Chapter 12 Drecken
drecken
. . .
The enchanted quill slipped from my fingers.
Haelynn was still talking about lesson plans and performance scores, but her voice blurred when the first wave hit from the matebond. It wasn’t just physical pain. It was a soul-deep tearing sensation that made the magic under my skin flare with all-consuming agony.
“My mate,” I choked out, hand clenching around the edge of the desk in the House of Arcane classroom.
The air snapped with static as my control on my magic faltered.
Haelynn froze mid-word, her bright blue eyes widening. “Go!”
I was already gone. Teleportation magic detonated around me in a swirl of green and white light as I arrived in the heart of Fae’s Blessings.
Tobias’s sword was drawn with the rest of Jesper’s enforcers, creating a barrier around Rune, Rune’s mentor, and an earth fae. Slater, Zuko, and Dimitri’s voices were shouting over comms, and they were frantic.
Rune was on her knees, back soaked in blood and shards of wood.
“I’ve got you, Rune.” Jesper picked out the wood splinters from her back as scales rippled over his skin. He was fighting his shift.
“I’m so sorry,” the earth fae gasped. “You were hurt because you saved me.”
“You are helping us,” Rune hissed between her teeth.
The smell of burned magic and an inferno curse from the fae filled the air.
Inferno curses were a way the fire fae could absorb another supernatural’s magical essence and use it to boost their own.
Fae curses were dirty because they were like a non-consensual contract.
Only the fae who cast it or a stronger fae, witch, or warlock could banish the curse from the afflicted.
“Fates, viperling. I haven’t messed with a fae curse in over a decade.
” I dropped to my knees beside Rune, every wisp of magic in my body vibrating.
“Normally, this would be fascinating for me, but my heart feels like it’s shattering with you being afflicted with a curse. I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“Don’t dissect your feelings here, Drecken!” Jesper roared.
Rune let out a weak laugh before slamming her mouth together in a pained exhale through her nose. “Shit. I’m about to pass out.”
“Right, not the time.” My magic tore outward in a violent wave of light-blue and emerald that lashed against the red fae residue clinging to her.
The fae magic screamed, resisting extraction, but I was older than the fae that had cast it and stronger.
This curse was nothing on the dark magic curse I’d broken a few years ago.
The air cracked as I ripped the fae curse apart molecule by molecule. Fae glyphs that had been burned into the surrounding earth evaporated.
Rune gasped, falling forward but catching herself on the ground as the curse dissolved into harmless mist.
I teleported in a burst to be in front of her on my knees. When her eyes fluttered open, I was there. My trembling hands cupped her face, and my forehead pressed to hers. “Easy. I’ve got you.”
Her pupils dilated. “Drecken?”
“Who else would tear a fire fae curse from you?” I raised a brow at her.
She shot me a weak smile. “Only you could.”
The earth fae stumbled forward, tears cutting down her dirt-smeared face. “I’m so sorry—she saved me—” she repeated.
“Then be thankful my fated managed to save you,” I said, magic sparking from me as I glared at her. “If she hadn’t, I would erase you from both worlds for putting her in danger.”
“Drecken,” Rune gasped, smacking my shoulder. “Don’t say that. It’s okay, Briar. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
She nodded, but her expression was tight.
I huffed.
Jesper crouched beside us, his jaw tight. “We know our next step with the information Briar provided us. We will infiltrate the next auction a week from now.”
Briar nodded, rubbing her arms. “I’ll keep in contact through Cassie. The contract keeps us connected. Same place, same time? If they found us here, they’ll find us anywhere and anytime.”
“Figured as much.” Cassie nodded. “That works.”
Rune pushed herself up, wincing, and I instantly steadied her.
Tobias’s expression softened as he looked at his sister. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice was rough.
“No,” I corrected, standing and gathering her into my arms. “She’s done for the night.”
Jesper nodded once. “Go. We’ll debrief you later, honey drop. I’ll let the rest of your mates know you’re safe.”
They argued through the comms to let them see her, and Rune sighed.
“I’m okay, I promise. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, okay?” she said before I pulled the comms from her ear and gave it to Jesper.
Before anyone else could object, I vanished with her, teleporting us to the one place where I knew without fail I could keep her safe.
My family estate perched on the edge of a cliff in Cursinia. The mountains around it were obsidian with crystal veins that reflected starlight. Inside, everything smelled faintly of parchment and old magic.
I laid Rune on the sofa, scanning her aura and feeling for her magical essence against mine through the bond again.
Perfectly stable.
“You’re staring,” she said softly.
“I’m ensuring your internal magic isn’t destabilizing,” I muttered. “You took a direct fae curse.”
“And lived,” she teased. “You can relax now.”
“Impossible!” I huffed. “But your magical reserves are all healed now.”
She smiled faintly, getting to her feet and wandering toward the mantle.
Above it hung a painting of my parents. My mother wore a casual dress, her long blonde hair up in an elegant updo.
Her blue eyes were bright as she smiled.
My father’s short green hair was styled, and his brown eyes were just as happy as hers were.
My mother’s hand rested on my father’s arm.
They had been in love the moment their matebond had snapped into place at their first meeting.
“They look so happy,” Rune murmured. “And you look like a perfect mix of them both.”
“They were,” I agreed. “They were fated mates, and they were brilliant at their craft. Obsessed with magical research. I got that from them. They worked in a magical laboratory, and they were a big part of Kalista’s First War.
They died of old age, hand-in-hand. My father, Oberon, was five-hundred-three years old.
My mother, Elowen, was four-hundred-fifty-five years old.
They lived a much longer life than the average witches or warlocks because of their excess of magical essence.
I also got that from them. When they died, I threw myself into their work until I was recruited by the Supernatural Council.
Now, I get paid to do what I was already doing. ”
“Your parents sound incredible.” Her eyes softened as she turned to me.
“They were.” My throat felt thick. “Their legacy has been exhausting to live up to.”
She turned to me, stepping closer. “But you’ve done so beautifully.”
“Thank you, viperling.” My lips curved into a soft smile.
My excess magic arced off my fingertips into the fireplace.
“You know, I never really did anything but scour the world for information about magic, spells, and anything arcane. I saw no use for physical connection, emotional vulnerability, or attachment. It all seemed so inefficient. Until you, that is.”
“And now that you have me?” She stepped closer, and her midnight orchid scent engulfed me.
“Now, you are data I can’t analyze. You are a piece of my soul that I strive to learn everything about,” I admitted.
A glint of amusement swirled in her eyes. “You’re treating me like an experiment again, spell daddy.”
I coughed on a breath, banging my fist against my chest. “Spell daddy?”
“Accurate, isn’t it?” she giggled. Her laughter cracked my heart wide open. She rested her hands against my chest and leaned up. “Now, kiss me.”
I leaned down, and our lips connected. Magic sparked from the kiss, and I moaned into her mouth, tugging her closer. “Fates, viperling...”
Her soul brushed against my soul, and my cock thickened between my legs. I trembled against her as her mouth moved hungrily against mine. I poured everything I had into the kiss, sending her my awe and desire for her down the bond.
“I need you,” she gasped, breaking the kiss and dropping to her knees.
She fussed with my belt, undoing my pants and dropping them to my ankles.
My cock bobbed as it was forced out, and she moaned at the sight.
Her golden eyes were full of heat as she wrapped one hand around my erection. “I want this.”
My muscles trembled, and I bit down hard on my lip. Magic sparked around us, swirling and popping.
“You haven’t ever—” I moaned as she firmly gripped the base and lowered her head.
“There wasn’t time before now,” she purred, flicking her tongue out and licking the fluid that leaked out at the tip.
Pleasure shot down the length of my shaft to my balls, and I let out an embarrassing whimper. “Rune, Fates, what’re you doing to me?”
“I’m exploring you properly, spell daddy,” she teased.
I went to laugh, but her mouth opened, and she wrapped her lips around my cock. I let out a loud, shuddering-moan. “Rune, Fates...this is revolutionary.”
Was it supposed to feel this good?
She sucked as she slipped down, taking all of me. She used her tongue and glided over the shaft in rasping strokes that just added to the raw desire. The tension kept building, and I couldn’t stop moaning.
My hands hovered over her head, but I didn’t want to force her down on it or choke her.
She coaxed me again and again, bobbing her head up and down until I couldn’t take it anymore. My body tensed, but she kept going until I lost it. I tried to hold it back, but my climax reached.
Magic popped and arced around us as I came, and I spilled into her mouth. She took all of it.
I gasped, sweat beading down my forehead as I watched her pull my cock from her mouth and lick her lips.
Her golden eyes looked up at me through thick eyelashes, and she stood up with a victorious grin. “How was that?”