Page 28 of Faeheart
Caden leaned forward, his blue eyes intense. “Three hearts, one storm... that has to be us. The triune bond.”
“But what about the power that will change the world part?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable with the weight of destiny suddenly pressing down on my shoulders. “I didn’t sign up to be some magical messiah. I just want to graduate and get the hell away from my parents’ expectations.”
Through our bond, I felt Elias’s agreement pulse strongly, though outwardly he maintained his composure. Only the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed his discomfort.
“Perhaps that’s precisely why the three of you were chosen,” Professor Blackwood said thoughtfully. “None of you fit neatly into the boxes others have created for you.”
“But you gave us the pendants,” I retorted. “Are you in on this bullshit?”
Professor Blackwood sighed. “I wish I could claim to be that powerful, but this was purely a coincidence.” She paused for a moment. “Or destiny, I suppose. I’ve been applying for use of the Resonance Stones from the Elder Council for years. This was the first time my application was approved and only because they thought you three were good candidates.”
“So, what now?” Elias asked, his fingers absently tracing the outline of his pendant beneath his shirt. “The Purity Front is still out there, and if they know about this bond?—”
“They’ll come for us again,” Caden finished grimly.
Professor Blackwood stood, moving to a cabinet behind her desk. “Now, we prepare. The bond you three share is still developing, still unstable. What you did in the courtyard was powerful, but dangerous.” She withdrew a large spellbook with spell crafting materials tucked between the pages. “In order to control the power, you mustpractice.”
I couldn’t help but grin at the prospect. “Now you’re talking my language. I’ve been dying to see what else we can do together. I hate the theoretical stuff, anyway.”
Elias shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and I felt his familiar mixture of excitement and terror pulse through our connection. “What kind of practice are we talking about exactly?”
Professor Blackwood opened the spellbook, revealing pages covered in intricate diagrams and symbols that seemed to shift and move when I looked at them directly. “Synchronized casting. Learning to blend your individual magical signatures into something cohesive rather than simply overwhelming.”
“Like what we did during the attack, but controlled,” Caden said, understanding dawning in his voice.
“Precisely. What you accomplished that night was raw instinct and desperation. Powerful, yes, but completely uncontrolled. You could have killed yourselves.” Professor Blackwood’s tone was stern. “If you’re going to survive what’s coming, you need to master this bond properly.”
I leaned forward to get a better look at the diagrams, accidentally brushing against Elias’s shoulder. The contact sent a familiar jolt of electricity through both of us once more, and I noticed his breath catch slightly.
“Sorry,” I murmured, but I didn’t pull away immediately. Neither did he.
Professor Blackwood cleared her throat pointedly. “Which brings me to another matter we need to discuss. The physical component of your bond.”
“Physical component?” Elias’s voice pitched higher, and his face flushed that delicious shade of pink I was becoming addicted to.
“Triune bonds aren’t just magical, gentlemen. They’re emotional and physical as well.” Professor Blackwood’sexpression remained professionally neutral, but I caught a hint of amusement in her eyes. “The attraction you’re all feeling toward each other isn’t a side effect. It’s an integral part of the connection.”
Caden groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Atlas is going to love hearing about this.”
“Actually,” Professor Blackwood continued, “Mr. Faolan’s inclusion in your... dynamic... may be beneficial. Werewolf pack bonds share some similarities with triune bonds. His presence could help stabilize the connection.”
I felt my eyebrows shoot up. “Are you seriously suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting that fighting the natural progression of your bond could be more dangerous than embracing it,” she replied calmly. “Sexual energy is one of the most powerful forces in magic. Channeled properly, it could strengthen your connection exponentially.”
The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel Elias’s mortification radiating through our bond so strongly it was making my own cheeks burn. Caden looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.
“So let me get this straight,” I said, because someone had to break the tension. “You’re telling us that to save the world, we actuallyneedto have a magical foursome?”
“That’s a crude oversimplification,” the professor said, her lips curling into a slight grin. “But accurate.”
“Oh my god…” Caden sighed.
Elias just groaned.
But I couldn’t help smiling. “Fuckyes.”
Chapter 11
