by Serena Yates
He'd almost not made it through the portal in time. Uncontrolled lightning magic held the worst potential for destruction of all the forms of magic available to wizards. Luckily, the energies inside the gateway had absorbed the ones coming from him and the potential catastrophe had been averted.
"I know. I still think that it wasn't your fault and I'm sorry you had to suffer like that.” Kaythan's hand covered his and squeezed his fingers in silent support.
The tingling itch at Elryk's neck became painful and the fire between his legs flared up. Kaythan's eyes widened at the same time.
"What the fuck?” Kaythan withdrew his hand.
The other man stared at him as though he'd caused the problem.
Shit. It almost felt as if they were connected somehow.
This wasn't supposed to happen. In fact, it hadn't happened to anyone in almost two hundred years. He only knew about the phenomenon because the old books he'd studied when learning some rare spells had all referred to it.
According to those sources, connections between potential sexual partners called mate bonds had been known throughout Tah'Nutian history. Nobody had ever figured out what triggered them. They formed as often between partners of the same sex as between those of different sex. The early theory that they only served to make bonds between breeding couples stronger had been disproved centuries ago.
Instead, they were known to have served as additional support for many existing alliances, and had occasionally been useful to overcome hostilities between warring factions. They had always been honoured, even when they were controversial. Everyone knew better than to try and interfere, since that only ended in death and destruction.
He was exhibiting all the signs of a mate bond in its early stages—his aching groin, the tingling itch at the back of his neck, and the flaring of desire every time he looked at or smelt Kaythan. From Kaythan's reaction to their touch just now, the other man wasn't any better off.
"This can't be happening!” Elryk wanted to rant and rage.
This was not a man he could be bonded to. Maybe they weren't enemies any longer, but surely they could never be more than allies at the best of times. On top of that, he was a wizard and Kaythan was a soldier. The two almost never mixed. They hadn't even been ‘easy’ combinations in ancient times, never mind during more recent centuries.
But the symptoms were unmistakable. Shit. There was nothing he could do to prevent any of what was about to happen. Many throughout history had tried to find an antidote to unwanted mate bonds. Other than killing one or both of the people involved, there was no remedy.
Not even magic could stop it.
* * * *
Kaythan took several deep breaths, trying to calm his insistently throbbing cock the hell down. He'd found the wizard attractive from the first moment he'd met him, but this level of arousal from a mere touch of hands was absurd.
"What did you just do to me?” He unsuccessfully tried to hold back his growl. This was more than annoying. “Maybe I shouldn't have touched you, but I didn't mean any harm. Punishing me by causing this sort of—discomfort is just cruel."
"I didn't do anything.” Elryk closed his eyes. “And just for your information, I'm having the exact same problem."
"So what's happening?” He was going to get to the bottom of this. He didn't care whether it was intentional or a coincidence, it needed to stop. “Maybe you didn't do anything, but something is definitely wrong."
"You don't know the half of it.” Elryk swallowed and opened his eyes. “I believe that what we're both feeling is the beginning of a mate bond trying to form between us. For some reason that is entirely beyond my understanding or control, we seem fated to be mates."
"Mates?” Ridiculous! Kaythan frowned. That was the stuff of ancient myths and legends. Only children and crazy people still believed in that sort of nonsense.
"I believe so.” Elryk looked miserable.
"What makes you think that?” Admittedly, the screaming arousal he felt was probably a big hint, as was the increasing pressure between his legs.
"The typical symptoms are all there.” Elryk shrugged.
"Just to make sure we're on the same page—what exactly are they?” He wasn't willing to follow some vague feeling or the wizard's say so. He needed something more tangible as evidence—as in a whole list of evidence.
"Do you feel an itching pain at the back of your neck?” Elryk lifted his hand to put pressure on his own neck, as if trying to rub it away.
"Yes—yes I do.” He hadn't noticed it until now. The ache between his legs seemed more urgent. But it was definitely there.
"Do you feel a flare of arousal when you look at me or when you're close enough to catch my scent?” Elryk still didn't look away.
"Yes.” He didn't like the direction this was taking.
It had been particularly bad when he'd come out of the gateway, holding the unconscious wizard in his arms as he activated the transportation device. Focusing on getting them to safety, away from the guards stationed at the Tah'Nutian end of the gateway as quickly as possible, should have been his only concern. It had been an exercise in self-restraint to think of anything other than kissing the other man.
It hadn't gotten much better since then, and their touching just now certainly hadn't helped. It was beginning to look as though his resistance to the idea of mate bonds was doomed to failure in the face of reality.
"Is your groin hot and painful? Are your balls tight and do they feel as if they're ready to explode?” Elryk blushed.
"Yes, damn it. And it's getting worse by the second.” Were they going to get to the part where Elryk told him what to do to stop this anytime soon?
"That means we're compatible and that a mate bond is trying to form.” Elryk looked even more dejected now that they'd gone through the list.
Granted, this mating stuff wasn't a reason for celebration, but did the other man have to look as if the world was about to end because of it? Surely Kaythan wasn't that bad of a prospect, was he?
"We're compatible? You can't be serious!” If that wasn't the most ludicrous idea in a long time, he didn't know what was.
"It doesn't look that way to me, either. But there's apparently something in our bodies’ and mental energies that the power in the gateway has picked up on. Supposedly it's never been wrong.” Elryk managed to stiffen his back, even lying down, and narrowed his eyes. “You don't have to sound so much like the injured party here. It's not like I'd planned to get mated. Certainly not to a soldier."
"Well, excuse me for being inconvenient.” Could this wizard get any more arrogant? “But the whole thing simply isn't possible, never mind what you think. I suspect that it only ever happened in people's imaginations anyway, even in historical times when mate bonds were supposedly prevalent. We've made a lot of progress since then. The fact that there hasn't been a reported mate bond in at least two hundred years supports the theory that it's just an old wives’ tale."
"There hasn't been a mate bond ever since the Xoh'kas took over, that much is true.” Elryk nodded. “The leading hypothesis is that they did something to the gateway because the mate bonds interfered with their plans to make alliances based on their political interests rather than the ‘whims’ of the gateway's energies. Since that power is linked to our magic, it stands to reason that it also has something to do with mate bonds. It may have been something they did, but quite a few scholars think it's just as likely to have been some other sort of interference, like a natural disaster. Nobody ever found out for sure."
"Okay, let's assume that mate bonds are real. Just for argument's sake. Tell me why this is happening to us now?"
There might be worse things than having the wizard as his mate. If the man—and yes, he was no longer just a wizard—could only stop hating him for being a Law Forces Commander, Kaythan might enjoy getting to know him better. Spending time with him would certainly be interesting. Based on what he'd seen of the man so far, he was bound to be a fascinating part
ner.
"I think it's because we first touched when we went through the gateway. I wasn't in full control of my magic when I went in, so I must have fainted from the sudden power surge.” Elryk waited for him to nod before he continued. “When you caught me, enveloped by the energies of the gateway, the touch must have triggered the mate bond. Which means that whatever the Xoh'kas did to the gateway must only affect people on Tah'Nut, itself."
"So what do we do about it?” Surely they weren't going to just—mate.
"We either fight it and die, or we give in and live. As a mated couple of, that is.” Elryk's lips drew into a tight line and his eyes narrowed.
"What? That's our choice? I'm not just going to follow some damned instinct like an animal! An artificially induced one at that!” Not that he'd mind fucking the gorgeous wizard but he wanted it to be his choice, not the need to follow some primitive impulse set in motion by the power in the gateway.
"I'm sorry you don't like it.” Elryk turned his head away.
Was that pain in the other man's eyes? Shit, Kaythan hadn't wanted to hurt him. He just needed time to adjust. It wasn't as if he hadn't found the man attractive even before this mate bond nonsense had happened.
"Why did you bring me here?” Elryk turned back to him, all traces of emotion gone from his eyes and face. “And where are we anyway?"
"What?” That wasn't at all what he'd expected. “You're just going to drop this mating thing?"
"Your reaction told me everything I need to know. I'm not going to force anyone into a relationship, especially not one I'm not overly fond of myself. There's no point in us wasting time and energy talking about this, so I suggest we use what time we have left wisely.” Elryk glared at him. “I'm still not sure I can trust you, being a Law Forces Commander and all. But I want to find out what it is you think you can accomplish by taking me to some remote location rather than handing me over to the Xoh'kas like you were expected to."
"What time we have left?” All Kaythan was able to focus on was the other man's well-toned body under the sheet, his black glossy hair surrounding his head like a dark halo on the pillow. He wanted to kiss him. Thinking clearly was becoming more and more difficult.
"Has your brain stopped working already? It's a little early for that.” Elryk was definitely impatient. Why was it easier for the other man to deal with this almost debilitating level of arousal?
"My brain is going to stop working?"
Actually, Elryk was probably right. He couldn't be sure that hadn't happened already with all the blood trapped in his painfully erect cock.
Elryk just raised his eyebrows at him.
"To answer your question, we're at a friend's home.” He could only hope the concealing spells the wizard had woven would hold out against any of the attempts the Xoh'kas would make to find them.
"And you brought me here because...” Elryk tilted his head, making him look adorably curious.
"Obviously because my own home will be the first place they'll look for me when they discover that I'm absent without explanation. Not to mention the fact that a wanted criminal vanished on my watch.” Damn it, he still wanted the other man with a vengeance. He needed to focus on the problem at hand.
"And what do you want from me?” Elryk scratched the back of his neck, grimacing as if he was in pain.
"I want you to help me stop the magic thieves and get rid of the Xoh'kas.” They'd get back to the mate bond issue soon enough.
"I have no idea how to stop either of them.” Elryk frowned.
"That's where my other friend Arith comes in. He's a seer and has been looking for ways to stop the magic thieves for a while. He's only recently been successful when he finally discovered information about the Muyd'Othar."
"The Magic Shield?” Elryk's eyes grew big. “But that's just a legend!"
"No, apparently it's real. It's supposed to protect the Magic Council and the gateway by stopping magic from leaking—or, in this case, being siphoned off.” Kaythan could only hope it would work like Arith said. “I think the fact that it vanished helps to explain why the Xoh'kas were able to stay in power so long. It also explains how the magic thieves can keep going. If the Magic Shield were still in place, they'd never be able to siphon off so much magic, thereby weakening the balance between the five magical elements."
"I agree that a threat to the balance makes this a serious problem. Without a proper balance we'll face all kinds of negative consequences. People might get sick, wizards will become less effective, some scholars say we'll face an increasing number of natural disasters. Who knows what else might happen that nobody has even thought of yet.” Elryk frowned. “But why do you need my help for this? If Arith is a seer, that means he's also an air wizard. Surely he can find the Shield for you?"
"Arith says that he's too old. He might be able to do the spells, but he wouldn't be able to follow through and retrieve the Shield. A stronger wizard is needed for that.” Kaythan grinned as understanding dawned on Elryk's face.
"You want me to go on a hunt for a fabled magical object with you?” Elryk's eyebrows were trying to meet his hairline.
"Yes. Well, Arith did say that any other Great Wizard who knows what to do and where to go can do it. Since we don't know whom to trust, you are our best bet.” Kaythan grinned. “He's given me instructions on how to find the Shield. Are you up for trying the required revealing spell so that we can go and find it?"
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Chapter Three
* * * *
The spell wasn't working.
Elryk sat on the bed, his back supported by a pile of pillows that Kaythan had collected from all over the house. He'd closed his eyes in an attempt to improve his ability to concentrate on the spell. It should work.
The problem was Kaythan. The man continued to be far more distracting than was good for Elryk's peace of mind. Even though the Law Forces Commander had clearly rejected him earlier, the temptation to kiss him, for starters, hadn't lessened. Neither had Elryk's burning arousal, which could only be satisfied by more touching and, ultimately, their physical union.
He'd cleared his mind, focused on the spell—and nothing had happened. Not even a tingle in the tips of his fingers. He wasn't going to give up this easily.
So he took a deep breath and tried again.
The result was still nothing.
Shit. What was he doing wrong? He'd been able to do the transportation spell on Earth once he'd gone through the exercises to “train his magic muscle” as Parker had called it. So this lack of success couldn't be because of a lack of training of that part of his brain, could it? He sighed. Maybe he better make sure and go through the exercises again.
"How long is this going to take?” Kaythan's voice ruined his concentration.
"As long as necessary.” He ground his teeth to stop himself from saying more. He wasn't going to admit his weakness to the infuriating Law Commander, so he didn't even open his eyes.
"I'm sorry I asked.” Kaythan sounded more irritated than apologetic.
Never mind the other man. Elryk had a job to do.
He went through the mental exercises, noticing how much faster he was this time around than when he'd done them back on Earth. At least it seemed as if there'd been some improvement. When he was done he took a deep breath and tried the revealing spell again.
It still didn't work.
Elryk couldn't sense the Muyd'Othar, or anything else for that matter. His body was as empty of magic as it had been during his three years on Earth. It was absolutely infuriating.
"You must have gotten the directions wrong.” He rubbed the persistently tingling itch at the back of his neck and opened his eyes.
After all, Kaythan was only trained as a soldier. How could he expect the other man to know enough about magic to remember the complicated directions for a specialised revealing spell that he'd been given once?
"I certainly didn't. I was trained to remember details. Whether they're magical or no
t doesn't matter. My memory isn't at fault.” Kaythan narrowed his eyes and frowned. “Maybe your magic isn't back to full strength?"
"More like non-existent. But that doesn't make sense! Once I entered the gateway it should have returned to normal. And the exercises I did just now, after my first two attempts failed, also indicated that everything should be fine. “ Elryk didn't want to consider the possibility that something in the gateway may have damaged his abilities permanently. He'd already spent three years without magic. That was more than enough.
"If the directions are correct and you weren't able to locate the Muyd'Othar, then there's only one other explanation.” Kaythan deepened his frown. “For some reason, your magic either hasn't come back at all or it has stopped working."
"Shit!” It was highly annoying that Kaythan had come to the same conclusion. Elryk really didn't want to live without his magic, especially not now that he was back on Tah'Nut where everything depended on magic.
"Is there a way for you to find out?” Kaythan hesitated. “Maybe try something simpler than this unfamiliar revealing spell?"
"Yes, there is, and I'm going to do it right now.” He'd give it one more try, even if he was pretty sure he already knew the answer.” But I'll go outside just in case something goes wrong. I don't want to damage your friend's house."
"Do you need help?” Kaythan got up and stood next to the bed, holding out a hand for him to take.
Elryk shook his head and sat up. He closed his eyes, trying to will the pain and nausea away. He was going to do this on his own. When he blinked his eyes back open, Kaythan looked worried.
"I'm fine.” It was a lie, but he didn't want to touch Kaythan if the man had such issues about bonding. Touching without—relief would only make the need grow much stronger than it already was.
Elryk got up. He was so dizzy that he almost fainted. He barely made it to the glass doors leading out onto the balcony, leaning against them for a few moments to recover his equilibrium. When he was ready, he opened one with shaking hands. After another short pause to gather his wits, he stepped outside and leaned on the banister to catch his breath. Shit, he felt like an old man.
