Page 66 of Magic & Secrets
“We both saw it happen, so it happened.”
“I’ve never been able to do anything like that before. My abilities have been twisted ever since we met. I thought maybe if we mated, the madness between us would subside.”
“Madness sounds negative.”
Calla cradled my jaw in her delicate hands and stared into my eyes. “I’m afraid to fail in battle and get you killed.”
“I can’t die. Maybe you can’t, either. We should choose to believe we’re invincible.”
Calla smirked at the way my fingers toyed with her flaxen chain mail.
“I’ve never truly been tested in battle,” she explained. “This was my bevy’s first big mission, and I’ve been constantly distracted.”
“Well, Iama distracting male.”
“It’s probably your lack of pants.”
Chuckling at her teasing, I took her hand and guided her toward the clearing. “If the Elves are nearby, we will need to be quick. As soon as we exit the forest, I will shift into a bear. I can outrun their horses in that form, and I’ll be large enough for you to ride me.”
Calla’s face flushed pink as she considered how else she would like to ride me.
“We’ll run until the moon is high,” I said and stroked her cheek. “We won’t stop until the Elves are far behind.”
With a plan at the ready, we exited Pandorium Forest. My eyes adjusted to the sudden light. Calla braced herself as if we were under attack. I kissed her quickly, wishing to savor her flavor.
Forcing my lips free, I shifted into my bear form. The creature I became was larger than normal. I shook out my limbs, impressed by my size. Before I could kneel for Calla to climb on top, she had already jumped and landed upon me. I realized how she was holding back when we first met. Or the mate bond had distracted her. Either way, she held on assuredly as I began to run.
Calla stroked my coat and nuzzled her face against my neck. I instantly wanted to mate again. At this rate, we’d take a month to reach Mt. Elysium. By then, Tempe would have rallied the Bane Shifters into war. Somehow, Calla and I needed to see past the addictive pleasure of our mate bond.
Yet, how could I deny her touch? Calla felt perfectly suited for me. Her every breath made me stronger. I could only see past my desire to mate by imagining her safe at the mountain. The Gathering would be suicidal to track her to my home.
We were nearly across the massive clearing when I caught the scent of the Elves and their horses. I attempted to change directions as they came charging from the woodlands. I even considered running back to Pandorium Forest and losing them there.
These battle-worn Elves moved faster than I expected, quickly encircling me. I could easily tear through them, but they wouldn’t survive my wrath. Was killing the Elves the right choice here?
Calla gripped my fur. Was she signaling me or simply afraid? My rage sprang to life as the Elves retrieved their swords and fired a warning arrow past my head. The thought of Calla hurt sent me feral.
Roaring, I stood up and shifted into my human form. Calla jumped to the ground next to me, holding her sword and shield in front of her.
The Elves hesitated when I transformed. Killing them seemed like the best plan. Two dozen Elves wouldn’t be a challenge.
The Elf in charge gestured to his soldiers to lower their weapons. The Elven warriors sat regal upon their white horses. Like all Elves, they possessed pale skin, silver eyes, silken white hair, and delicate leaf-shaped ears.
“We are in the company of a Bane Shifter,” he told them first in his Elven language before repeating himself in the human tongue.
“Why have you interfered with my travel?” I demanded.
“We apologize for the confusion, Roque.”
“You know me?”
“I knowofyou,” stated the head Elven soldier. “We studied your maneuvers in the Blood Battles at Aishorn.”
Without thinking, I glanced at Calla and smirked. “He’s heard of me.”
“Of course,” she replied curtly as she returned her sword to its sheath. “Bane Shifters helped forge the Lavinia we see now.”
Tugging my gaze from her, I asked the Elf’s name.
