Magic Vs. Aliens: Hybrid Sorcerer: Book One - Return of Magic: Book Five

by D. R. Rosier

  Sure, they had a way to go. She had to learn about him, and they had to learn if they could live together. He loved who she was, even her faults, and he knew them all including her vanity, but compatibility was more than that. Only time would tell if they could go the distance.

  But… as far as he could tell they were both in it to go that distance, if they could, and for him it was a dream and fantasy come true. And… so much more than he’d ever dreamed or fantasized possible.

  When the kiss ended her eyes were glistening and warm, and he realized then he’d rocked her world as much as she’d rocked his, between last night and this morning. She might not love him yet, but it was a hell of a good start.

  She said, “I am yours until we decide, but as for you being mine and only mine, we should talk about that. Kind of get it out in the open.”

  He tilted his head, “What do you mean?”

  She bit her lip and smiled, “You know my views on relationships have expanded the last twenty years? What we have is already beautiful and precious to me, and I can’t wait to fully explore it. I don’t think it would bother me, if I had to share you with another. You know I’m not attracted to women, but you probably also know it would get me hot if I saw you with one. Not a cheap thrill, or not just that. That’s not what I mean, but if you fall for anyone else. That won’t change what we have, as long as it’s all honest and in the open.”

  He was truly boggled, “Umm, okay?”

  She giggled, “You’ll figure it out, I’m sure. If not, I certainly don’t mind having you all to myself. Just wanted to plant the seed, just in case it comes up?”

  He shook his head, “It seems a little hypocritical, I don’t think I could share you at all.”

  She shrugged, “Men and women are different. I’ll never want anyone else if I fall for you and we reach the state of commitment that we both desire. It’s not about me not being enough for you either, but…” she trailed off as if not quite certain what to say.

  He said, “The reason my parents’ relationships work is because it’s love in all directions, and you don’t feel romantic love for women, ever. It seems risky, without that balance I mean.”

  She tilted her head, and she sighed softly in loss as he fell out of her heaven. She slid to the side and snuggled against him.

  “I think it’s more the giving part. Neither of us has a selfish personality, we gave each other pleasure, and our own took care of itself. I think that’s important too, selfishness in mates never works, trying to balance the scales and keep track of points and who does what. That’s important for even normal monogamous relationships, but I think it’s also what’s truly essential in… creative relationships. More than anything else.”

  He smirked, “Creative relationships?” he asked, even as he took her point. She was the most giving and sacrificing person he knew, so maybe it would work. Seemed like a risk though, and he certainly had no intentions of picking up another woman as a mate just because she said it would be okay. He was far too enamored and lost in his Katie at the moment.

  She shrugged, “Just because I’d never feel desire in another woman’s touch, doesn’t mean I can’t share you in joy and even share love of the heart with another woman, if it came up.”

  He snorted, “Alright, let’s say I buy that. Why are we having this conversation now? This seems like a serious later in the relationship conversation, and I know you know I’m already totally wrapped up in you, and the deep love I feel for you. I can’t even imagine wanting anyone else right now, if not ever.”

  She bit her lip, “Alright. What happens when I disappear for a day or two in the library, or any number of other things. I wouldn’t ever neglect you, not on purpose, but you know me. I’m yours in the bedroom, and I’ll enjoy being dragged off to those musicals and other dates with you, but when it comes down to my work and calling, I can be stubborn and uncompromising.”

  He shrugged, “I already get that, and I know when to follow your lead, or get out of your way. You already know that’s how I see you, perceive the world. I’ll be possessive and protective, but never overbearing and…” he paused and laughed as he finally got her real point, “You mean to imply that another woman would be a distraction for me, take care of me when you were busy with work or study?”

  She blushed, “Sort of, yes and no. It was more just illustrating how another might even help us smooth the few rough spots we’ll have between each other. Nothing is perfect of course, but…” she sighed and shook her head.

  “The truth is, Ryan, is that I brought this whole thing up because of what Bria told me last night. I’m not sure I should even tell you, but you already have a woman that loves you, one that will be with us for the rest of our lives, and one that you care for far more than you’ve admitted to yourself.”

  Red hair, piercing green eyes, mischievous beauty, and a soft sweet voice entered his head. Her lovely willowy body as well, all soft and supplely light feminine curves and a sexy dancer’s body. Sadie was very beautiful and sexy, but it was just too weird in his head.

  “Sadie? Loves me? I mean… loves me loves me? Because I know she loves me like family, and…” he shut up when she put a finger over his lips.

  She said gently, “Yes, as in tear your clothes off and become yours in every way loves you, if you but asked it of her.”

  He frowned, “That can’t be right. She helped raise me. Isn’t that weird?”

  She giggled, “Bria also said you were in denial, which is why I wasn’t sure if I should tell you about it. But anyway, let’s leave it there. I just wanted to tell you what I was thinking that way, so you wouldn’t freak out or feel guilty if that ever comes to fruition, even just in your mind. It wasn’t like I was expecting you to pick up some stranger tomorrow, or to fall in love with a stranger. I know you wouldn’t do that to me, but Sadie’s different. Sadie’s already yours, and she’s going to be with us for as long as we’re together, so it seems kind of inevitable to me, which is why I brought it up in the first place.

  “Point being, it’s not a deal breaker for me, and it could even possibly be a benefit in my mind.”

  He thought about that, and he just couldn’t see it. His heart and mind were still drowning in Katie though, and Sadie was very attractive, that wasn’t the problem. It was the weight of years and childhood through different stages and levels of their relationship. He just… wasn’t sure what to think, surely Bria wouldn’t have lied, but Sadie never once let on that she was in love with him in a romantic way.

  On the other hand, Sadie had also been acting differently yesterday, and she wouldn’t tell him what it was about. If he recalled right, she’d even said she wasn’t sure herself and would fill him in when she figured it out. So perhaps it was a new development, and he hadn’t noticed because of familiarity and also being a little distracted and focused on Katie.

  He wasn’t sure what to think, but he could understand why she’d been reluctant to tell him now, when she’d told him about everything else so freely in the past.

  Still, it was hard to see.

  Katie broke the long silence, “Did I break you?”

  He snorted, “No, I just don’t see it. I’m also riding pretty high from last night and this morning, and I already told you I love and adore you. It’ll work out, but thanks for the thought?”

  She giggled, “You didn’t mention adoration, and your welcome.”

  He shrugged, “I didn’t mention worship, awe, adulation, or admiration either.”

  She snickered, “You’ll give me a big head… tell me more.”

  He said, “Your beauty, kindness, and seductiveness, all off the scale.”

  She replied playfully in a shameless tone of voice, “Say on.”

  He shook his head, “You’re everything I wanted, and so much more. In short, I need time to come to terms with how hard I’ve fallen for you, our possible and hopeful future, and now Sadie, it’s all a bit much at once. My mind and emotions need time to process.” />
  It was, his mind was disciplined and focused, and he would figure it out, but the idea that Sadie loved him romantically and she also wanted to physically was just too shocking to credit to his heart and mind in that moment. Especially being so overwhelmed by Katie’s acceptance and deep dive into a relationship with him, which was everything he’d ever hoped and dreamed for.

  No, the reality was a thousand times better than those old childish fantasies. He was also drowning in post-bliss, the sensation of her body pasted to his, and her warm hazel eyes. It’d take time to straighten out all the emotions, shocks, and potent desires the last day had engendered.

  She kissed him, “You’re everything I wanted, the rest will come, or that’s my hope. I’m just not sure how to tell Cassie I seduced her son into bed. It sounds like some tawdry Penthouse letter, woman seduces best friend’s son.”

  She not only robbed the cradle, but he’d put her back in hers. Of course, he didn’t say that out loud. He supposed it was a bit crazy, but it felt very right to him.

  He snickered, even as he wondered what the hell Penthouse was. Obviously, something from the old world, something rather naughty by context, but of course he’d been born into this one. It was all he knew. He blushed as he found it in her stolen memories, it was some kind of pornography magazine.

  She giggled, “Time for breakfast, and alien hunting, before I jump you again.”

  He nodded, and he gave her one more kiss, before they cleaned up, got dressed, and headed for breakfast.

  Chapter Eight

  “Breakfast smells delicious.”

  It really did, eggs, bacon, sausage, and fresh toast with butter and jam.

  Katie said, “Yes, thanks for cooking breakfast, Sadie.”

  Bria smirked, “How do you know it wasn’t me?”

  Katie snorted.

  Sadie smiled, “It was no trouble. Cooking is one of my hobbies, something I enjoy doing, and that’s probably a good thing since Ryan can’t cook at all.”

  He coughed, “Bite me,” and then winked.

  Sadie shrugged, “It’s true enough, and I like to see happy people enjoying the food I made. You know?”

  He kind of picked up it was obvious what happened last night. At least Bria was smirking at both him and Katie a lot, and he suspected she could smell their conjoined scents and even the sex despite their shower with hot soap and water and feeling clean.

  Sadie knew as well, his guardian and creation. A woman that was so important to him in so many ways. A woman he loved deeply as family and that he knew very well. Her signs of awareness were much more subtle than Bria’s outrageous smirks, but it was easy to see in her that she knew. He’d known her for a very long time, all of his life, and she’d been there as far back as he could remember. Which was one of the reasons he found it so hard to believe she wanted him to claim her in that way, not only as his family, guardian, and servant, but as his mate as well.

  Point being, he really must’ve been in denial, if he missed the signs, and he started to pay closer attention to her as they ate. At the same time, he was enjoying just how close Katie was sitting to him, and the warmth of her body near his. It was hard, but he focused on getting his head out of the clouds, it was time to get serious.

  He said, “No big changes to report, some of them are still travelling through wilderness, most of the ones that hit suburbs are laying low. I’d suggest finishing off the southern groups today, only due to their nearness to the communities in the Dallas area.”

  Katie tilted her head, “Have any of the groups gone in a building that might have chemicals, last time they built chemical weapons.”

  He shook his head, “Not yet. Just moving, or they’re in houses. I suppose they could do some damage with ammonia and bleach.”

  Sadie snickered.

  Katie said, “Alright, the five southern ones then.”

  He nodded, “They still seem to be in survival mode. Shelter, food, water, and weapons. I imagine it took a while for the first group to graduate to efforts of mass destruction?”

  Katie tilted her head, “About three weeks actually, so you’re probably right. Hopefully we’ll get them all before any go that far.”

  He said, “I do have a suggestion. Casting through the staff, and me my bracers, is a lot more efficient. But set spells in enchantments can be even more so. We might be able to take out twice as many groups, if we take the time to create offensive enchantments of starburst and my ball lightning trap. Then we should be able to activate it for a small amount of mana to kill most of them, then use our spells for cleanup. I estimate we’ll be able to get up to ten groups if we try, maybe more. The small ball lightning I can cast sixteen times a charge, so thirty-two times a day. That’s also about how many larger and powerful enchantments I can activate.

  “So, that’s sixteen small spells and sixteen powerful offensive enchantments. Only ten, because we also need to teleport around, and we might need an extra spell here or there. Still better than five a day, and we’d be done in under three days, two and a half instead of five.”

  Katie looked at him thoughtfully, then her eyes widened, “You got all my magical knowledge too.”

  He shrugged self-consciously, “Pretty much, I got everything. But that was something mom taught me long ago.”

  He’d thought he had a solid grip on magic, and in a lot of ways he had, but Katie had increased his magical knowledge by close to ten times. He knew all sorts of stuff now, some of it even useful in battle, but a lot of it was non-battle applications.

  Bria growled, “He what?”

  Katie blushed, “Long story. Regardless, it’s a good idea. Enchantments when activated take only a tiny bit of magic, and suck in what they need for the spell. So big or small, an enchanted spell cost the same amount for us to cast. I was actually thinking we’d be lucky to get five whole groups, and that four was more realistic. But we really could get ten, or maybe eleven or twelve with your suggestion, so let’s do it. Umm, starburst?”

  He grinned, “Well, it looks like a little sun, bursting into smaller suns, before they exploded a lot of heads, so that’s what I started calling it in my head. Starburst, sunburst, whatever.”

  Really, the staff and bracers were much better because of how adaptable they were. They made casting any spell cheaper, which meant they could tailor spells to the situation. But, since they were using the same spell over and over in their alien hunt, and powerful spells were even cheaper magic wise if made into enchantments, it would be worth the effort of making them.

  The downside of permanent enchantments was they were rigid and set, couldn’t be modified at all. Not even distance. Which meant he’d have to make it a kind of grenade. Activate the enchantment, then throw it in their midst. Otherwise, he’d have to activate the enchantment when they were at the exact distance he’d set into the spell, which was problematical at best, and unworkable at worst.

  Normally they wouldn’t even be considered in battle, but five days felt too long to him, and it would help in this unique circumstance. Enchantments were usually used for convenience things that never changed. Like warding a room, heating and cooling the air, heating a bath, and other things of that nature.

  Of course, knowledge wasn’t experience, and Katie came up with a better idea than an enchanted grenade of ball lightning.

  Katie said, “Since power doesn’t matter so much with enchantments, we can overpower them and make our spells even stronger for no more cost. We can also set them to go off on impact to solve the range issue.”

  His mind ran with that, instead of stopping a ball above their heads and that splitting into four balls for the four corners, he could do it from the ground instead. When the ball lightning hit something, it would split apart and make a fifty-feet by fifty-feet box of four lightning connected ball lightnings, then close in on each other electrocuting them all. Same spell, just slightly different way to find the range.

  He’d just have to make sure it didn’t hit anything
within twenty-five feet, or he and the others could wind up in the square of death as well. He’d have to add a safety to it, just in case.

  “Okay, so the spells we used yesterday, what if they’re inside a house or building, should be build something for that too?”

  Katie shook her head, “My bigger spell still target’s the alien life, you might want to go back to that, it would keep us safer and doesn’t require them standing inside the kill box. You can make the lightning ball a lot bigger, and able to kill more than just twenty, since the jump start will cost the same no matter how big the spell is.”

  He frowned, and he tossed away what his mind was working on. She was right, he was trying to get too fancy. Idiot. He’d just use Ball lightning, strike the void, but with enough juice to kill a hundred instead of twenty. No, he could still use the box idea to increase the range, but instead of joining the four balls they’d just be independent lightning spells, each one able to strike down thirty or so, for a total of one hundred twenty. That was good enough, and more than half the enemy group’s numbers of two hundred, Katie would get the other half, and Bria’s fire would get whatever they missed.

  He’d considered using her spell, and it was one he wanted to practice, but he’d never casted it before and knowledge wasn’t the same as experience. It’d be better if he just enchanted what he was familiar with.

  “Good point. I know what I’m doing now. Thanks.”

  She grinned.

  Bria said firmly, “Back up, what happened?”

  Him and Katie exchanged a look, and he said, “When I healed her yesterday, I didn’t mean to do so, but I was disoriented and in a lot of pain myself. I sort of… well, I read her life force.”

  Bria gaped, “You read her whole life?”

  He nodded, “Yup, so I know just how naughty you are, dragon.”

  Bria snorted, but she also smiled.