BOUND: Mates at War | 18+

2 Dark Magic

I sit by the glowing fire in silence. I tried to stare at the floor but my curiosity got the better of me. My eyes roam around the small space, every surface, shelf and corner holds an item stranger than the last.

A large crow with milky eyes is perched on a branch hanging into the open window.

Melora sits in the chair beside a table full of vials, most with odd liquids filling them. I feel drawn to them, some look like blood, others move and swirl, it's unsettling.

"I am the sorceress Melora, though I have a feeling the introduction is unnecessary."

I keep my eyes trained to the floor while Aerin introduces us.

"You dislike me," Melora says after a moment, amusement in her tone. I look up to find her staring at me intently.

"N-No, sorceress...I..." I stutter nervously, I feel vulnerable under her gaze, like she can read my mind.

"You don't have to like me, young elf, I'm not delusional enough to believe that everyone will," she says before holding her hand up in front of the crow. "Canuck," she whispers to it and it steps into her hand, "what happened tonight? I smell blood in the air."

Aerin tells her about the attack on our camp and our escape from the wolves. I tuck my chin down, staring at my hands while fighting tears. I wonder if my father escaped.

"I can help you," her gravelly voice is quiet, "I have a spell..."

My eyes meet hers, "no, thank you, sorceress. Allowing us to sit by your fire is help enough."

She smiles a small, knowing smile, "your companion disagrees."

My eyes dart to Aerin and I immediately know the sorceress is right. I bite down on my lip trying to hide my irritation. She has always been reckless but even she should know better than to play with dark magic.

Magic, of any kind, comes with consequences, nothing is free. When you open yourself up to that realm, you have to be prepared to pay the price.

"What does the spell do?" Aerin asks her and I clench my hands by my sides.

"It's a mate spell. After I cast it, the first wolf that sees you will believe that you are his or her mate."

I gasp and turn toward her.

Her eyes are wide with excitement and I can't hold back my groan.

"Aerin, dár!" I whisper angrily. (Aerin, stop)

"Cin dár, im anír- na vedui- na hen!" She whispers back just as harshly. (You stop, I want to listen to her.)

I sigh and rub my face in my hands. This is a bad idea.

"Please, go on," she smiles.

"It's not perfect magic, there is no way to recreate the mate bond completely, even I can't achieve that, but this spell will shock them, giving you a chance to flee. It mimics the bond enough that they will be fooled for a time."

"How long will it last?"

"The spell will hold until you encounter a wolf. If you don't see a wolf for a year, it will hold until you do, but you only get one use, remember that."

"What is the price?" I bite out more harshly than I intended.

Melora smiles, "wise girl," she winks before turning to Aerin, "the foxglove necklace you're wearing."

My mouth falls open, there is no way she will trade that for a spell, it's the only thing she owns of her mothers.

Without answering Aerin starts to unclasp the necklace. I grab her arm, "you can't be serious? You're going to trade that?"

"If I'm dead, what good is a necklace? We aren't going to survive the winter! If this can help... you should do it too! We need all the help we can get."

"No, thank you," whatever the cost, I'm not willing to pay it...

Aerin stands and places the necklace in Melora's outstretched palm. She moves her hand in front of the crow and makes a small clicking noise, the bird pulls the chain into its beak and flaps out of the room.

Melora stands and raises her hands, her palms toward Aerin's chest. My breath feels caught in my throat as I watch. Her eyes flutter closed and she sways slightly.

"Primo aspectu videatur et lupus fatis suis mate in te. vinculum autem in eius modi mente et corde non sentiunt etiam id quod non est verum," the fire flickers angrily as she speaks, her voice echoing through the small room. Vibrant blue streaks of light float through the air before dissolving into Aerin's chest. Melora's red hair blows wildly like a harsh wind is flowing through the still room.

(At first glance a wolf will see his fated mate in thee. The bond will form and the heart will feel even what isn't real.)

I chew the inside of my cheek. I want to slap Aerin for being so stupid. The mate bond is not something to play around with. Tricking a wolf is dangerous. My stomach rolls and I feel nauseous. This seems like a very bad idea.

"This, I will give you for free, a mate is as sacred to a wolf as they are to you, you don't want to stick around long enough for the wolf to figure out that they have been fooled, it will not be pretty."

Aerin nods and I fidget nervously with my fingers. My father has always taught me that in order to survive we have to understand our enemy. Elves feel the bond to their lovemate strongly and immediately, wolves even more so.

I nervously look toward the window, watching the rising sun. I want to leave, we've waited here too long. We need to get up the mountain to find our people.

"We shouldn't wear out our welcome," I try not to sound overly eager to leave.

"If you ever need anything, you know where to find me," Melora smiles and I attempt to return the gesture until she reaches out, placing her cold hand to my cheek. I step back, startled.

"Thank you for giving us shelter," I barely squeak out before stepping out of her reach completely.

"You're welcome, Solana. You will be safe until you reach the mountain passage, I have a shield over the land."

I nod and pull Aerin away from a shelf cluttered with old books. She drags her feet, stopping to talk to Melora before meeting me outside.

"I know you're upset," she says when we put a bit of distance between us and the shack.

"Yes, I am. Melora is a dark witch, dark magic can't be trusted. Now you've done it and you can't take it back, I'm afraid for you."

"It's a protection spell. I didn't ask her to make me powerful or beautiful or to make me the most wealthy person in the kingdom."

I sigh and walk faster, desperate to get to the meeting place and away from the witch.