Page 29 of Faeheart (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #2)

Elias

T he morning light streaming through the windows felt different somehow, warmer and more golden than it had any right to be.

I stirred slowly, immediately aware of Wild still pressed against my chest, my arm draped possessively across his waist. Through our newly completed bond, I could feel his contentment like a physical warmth spreading through my chest, mixed with a lazy arousal that made me smile against the pillow.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I murmured against his neck, my voice rough with sleep and satisfaction.

Wild stretched languidly in my arms, a soft sound of pleasure escaping his lips as he pushed back against me. Through our bond, I felt his sleepy amusement at finding me hard again, pressed against the curve of his ass.

“Mmm, someone’s eager this morning,” he purred, his voice still thick with sleep but tinged with that familiar, playful edge. “Did you even get soft last night?”

Heat flooded my cheeks as my embarrassment tried to come to the surface, but I pushed it back.

I wasn’t going to give into those feelings anymore, not when Wild had asked me so earnestly to fall asleep inside him.

But, sometime during the night, I must have slipped free.

However, now I was rock hard again, nestled between his cheeks like I belonged there.

Through our connection, I felt his satisfaction at my obvious desire, mixed with a tender affection that made my chest tight.

“I can’t help it,” I admitted, pressing a kiss to the sensitive spot where his neck met his shoulder. I ground my hard cock against his ass, savoring the friction. “Being this close to you, feeling everything you feel... it’s intoxicating.”

Wild turned in my arms, his green eyes bright with mischief and something deeper.

In the morning light, I could see faint traces of his fae nature still lingering, a subtle luminescence to his skin, the way his hair seemed to catch light that wasn’t quite there.

The sight of him like this, rumpled and glowing and mine, sent a surge of possessive desire through our bond.

“We should probably get up,” he said, though he made no move to leave the circle of my arms. “The others will be wondering if we survived the soul bonding process.”

“Let them wonder,” I growled, surprising myself with the confidence in my voice. “I’m not ready to share you with the world yet.”

Wild’s laugh was delighted, his pleasure at my protectiveness coursing through our connection. “Look at you, getting all territorial. I like this side of you, Elias.”

Before I could respond, a sharp knock at our door made us both freeze. Through the bond, I felt Wild’s spike of annoyance mixed with reluctant amusement.

“Guys?” Caden’s voice came through the wood, carefully neutral but tinged with concern.

“The house... it’s different this morning.

Everything’s glowing, and we can feel—” He paused, and I could practically hear him blush through the door.

“Well, we can feel that you’re both alive and. .. satisfied .”

Atlas’s deeper voice joined in, gruff with what sounded suspiciously like amusement. “The tetrad bond has definitely evolved. We’re getting a lot more sensory feedback than before.”

Wild and I exchanged glances, both of us suddenly aware of how our completed soul bond might be affecting our connection to Caden and Atlas.

Through our shared consciousness, I could sense the others more clearly than ever, Caden’s gentle contentment mixed with curiosity, Atlas’s protective satisfaction at knowing we were safe and happy.

“We’ll be down in a few minutes,” I called out, my voice steadier than I felt. “Just... give us a moment to get dressed.”

“Take your time,” Atlas replied, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. “But don’t be too long. The ethereal servants have made some kind of magical breakfast feast that’s hovering above the dining table.”

As their footsteps retreated down the hall, Wild turned to face me fully, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, that’s going to be an interesting conversation.”

“Do you think they felt... everything?” I asked, heat rising to my cheeks despite my newfound confidence.

Wild trailed his fingers down my chest, sending shivers through our connection. “Probably not the details, but definitely the intensity.” His lips curved into a wicked smile. “Maybe they enjoyed the show through the bond.”

The thought sent an unexpected jolt of arousal through me, which Wild clearly felt through our connection. His eyebrows shot up, and a delighted laugh escaped him.

“Elias Thorne! Are you getting turned on by the idea of Caden and Atlas feeling us through the bond?” He pressed closer, his body warm against mine. “That’s deliciously kinky of you.”

“I’m not—” I started to protest, then stopped as Wild’s knowing look silenced me. Through our completed bond, there was no hiding the truth of my reactions. “Fine, maybe a little. It’s just... different than I expected. Feeling them connected to us.”

Wild’s expression softened, his hand coming up to cup my face. “The tetrad bond is evolving. All four of us are becoming more... intertwined. It’s natural to have complicated feelings about it.”

I leaned into his touch, marveling at how easily he could read me now, how completely our souls had merged during the night. “I never thought I’d want this kind of connection with anyone, let alone three people.”

“And yet here we are,” Wild said softly.

“Glowing and satisfied and completely tangled up in each other.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before sliding out of bed, stretching lavishly in the morning light.

He made sure to turn toward me, giving me the full view of his nudity.

“Come on, let’s go see what this magical breakfast is all about.

I’m starving after last night’s... activities. ”

I watched him move around the room, gathering clothes with casual grace, his naked body still bearing faint marks from our lovemaking.

Through our bond, I could feel his awareness of my gaze, his pleasure at my appreciation.

It was strange and wonderful, this constant feedback loop of emotions and sensations.

By the time we made it downstairs, dressed and somewhat presentable, I could feel Caden and Atlas waiting for us in the dining room. Their anticipation hummed through our tetrad connection, curiosity and affection mingled with something that felt almost like reverence.

Wild squeezed my hand reassuringly as we approached the doorway. “Ready to face the music?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, drawing strength from his confidence.

When we stepped into the dining room, I was momentarily stunned by the spectacle before us.

The ethereal servants had outdone themselves.

Platters of food hovered a few inches above the table’s surface, glowing with different colored auras that corresponded to our tetrad energies.

Fruits I’d never seen before glistened with morning dew, pastries steamed as if just pulled from an oven, and what looked like golden honey dripped upward in defiance of gravity.

But it was Caden and Atlas who truly captured my attention.

They both seemed... transformed. Caden’s normally pale skin had a subtle amber luminescence, tiny flowers blooming in his blonde hair only to dissolve moments later.

Atlas’s golden eyes were brighter than I’d ever seen them, crimson energy occasionally rippling beneath his skin like contained lightning.

“Holy shit,” Wild breathed beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. “You guys look...”

“Different,” Caden finished for him, a shy smile playing at his lips. “So do you.”

I realized with a start that both Wild and I must be similarly changed. Through our bond, I could feel Wild’s delight at the physical manifestation of our connection, his fae nature reveling in the magic made visible.

“The soul bond completion,” Atlas said, his deep voice rumbling with something like awe. “It’s affected all of us, not just you two.”

“The tetrad is evolving,” Caden added, gesturing for us to sit. “When you two... finalized things last night, it sent a wave of energy through the entire mansion. The ethereal servants say the wards are twice as strong now.”

I slid into a chair across from them, Wild taking the seat beside me. Through our connection, I could feel all four of us adjusting to this new equilibrium, the bond between us humming with unprecedented clarity.

“So, you felt it?” Wild asked, reaching for a pastry that glowed with emerald light. “When we...”

“Not the details,” Atlas assured us quickly, though a faint flush crept up his neck. “More like... an echo. Powerful emotions, sensations. It was...” He cleared his throat, looking to Caden for help.

“Beautiful,” Caden said simply, his blue eyes earnest. “Like watching a storm from a distance. All that power and beauty but not being caught in the center of it.”

Relief flooded through me, followed by a surprising surge of affection for both of them. Through our bond, I sensed similar feelings from Wild, along with his characteristic mischievous curiosity.

“So, you enjoyed the show?” Wild teased, biting into his pastry with exaggerated pleasure.

Atlas’s laugh was unexpectedly warm. “Let’s just say it was... educational.”

The tension broke, all four of us dissolving into laughter that resonated through our bond, multiplying our shared mirth until tears streamed down my cheeks.

The lightness of the moment felt miraculous after everything we’d been through, the attacks, the fear, the uncertainty. We needed the laughter.

“The bond feels different,” I said once we’d composed ourselves, reaching for a blue-glowing fruit that tasted more delicious than anything I’d ever bitten into. “More... complete somehow.”

“It’s definitely stronger,” Caden agreed, his fingers absently intertwining with Atlas’s on the table. “I can feel all of you so much more clearly now. Your emotions, your magic... even your thoughts sometimes, though not in words exactly.”

Atlas nodded, his golden eyes intense as he studied Wild and me. “The crimson journal mentioned this might happen. When two members of a tetrad form a soul bond, it creates a kind of magical resonance that strengthens all connections within the group.”

Wild’s hand found my knee under the table, squeezing gently. Through our bond, I felt his curiosity mingled with a hint of nervousness. “So, what does this mean for all of us? Are we all supposed to form soul bonds now?”

The question hung in the air, charged with possibilities we’d only ever joked about. Through our connection, I could feel Caden’s shy interest, Atlas’s cautious consideration, and Wild’s excitement.

“The journal wasn’t specific about that,” Atlas said carefully. “But it did say that each connection within a tetrad is unique. Some bonds might be primarily magical, others emotional or... physical.”

“We don’t have to decide anything right now,” I said, feeling a bit out of my depth. “We’re still figuring out what all of this means.”

Caden smiled, reaching across the table to touch my hand briefly. The contact sent a pleasant trembling through our bond. “There’s no rush. We have time to let things develop naturally, if they do at all.”

“Speaking of time,” Wild said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “We should probably talk about what happened yesterday. The attack.”

The mood sobered immediately, all of us remembering the violence we’d unleashed, the spirits we’d called to defend ourselves. Through our strengthened bond, I could feel echoes of Wild’s guilt about summoning up the dead, Atlas’s fierce protectiveness, and Caden’s quiet determination.

“Atlas, you said someone must have told the Purity Front where to find us,” I said, meeting his golden eyes across the table. “What did you mean by that?”

Atlas’s jaw tightened, crimson energy briefly flaring beneath his skin. “The wards on this place were created by two of the most powerful magical practitioners of their generation. They were designed to be undetectable, let alone penetrable. For the Purity Front to find us so quickly...”

“Someone had to have given them information,” Caden finished, his expression troubled. “Someone who knew where the sanctuary was located.”

“But who?” Wild asked, his free hand clenching into a fist on the table. “The only people who knew we were here are the Elder Council, the Dean, and Professor Blackwood.”

“And your family,” I added, glancing at Wild. “That’s why they left that message for you.”

“And,” Atlas added. “They mentioned there were people in the Seelie Court that supported the Purity Front. Maybe even some in Briar Hall.”

“You… You think my parents did this?” Wild asked, his fear palpable.

“No,” I replied, grasping his hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “But that doesn’t mean they weren’t overheard.” I looked up at him, seeing the worry crease around his eyes. “Is there someone in the Seelie Court that doesn’t like you?”

Wild laughed, the sound lacking any sense of joy. “Uh, yeah. Lots of people don’t like me, including my parents. And there are even more that think the fae should go back to their old ways of trickery and violence against the mortal world. That includes the witches they would steal power from.”

“So… what do we do?” Caden asked.

“If there’s a spy in Briar Hall feeding information to the Purity Front, I’m not sure there’s much we can do from here.” But then he paused, a grin curling over his lips. “Unless,” he said, looking at each of us in turn, “we feed them the wrong information.”