more minutes before Gio rolled up the map. When he left, I grabbed my brother and pulled him into a hug. He didn’t ask why, which was good. My voice would’ve been shaky if I’d had to speak immediately.

“I’m sorry, Thal,” he said when I released him. “You and Otto were right. We never took it seriously enough. I mean, we tried, but it didn’t fully sink in. Owen felt sure there was nothing he couldn’t repel.”

At first we were too scared to be mad at the boys, but anger had been the next stage. Time and distance, however, led to clearer thinking. “I don’t agree you two are somehow to blame. Their plan worked better than our defenses. Jalen somehow knew the precise time to spring his trap. The important thing is you’re both safe.”

“Thanks to you and Otto.”

Mostly Otto. He’d kept a clearer head. The explanation I’d gleaned from his thoughts was magic required a level of concentration that couldn’t be faked. They’d been trained not to panic. “Instead of thanking me, learn from what happened. Better yet, help Owen learn from it. His talent is greater than Otto’s, but he hasn’t learned how to control his thoughts.”

Lysandor’s face scrunched up at the perceived slight to his mate.

“Before you speak, listen to what I’m saying,” I said. “Magic isn’t like sword play or other forms of physical combat. Mages work with energy that needs to be contained and molded to their will. Most magic is straightforward, but alpha level mages operate on a plane beyond the simple. Working with complex spells requires intense focus. Owen needs to be in complete control of his thoughts or else he’ll only be able to use a fraction of his power.

“Otto will be the first to tell you that Owen’s the stronger mage, but on this trip, could you really say Owen’s the better mage?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Otto has proven himself to be much better.”

Of all my brothers, he was the most carefree. Not that we all weren’t that way at his age, but unfortunately for him his time to be a kid was over. “Owen has it in him to be much better, but he needs to stay grounded. You need to help him use his full potential.”

“No pressure, bro,” he said with a smirk. “I understand.”

It hurt a bit to know I’d taken the last bits of youth from him, but as we’d just experienced, his life depended on being an adult. “Good. It gives me one less thing to worry about.”

Lysandor punched my shoulder softly. “It’s funny. Every time we think we’ve reached your level, we learn we’re not even close.”

We’d reached a dangerous point. I needed to reassure him but not remove the urgency to improve. “You did reach our level, but we’re evolving, too. You’re doing great, Lysandor. You two were given a task beyond your years. This was a lot to take on, but you two have never once backed down. You should be proud of yourselves. I am. So is Otto.”

He surprised me with a hug. I squeezed him tight and saw how true my words were. Lysandor was scared but refused to run away.

“Thank you,” he said. “I needed to hear that from you.”

It was a bittersweet moment. The earth stole something precious from them both, but the world was safer for the theft. “You’re welcome.”

I watched him leave and realized I’d failed as much as everyone else. I’d been raised to be the alpha but never embraced my position. Dad was the pack alpha, but for this mission, I needed to step into his shoes and lead.

But not alone. I had Otto to lead with me. Just as he and I were stronger together, the four of us were more than four individuals or even two pairs of mates.

I laughed softly into the empty room. I thought I’d been teaching Lysandor, but I needed to learn the same lessons.

Hopefully, we’d both take my words to heart.

I found Otto in the bedroom we’d been given. He sat on the bed with his back to the headboard, reading a book. Tilting the book, he smiled and my cares were engulfed by his joy. We shared the same concerns, but he’d managed them with the skill of a seasoned diplomat.

I crossed the room, tugged off my boots, and lay next to him. “How did the mage meeting go?”

“Aside from feeling like the class dunce, surprisingly well.” He set the book on a nightstand. “Percy’s accumulated knowledge is astounding, and Owen finally found himself. The two of them took an idea and turned it into an impressive prototype.”

I doubted Otto was ever a dunce. He understood his skills better than anyone and used them to their fullest. “Prototype? I expected a perfected working charm by now.”

“You’re not alone,” he said. “Owen thought we were done after the first model was complete.”

Lysandor would have his hands full with Owen. “How soon until the protection is ready?”

“A day or two.” Otto’s hand covered mine. “We’ll need to do some live tests to be sure the spells work.”

I twisted my hand so our fingers entwined. The simple contact satisfied me like nothing had in my life. “Gio and Lysandor found a good path. I can’t say it’s the best, but it should allow us to see any physical threats before they strike.”

“That’s good.” Otto shifted until he rested his head on my shoulder. “I spoke to Bart. He’s consulting with the elves and dragons to find the identity of the smith who forged the Orme and Dreki. It shouldn’t be hard to find him. They’re searching for an elf/dragon pairing where the elf is also a smith.”

Otto’s essence felt drained. I didn’t know a lot about mages, but I’d been taught they required rest after using a lot of magic. “It’s time for bed. It’s been a long day.”

“Ordering me to your bed?”

The suggestion turned my libido on full throttle. The chance to enjoy his body in the comfort of a bed nearly overpowered my will to protect him. “Not tonight, love. We’ll have a few more nights here before we leave. Right now, I’m ordering you to rest.”

I used my alpha voice, but it had no effect. Amusement flowed through our link.

“Warn me when you want to role play.” He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed the back. “I think it’d be totally hot to let my incredibly hot alpha tell me what to do.”

His playful quip had stoked a raging inferno inside me that threatened my control. I hadn’t fully considered taking Otto as I had others, but his willingness bewitched me with desire.

Otto ended my internal struggle by releasing my hand and sliding off the bed. “Let me get ready. You’re not wrong. I’m bone-weary tired.”

I watched him disappear into the small bathroom that had been added well after the house had been built. The plumbing must’ve been another of the things Percy had created during his long life.

It took me a second to realize Otto had planted the thought before he left to distract me from the heated images that had nearly consumed me. He should’ve used the words “role reversal” because while Otto wasn’t necessarily in charge, he was the leader.

“You’re wrong,” Otto said. “We’re a team. Without you, I couldn’t lead the line to a buffet.”

Hearing him answer my thoughts would’ve upset me before we’d bonded. Now, it made me realize how little I’d explored our connection. When I checked, I realized I’d left myself wide open. I was bleeding thoughts and emotions to Otto. “You’re going to need to teach me how to guard properly.”

“I can give you private lessons if you like.”

Otto hadn’t closed off his emotions and I soaked in his love for me. This was a being who’d spent his life hiding his emotions from most of the world. He didn’t have to hide anything from me and he didn’t.

“Who could resist such an offer.”

While Otto got ready for bed, I tested my control of our link. I pressed at the edges of his thoughts and he opened himself but maintained his walls so his thoughts didn’t overwhelm me with a jumble of ideas and images.

Otto guided my awkward first attempt, allowing me to see what had happened earlier. I watched the animated conversation between Percy and Owen. The surreptitious glances Percy directed “my” way, and the recognition this was Percy teaching Owen to harness his talent.

I tried to immerse myself in Otto’s thoughts, but he gently pushed me away.

“We can’t go too deep without losing ourselves in the other.”

The words made sense but being ejected from his mind left a longing in my soul. A few seconds later, the yearning faded, and I saw how dangerous it would be to indulge in such behavior.

Otto left the bathroom in just his boxers. I wanted to run my hands over his torso and feel the fine hairs on his chest and abdomen.

Ignoring the temptation, I rolled off the bed and nicked a quick kiss before entering the bathroom. There’d be time for exploring soon enough.