Chapter 18- Gordy
ENTERING THE HUB of the Union of Mages―with its huge, windowed, dome roof―might someday be a boring sight.
But not today. I’m walking in, trailing behind Kai and Seb, and my eyes wander at all the wizards walking to their next worldwide destination.
Despite being in my turtle form and wearing a trenchcoat, no one pays me any mind.
Joining a worldwide, magical network means supernatural sights are commonplace, I suppose.
But why am I here? Kai and Seb were summoned, and they insisted I tag along.
I’m not even an official member! They all know that I haven’t passed the competency exam yet.
Despite this, Kai asked me to come, and I can’t say no to my family.
Allegedly, I’m one of the Four Guardians of legend, so my presence is welcome, I guess.
After passing the lobby, we walk up the stairs and down a long hallway.
We pass by several curtained rooms, and the mood is somber.
That guy I met that first week, Luther, is waiting for us.
When we meet him at another windowed room, he shakes our hands.
Peering through the glass, I notice several beds.
Then it hits me―this is a hospital of sorts.
“I’m sorry to meet you for such a serious matter. You’re in close contact with Lisbeth and the rest of Boysen House, correct?” Luther asks.
“Yes, of course,” Kai says.
At his grave tone, the blood leaves my face. Is it Loxley? Did something happen to him? We were just playing video games remotely last night. This past week, we’ve hung out on occasion, and nothing was the matter. But now I’m here at a mystical hospital.
I attempt to discern who’s lying in the bed. My pulse picks up, and I try not to jump to conclusions.
“Well, we’ve had two incidents. We’re not sure if they’re related,” Luther says.
“What happened?” I ask, trying to quell my panicked voice.
“Your coven claims that a magical threat has been testing their wards.” Luther crosses his arms and looks away. “Now, wizards don’t have protection witch skills, but we have to at least consider that it could be true.”
“Maybe it was like a raccoon or something?” I ask.
“That’s not how protection magic works,” Seb says.
“And even so, this is a bigger concern.” Luther points to the window. I don’t even hesitate to crowd the glass and gaze through, almost pushing Kai out of the way.
Squinting, I study the person sitting by the bed. The woman stands up, and she looks familiar. I take in the boy in the bed, and his face appears drained and sunken in.
But it’s not Loxley. It’s Declan.
“I’m not sure how familiar you are with the Smith family from Virginia, a family of witches,” Luther says.
“I don’t know them,” Kai says.
“Weren’t they in your cohort, Gordy?” Seb asks.
“Yes,” I whisper. My relief that it’s not Loxley is significant.
The woman, Declan’s mom, sheds a tear, then straightens out the blanket.
Guilt of being so relieved swells in my heart; clearly something has rendered this Declan dude ill.
Even if I hated him, I don’t want bad things to happen to random people.
“His mother called us in desperate need,” Luther says.
“He’s injured?” Seb asks.
“Sort of. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. All of our top wizards have determined that he’s been sapped of his magic, which has rendered him comatose.”
What? At his words, my breathing stops. I whip my head around to gaze at Luther. He can’t be serious, right?
“No way. He might just be…anemic or something,” Seb says in a panicked tone.
“Our nurse looked at him. All of his blood work and vital signs are normal,” Luther remarks.
“But his magic is gone,” Kai says. He touches his face and says, “A monster from the Other Side.”
“As far as we’ve tracked, there has been no Other Side activity in Virginia in recent weeks,” Luther says.
The Union monitors breaches to the dark dimension filled with demonic beasts.
I’m conflicted between being content that it’s not a monster, and concerned that they have no idea what caused this.
Kai nods. “Let me try to assist.” He and Seb quickly stride into the room.
After having a serious discussion with Declan’s mom, the woman nods, and Kai gets closer.
Luther and I watch as Kai infuses his signature green arcana into a comatose Declan.
After five minutes, it’s clear this is a feckless endeavor.
“My only hope is we catch whoever or whatever is doing this,” Luther says without looking at me. “And hopefully they don’t try to sneak around Boysen House.”
My throat feels like sand, so I nod. Something is sapping magic, and they might have been lurking around Loxley’s house. Someone could be a threat to Loxley, the man I’ve gradually grown to need more than anyone else.
“And how are things at work?” I ask.
It’s the following weekend, and Loxley and I are chilling in the backyard of Boysen House as the sun goes down.
It seems like every important beat of our relationship has taken place at this very yard.
He and I have come so far in two months, and this location will always be special to us.
Despite the changes―there’s apparently a chicken coop or something at the side of the house?
―this place still feels like a second home to me.
I like visiting Boysen House, and when we chill here, my feelings for Loxley only grow stronger.
Then again, there aren’t too many places I can go and let my turtle out.
My tail wags over the top of the lawn chair as I sit forward. Loxley looks so adorable in the late summer twilight. I want to enjoy our date night, but my latent fear gnaws at my chest.
“G-good,” he stammers. With a smile, he continues, “I don’t…
have to talk to too many…” He nods slowly, and I catch his drift.
At this point, I’ve learned how to fill in the blanks of his sentences.
We continue to eat our hot dogs in silence, a simple fast food dinner we picked up on the way back here.
I’m happy that he’s content at work as well. I pray to the stars he’s safe, and that whatever is stealing magic won’t get to him at a public hospital.
“How are you?”
“I’m well,” I reply, finishing my second hot dog. “Work is okay. Can’t complain. No one cares that I’m wearing a face mask and winter hat during the heat of summer.”
I laugh, but Loxley simply studies me. “You…seem tense.”
My smile falls, and I lean back. “I just keep thinking about Declan.”
“Oh.” Loxley finishes his meal and scoots his chair closer to me. He cuddles up to me, and I put my arm around him. Kai had already filled Boysen House in on what we discovered, so everyone ought to be on high alert. With the new protection witch on the block, we should be safe here.
“Something is stealing magic. I can’t help but think that’s what messed with your protection wards.”
“Maybe,” Loxley says.
“How can you be so calm?” I ask, giving him a concerned stare.
He shrugs. “We have a coven. Plus, I have you.” He lifts my hand and kisses it. I swear, my heart wants to float out of my chest, I’m so smitten.
Shaking my head, I reply, “Yes, but there are threats out there. And I’m not as strong as Kai.”
“We’re…Boysen House witches.”
“Still, we can’t be too careful. I heard about otherworldly monsters and dark cultists, too.”
Loxley pushes up his glasses. “Protection wards.”
“Yes, from the new guy.” My fists clench with anxiety. “Can we even trust those two brothers?”
He frowns and replies, “They…passed the morality exam.”
Oh, that’s right. The second part of joining the Union is a gauge to see if their intentions are good. The two brothers must be trustworthy, or Luther would have flagged them as threats.
“Alright. But still. Who knows what lurks out there?” I stroke Loxley’s cheek, and he smiles. “I want to protect you.”
After nodding, he says, “I’m…an empath witch.”
“Okay?”
He proceeds to unclasp the charm necklace. “Maybe it’s time…t-t-to use my powers.”
“What?”
“I…can listen.” He takes off the necklace and holds it up. Then he points around at the sky. “Find threats…auras and such.”
“No!” I sit upright and push the necklace back at him. “Absolutely not. You were a wreck last time.”
Loxley gazes at me in concern, and I shake my head. “Please, Loxley. I want you safe from the world, as well as from the pain of magic.”
With a hefty dose of reluctance, he puts the necklace back on. He frowns, and I give a half-smile. My relief is significant, but obviously, he’s not happy with this. Arguing with your boyfriend with dysarthria isn’t easy.
Wait, boyfriend? Is he ready to take on that label?
I don’t dwell on that and, instead, put my hand on his knee. “You know I care about you. Your wellness and safety are…the most important to me.”
He smiles and rubs my cheek. “Yours too.”
Harmony seems restored. “Thanks, baby.”
He snickers, then his smile falls. “Who’s…protecting you?”
“Huh?”
“Your…magic.” He bites his lip and looks around. “What…if the threats…”
Grinning, I lean back. “Don’t worry. No one would mess with the legendary Ruby Turtle,” I say with a dramatic tone. We both laugh softly.
“Gordy,” he says in a light, chastising tone.
“Seriously. I’m a big turtle. I can take care of myself. Who would fuck with this?” I dramatically flex my bicep and laugh, but Loxley’s eyebrows jump. The heat in his gaze is undeniable, and my smile falls as well. The air between us shifts from cuddly to…heated.
Loxley stares at me like I’m a flank steak and he’s a starving carnivore. I don’t think I’ll ever not feel desirable when I’m around this man.
He languidly feels my bicep, stroking the skin and giving it a squeeze. You would think we hadn’t slept together several times. Still, there is one thing we haven’t done. But I never want Loxley to be hurt. With my size, anal might be uncomfortable, but I think he wants that.
Is he ready? Hell, am I?
“Gordy…I…I…” He gulps and continues to squeeze my arm as he struggles with the words.
“Take your time, baby,” I whisper. Leaning forward, I caress his cheek. “I’ll always wait for your words. Because you matter to me.”
With a serious expression, he turns his head and kisses my palm. “Gordy, I want…”
I think I know what he’s trying to say, and it makes my breath hitch. He stands up and leans closer. He plants a kiss on my lips, then says, “I want you. All of you. I…w-w-want…the final base with you. To be topped by the turtle.”