CHAPTER 18
Mark opened his eyes to let the light of the day in and shifted in the comfortable bed. His breaths were even, his body cozy, and his wolf content to remain in the relaxation of sleep. He reached for the other side of the massive bed, a slight panic invading his contentment. Caster?
He glanced around the room, its similarity to the same space where he’d given in to the impossible pull of Caster’s will giving him some of his security.
Back then, only a few days ago, he had been skeptical he would ever feel safe again, not with the witch still out of reach.
Yet, here he was, alone in an unfamiliar room, at the worst time of the day for him, and all he felt, all his wolf felt, was calm.
He relaxed further into the bed and took a breath, taking in Caster’s unique scent.
It was strong, like he was close, but he wasn’t in the room or even in the adjacent sitting area.
Mark took a second to take stock of his body.
His wolf’s enthusiastic healing meant there was not even a hint of the pain that had been Caster’s gift.
He reached for that memory, and arousal encroached on his relaxation.
Caster had been right. He couldn’t have that every day, not without becoming completely useless, but he would try to get it at least once a week.
He smiled at his own silliness. He would never be in control of that situation. He was not in control of his own body. Even now, as his cock begged for his attention, he had little desire to give in. It, like every part of him, belonged to Caster and would only bend to his will.
That their connection went beyond the physical, beyond anything natural, had been confirmed last night.
Mark had resolved to find Edie at the earliest convenience, needing to understand how Caster had been drawn into his mind space.
He’d never heard of that happening, and he could already hear the chorus of objections and disapproval from the Werewolf Council.
Not that they would ever find out. This was best kept between them.
He pushed out of the comfortable covers, his movements tentative, and then he saw it, the tiny card on the nightstand.
His bare feet hit the floor as he reached for it, the message in perfect cursive warning him not to leave the house.
Even written, the dominance in Caster’s instruction was difficult to ignore.
He placed the card back on the table and walked towards the massive closet the note had directed him to.
Caster had nothing to worry about. He was safe, even calm here, but he was sure the panic over Zeke and his new power would swallow him the moment he left this room, and he had no intention to revisit that feeling.
Once again, he marveled at the logistics that would ensure he had everything he needed in the space of a few hours. How had Caster done all of this without waking him? The choices were many, but he settled for a comfy t-shirt and jeans.
Another note and a full table were waiting for him in the living area.
This note ordered him to eat and stay calm.
Mark smiled as he selected a few options, poured a cup of coffee, and sat, placing his plate on the table.
His wolf, sensing the possibility of nourishment, awoke for the first time.
Like Mark, he seemed happy, calm as they both reveled in their food.
He was aware that he could not remain in this room forever, that Zeke and the witch had to be dealt with.
But was it too much to hope for a few hours of peace?
It was also impossible to fail to notice where he was.
Caster's parents could not be ignored for too long.
The Queen had been amazing, but what if the King disapproved of him for some reason?
Mark shook his head. There was no need to worry about something he couldn’t control anyway. Right now, he needed this good feeling and perhaps Edie. Out of habit, he reached into his pocket for his phone, only to remember that he must have left it at the cabin. Their exit had been hasty.
Unsure how he could reach Edie without the device, Mark rose, the comfort of the couch, of Caster’s scent all but forgotten. He reached for the ornate gold handle on the door, unaware of his actions or even his next steps until the door swung open and he nearly collided with Kyle.
He frowned.
Kyle’s face remained as stoic as always. “Do you need anything? I can get…”
“Shouldn’t you be with Caster?”
“I am where I am supposed to be.” A rare smile replaced his stoicism, making him seem younger than he was. He laughed, startling Mark enough that he released his hold on the doorknob. “I am much older than I look. And you don’t need to worry. He’s here. He’s meeting with the King.”
Mark nodded, rejecting the shame that often flooded his system when he failed to guard his mind against intrusion from vampires. “I need Edie and…” He held out his hands, noting the futility of his action before dropping them.
“You left your phone at the cabin?”
He nodded again.
Kyle reached into his pocket, pulled out his device, pushed a single button, and held it to his ear. “Find Edie. Mark needs her.” Then he gave Mark a curt nod as if that settled it.
The house, or at least this part of it, seemed so quiet, almost as if the silence was by design. There had to be a lot of people in the house; his heightened senses could pick up a myriad of scents, most unfamiliar, but the silence was deafening.
“You’ll get used to that. The King requires it.”
Again, he hated that he’d left his mind open to Kyle’s easy intrusion, but his wolf didn’t sense a threat from the big vampire. He shrugged and turned back to the safety of Caster’s room. “You don’t have to stay here…”
Kyle’s unexpected chuckle stopped him mid-thought. “Caster’s orders cannot be ignored.”
That was true. But why would Caster think he needed to have Kyle’s protection here?
Was he afraid that Zeke would find him? Zeke had proven he could access his wolf anytime he wanted.
The panic that the shadow of Caster’s presence had removed only a few minutes ago returned with a vengeance, his wolf howling out its discomfort.
What if Zeke attacked him again, and Caster was not here?
***
A soft knock startled him, and the door swung open just as he gathered the strength to fight the intruder. His fear and panic dissipated into an exhale when Edie walked in, her smile faltering into a frown. “Are you OK?”
His nod was small, and she accepted his answer, closing the door behind her and taking his hand to lead him to the sitting area.
The breakfast he’d been enjoying a few minutes earlier now looked anything but appetizing.
If Caster feared Zeke’s challenge this much, perhaps he was not taking the threat as seriously as he should.
He chuckled against the warring emotions threatening the peace he’d been enjoying. “You wouldn’t happen to have that tea, would you?”
Edie’s smile was subdued, but he would take it. They both sighed as they sat, her scrutiny and the extent of her power adding to the pressure he couldn’t contain. “Did something happen?”
Mark swallowed around the lump constricting his words.
Caster had to be talking to his father about this, so why was it hard for him to articulate what had happened?
He needed to find Dean, but if a power Zeke seemed willing to flaunt was anything to go by, Dean would soon have larger problems than his safety to deal with.
He closed his eyes and thanked Edie’s silent patience. He reached for his wolf, surprised to find his animal companion quiet, even relaxed. Why wasn’t he as panicked as he felt? He found words that seemed impossible even as they coalesced in his mind in a long exhale. “Caster was in my mind space.”
Edie frowned.
He leaned forward, trying to communicate the impossible as best he could. “Zeke tried to control me again, and then Caster was there.”
“What did it feel like?” There was an inexplicable smile in Edie’s voice.
She smiled wider when he caught her eye, but her joy did nothing to ease his confusion. “Terrifying. It was like…”
She shook her head. “No. Not Zeke. Caster. When he was in your mind space, what did it feel like?”
He’d been so caught up in the impossibility of it, he hadn’t considered what Caster’s presence in his mind had brought.
Mark took a second to search through that memory, through his wolf’s memory, and the picture came together.
The fear, the darkness in the moment he’d been drawn back into Zeke’s control, had almost ripped him apart.
But the second Caster appeared, all the fear dissipated, and his wolf regained his vigor, even attempting to fight back.
He gasped, understanding his wolf’s calm, and Edie smiled wider. “How can…”
“The protection spell.”
He frowned.
Edie leaned forward, the extent of her power lessening, its red glow now fainter. “Remember how we set that up?”
He nodded. They’d insisted on connecting his protection spell to Caster. “That’s why he could reach my wolf?”
Edie’s smile fell. “Yes, but I’ve never heard of a vampire entering a werewolf’s mind space.” She leaned forward, her hand reaching for him. “Do you mind if I…”
He nodded, trusting her magic, taking her hand.
His wolf awoke with a start, but stopped mid-growl as if recognizing her.
Whatever she’d done pulled him forward, even though he remained in his seat, only to push him back into himself a second later.
He opened eyes he didn’t remember closing to find an indulgent smile on her face.
She patted his hand. “Your wolf seems contented enough. How do you feel?”
“Great. I just don’t…” He took a breath and tried again. “What if Zeke comes back and Caster isn’t here?”
She shook her head. “He is. And the protection spell means that he can find you anywhere.”
She leaned back into the couch. “He found you in the most impossible of places.”
Her gaze moved past his shoulder and gained a faraway quality.
“Perhaps it has something to do with your connection.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It might explain why Zeke won’t leave you alone.”
“What?”
She ignored the urgency of his question, surprising him by jumping out of her seat. “We need to find Amelia.”
He followed her to a door she had already opened, ignoring the frown on Kyle’s face. “I can’t leave.”
She stopped and turned to him, her momentum already carrying her halfway through the silent hallway away from him. Kyle stood in his way, and he nodded at the bodyguard. He wasn’t about to disobey Caster’s instructions to stay in this room until he returned.
Edie stared at him for a long moment and then nodded to herself. “OK. But she won’t come here, not unless His Majesty can guarantee her safety.”
“That he can.” Kyle’s confidence was reassuring. Of course, he’d been eavesdropping. He shrugged. “But there are other moving parts. I’ll let Caster tell you all of that when he gets back.”
Mark looked at Edie, unsure if he should ask her to stay, but she beat him to it. “I’ll go gather a few things, and we can try to talk to her. Is it OK if I bring Adella?”
He nodded, and she turned to leave, her steps an echo in the silence. He looked at Kyle. “I need my phone.”
Kyle shook his head. “There is no way to get it. But I can get you a new one. I’ll have someone bring it up.” He indicated the hallway, leading to a curved staircase. “He didn’t specifically say you can’t leave. If you want to look at the grounds, I can accompany you.”
Mark considered the offer. His wolf could sense large grounds, perhaps even a forest around the property. But he shook his head. It was best to stay inside at least until he understood what was happening to him.