Page 65 of Magic & Secrets
Different now, my mate was open and generous in a way he formerly concealed from me and even himself. Roque craved affection and smiled easily. He owned such a protective nature under his gruff exterior and excessive growling. When we slumbered, he curled around me to act as armor against potential threats.
Despite how I slumbered wrapped in his affection, my dream instantly sent me spiraling into a cold void.
Unlike within Pandorium Forest, I couldn’t see anything here. Lost in the blinding blackness and falling through the bone-cracking cold for so long, I grew numb.
Suddenly, I was standing in a moist location. I still couldn’t see, but the scent of moss and mold tickled my nose. Reaching out for something familiar, my fingers found rock, icy cold yet slimy to the touch. I traced the outline of the surface upward to discover that the ceiling was no more than six feet high.
I realized I was in a cave somewhere in the Zorata Territory. The Bane Shifters were created and housed in this icy, northern region of Lavinia. Why was I dreaming of this place?
I sniffed the air in both directions. Detecting a foulness in the route moving lower, I took the opposite path. Something nipped at my fingers as I held onto the sides. Tiny creatures slithered along the walls. The rock around me began to glow, allowing me to see.
Sniffing the air again, I detected Enya’s scent. I heard my sister’s voice echoing against the stone. Turning toward where I’d come, I saw Enya running. A leopard was right behind her. At first, I thought the creature was what she fled. Its scent was familiar. I realized Koda was following her rather than chasing her. His leopard form allowed him to run through the narrow cave.
Enya charged toward me, wearing an expression filled with fear. I heard her heart racing. The walls of the cave began to tremble, and a deep groan echoed from the route I avoided.
As Enya and Koda ran through me, oblivious to my presence, I felt gripped by the power of the entity in this cave. Something ancient and foul wrapped its magic around me and squeezed tight. As I turned to dust in its grip, the thing howled with rage.
I awoke screaming, certain the vile monster would follow me out of my dream. Roque wrapped me in his powerful arms and prepared to fight whatever I feared. Staring into his eyes, I couldn’t find the words to explain what I saw.
“We need to leave Pandorium Forest and travel to Mt. Elysium,” I said while wrapping my arms around his shoulders and trembling in his embrace. “We’ve lost ourselves in this forest. I suspect Pan-Dissurath is feeding off our power. She’ll keep us here forever if we allow it.”
“What did you dream?”
“Enya and Koda are alive together.”
I knew instantly that Roque wondered about Delta. His gaze took in the forest around us. He understood how we’d gotten lost here, first tricked by the curse of Widow’s Forest and now by the calm of Pandorium. Pan-Dissurath didn’t want us to leave.
“I believe my sisters will travel to the mountain,” I said as I slid out of his arms. “We should attempt to meet them there.”
Roque struggled to see past our mate bond. His reluctance to leave made sense to me. Roque wasn’t a solitary creature by choice. He was never shown affection until I embraced him. I’d shown him more kindness than anyone in centuries. Roque trusted me completely. I could not harm him. His pain burned through me.Why wouldn’t he become addicted to the comfort and safety he found with me?
However, we were both tied to others. Outside Pandorium Forest, our kind were in danger. We had information that couldaid them. Our time hiding within Pandorium Forest had come to an end.
Roque
PANDORIUM WASN’T ANeasy forest to pass through. Even avoiding the cursed areas meant traveling through thorn-covered growth. There were also the unpredictable weather patterns, from icy cold to abrupt downpours.
Calla and I certainly didn’t improve our speed by mating so often. Each time we began our journey, I intended to keep moving until we reached the forest’s edges. I was a stubborn creature capable of suffering for a long-term goal.
Yet, if Calla sighed, I was immediately upon her. If she flipped her hair to the side and I caught sight of her bare throat, I tackled her. When we were forced to jump up high into the trees and swing across unpassable areas, I became entranced by her body’s effortless movements. By the time we dropped back to the ground, I pounced on her.
Every time, Calla only laughed and tugged me closer.
The forest floor didn’t quake as wildly each time we mated. The trees still shook, and a glow radiated into the sky.
“What is the plan once we reach the clearing?” Calla asked after redressing. “I smell something different in the air.”
“It’s grilled antelope,” I told her as my hand stroked the back of her head and my body craved her again. “The Elves must be cooking nearby.”
“Are we that close to Elatalora?”
“Close enough. They’re likely tracking the commotion we make,” I said and tugged at her front armor.
Calla gently shoved away my hand. “I’m not safe if the Elves learn we’re mating,” she said, and I instantly growled at thepossible threat. “If the Gathering believes my presence threatens their group and the New Armgard, I will be eliminated.”
“You can turn them to magenta mist.”
Cocking an eyebrow, Calla asked, “Did that truly happen?”
