Chapter 16
Caster was so close to giving him what he’d almost begged for, but he was responsible enough to know nothing good could come from that. The pain Mark thought he concealed so well was so palpable, he could almost touch it. He didn’t know why he cared. It was clear Mark didn’t want to talk about it.
He’d met and played with more submissives than anyone he knew except for Damien, and maybe his trainer, Marcus, but he’d never seen one so responsive.
It was natural for a submissive to crave the control a dominant could exert, but many used the power of their nature as a weapon to get what they wanted.
With Mark, he didn’t get a sense of manipulation.
He wasn’t even trying to fulfill his desire to be controlled; his surrender was simple.
Complete. If he thought him beautiful when they’d first met, seeing him so vulnerable had increased his appeal in ways Caster couldn’t describe.
What had he done? He should have known better than to touch him, but the softness of his hair had called to him, and he was lost in it with the first touch. Now he wanted to do it again, yet he was aware of Mark’s vulnerability and how easy it would be for someone like him to take advantage.
Dawn couldn’t come fast enough. Then, he could put as much distance between them as he could. He almost laughed at that thought when he couldn’t even get his body to move away from him now.
The forest sounds changed as total darkness gave rise to twilight. The creature came alive as well, its growls returning with menace as it sensed its deadline approaching. It tried to claw at the invisible barrier protecting them, only to whine as if burned and take a few steps back.
Caster heard Mark’s increased heart rate and longed to offer comfort, but that meant touching him, and he wouldn’t fall into that trap again. At least his wounds had healed. He was an unusual wolf indeed, and perhaps it was best if Caster never found out why.
The creature’s whines increased with approaching daylight, and it paced, its smoke-like body floating along with its movements.
He stood. “It will be time to go soon.”
Mark braced himself against the tree and used the leverage to push to his feet. “We don’t even know where we are.”
“We can’t stay here.” He nodded at the restless monstrosity that seemed even more out of place in a forest alive with life. “As soon as it’s gone, we need to get out of here. Fast.”
Caster tried to call out to Riley again, and this time, there was something, an inkling of the powerful witch’s presence.
“Caster?”
The vulnerability in Mark’s voice drew his protectiveness to the fore with such intensity he had to restrain the need to rush to his side. “Yes…” He failed to sound as casual as he’d hoped.
“I will not be able to run too fast.”
He nodded. It was clear that he couldn’t transform. It explained everything, including his inability to feel the magic surrounding them or to heal his wounds. But how could it be?
He started to reassure him they would move as fast as he was able, but a change in the intensity of the magic around them stole his words.
Caster braced himself for battle, only for Riley to appear in front of him, and he released the breath he’d held in anticipation of a confrontation.
He’d never been so happy to see his best friend.
Riley took one look at him before the monstrous creature caught his attention. The crackle of power he always held back was on full display, aimed at the creature. But as he stepped forward to confront it, it let out one last whine and dissipated in a puff of black smoke.
“You guys, OK?” Riley’s voice was urgent, almost panicked.
“My brothers?” Mark asked.
“They’re fine. We all are.” His eyes assessed them, a frown creasing his forehead. “You just disappeared. I couldn’t feel you.”
Caster shook his head. “I couldn’t feel you. I tried to…”
“You must have been too close to her.” Riley held out his hands to each of them. “Come on. Let’s get you home. We have a lot to talk about.”
This time, the sensation of Mark’s skin against his was different.
It came with an extra spice of something he didn’t want to focus on.
As Riley’s power engulfed them in a teleportation spell, Caster knew he wouldn’t try to name it.
As much as he desired Mark, and he did, that much he couldn’t deny, there was too much at stake.
He was responsible for too many to worry about whatever this was.
Now that they knew where the witch was, perhaps they would capture her soon, and there would be no need for Mark to be in his world anymore.
§
As soon as they materialized in his study, Mark snatched his hand away. The Prime Alpha noticed the action and frowned at Caster. He shrugged. If Dean wanted an explanation for any of this, he’d get it from his brother.
The study was crowded. Dean, his youngest brother, Riley, Damien, and Ben were all looking at them with questions Caster wasn’t sure he had answers for. He wanted to get as far away from Mark as he could, take a shower, and find a meal. Was Nick still around?
“Where did you guys go?” Damien pinned him with a look that didn’t let him hide in his thoughts.
“We walked a few meters east after you left, and that thing was there,” Mark said, the vulnerability he’d displayed minutes earlier gone.
Caster fought every muscle in his body to keep from turning in his direction.
“What thing?” Dean asked.
“A creature I’ve never seen before.” Caster moved behind his desk, his familiar chair a world of comfort compared to the forest floor. “You saw it, Riley.”
Riley nodded. “I can’t be sure, but I think you may have found her, or at least where she spends most of her time.”
“What was that thing?” Mark asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before.” Riley rubbed at his left temple with his thumb. “But the darkness coming off that thing is unlike anything I’ve ever known.”
“She’s using dark magic. We already knew that,” Damien said. The others seemed too agitated to relax, and Caster could understand their discomfort.
“Yes. But I’ve never known a power that dark.” Riley was not making him feel any better.
“But the plan remains the same, right?” Dean asked. “We find her and end this.”
“That thing was strong and fast.” Caster dared a glance at Mark, who met his gaze for a split second, only to look away. “And there may have been more than one.”
Mark turned to him, his eyes wide. He hadn’t thought about why he’d concealed that information at the time, but it was clear now. He’d wanted to protect him, still wanted to protect him, even now.
“I thought there would be.” Riley’s voice drew his attention from Mark and the confused feelings he aroused in him. Riley, who seemed the most tired of them all, sat next to Damien. “I think we should take time to figure this out before we go after her again.”
“No!” The energy and volume in Mark’s denial silenced the whole room.
“What my brother means is, we thought this would take no more than a day.” Dean’s tone was nothing short of an admonishment of his brother’s outburst.
“We thought so too.” Riley sighed, his exasperation somehow intensifying the tired look on his face.
“But, you have to understand. I’ve never felt a power like that before.
Wherever she’s getting it from, the price she has to pay must be massive.
I suspect we’ve only seen the tip of what she’s capable of. ”
“Well, you’re inspiring a lot of confidence, brother.” Damien’s attempt to lighten the mood did nothing to dampen Caster’s worry. Perhaps he should let his father handle this after all.
“So what do we do?” Dean asked.
“Give me time.” Riley pushed off the couch, looking more tired by the minute. “I need to get a clearer sense of her magic and—”
“You’re not going back there, are you?” The strange mix of anger and concern in Ben’s voice told Caster something was going on with Riley that he didn’t seem ready to share with the room.
But he couldn’t worry about it right now, not with everything going on.
Riley was well capable of taking care of himself.
He was the most capable of everyone in this room.
“Only for a second.” Riley’s soft reply did nothing to stop Ben from storming out.
He turned to Caster and blew out a breath, nodding toward Ben’s dramatic exit.
“I’ll take care of it.” He followed Ben out the door, but stopped at the threshold.
“I’ll examine her magic and try to figure out where it’s coming from.
I thought maybe it was necromancy, and I can feel that, but there is also so much more. ”
“It makes sense to have all the information we can before we go after her.” Caster looked at the Prime Alpha as he said it, pleading with him to understand and stay a while longer.
He looked at Mark, his hunched shoulders and hands balled into fists, indicating he didn’t like the idea. Caster didn’t either. The longer Mark remained in his orbit, the more out of sorts he felt, and he needed every ounce of his focus if he would ensure the witch didn’t kill any more of his kind.