Page 16 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 16

Atlas

“ T his is your private place you like to hang out at?” Caden asked, glancing side to side with a surprised look on his face.

“Yeah,” I nodded, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Is… Is that weird?”

“No,” he chuckled. “I just uh… didn’t expect your special place to be in the library basement.” He looked around at the plain room that had nothing in it but dusty old shelves full of newspapers. “Or that it would be so… dusty.”

“Is it because I’m a jock? I don’t look like the library type?”

Caden glanced at me, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe a little bit.”

“Well, shows what you know,” I grinned. “And this isn’t just some dusty old room tucked away in the basement. It has a secret.”

I walked over to the back corner of the room where two old wooden bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling. It took up the entire corner of the room and looked as if it were built into the wall itself. Lifting my hand, I grabbed a book toward the top of the shelf, the one with a silver moon shimmering on its spine. Tipping it forward there was a small click and a grinding sound as the shelf swung inward. Beyond it was a black void.

“A hidden room?” Caden asked, craning his neck to try to see into the darkness.

“One built specially by my family,” Atlas nodded. “And my own secret hideaway. Nobody, not even my friends, know about this place.” I held out my hand. “Want to see what’s inside?”

He took my hand without hesitation. “Yes.”

I led Caden into the darkness, feeling a thrill as his slender fingers intertwined with mine. The hidden door swung shut behind us with a soft click, plunging us into total blackness. I felt Caden tense beside me.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just wait.”

A moment later, a soft blue glow began to emanate from the walls. A dense, but delicate pattern of enchanted metal laid into the walls came to life, sensing our presence in the room. Caden gasped softly as my secret place was slowly revealed.

It wasn’t large, maybe twenty feet square, but every inch was a testament to my family’s legacy. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and arcane artifacts. A plush rug covered the floor, and in the center stood a low table surrounded by cushions. And, thanks to my father, there had been a small bar built into one side of the room that held not only liquor, but a coffee machine and a mini fridge that was kept magically stocked by the servants back home.

“Atlas, this is... incredible,” Caden breathed, his blue eyes wide with wonder as he took in the sight.

I watched him, captivated by the way the ghostly light played across his freckled skin. My wolf stirred within me, urging me to pull him close, to claim him as mine. I pushed the urge down, reminding myself that Caden wasn’t some conquest. He was... special. And we were trying to take things slow.

“I’m glad you like it,” I said softly, still holding his hand. “I’ve never shown anyone this place before.”

Caden turned to me, his blue eyes searching my face. “And yet you showed it to me.”

I nodded. “You’re my mate, right? I can’t have any secrets with you.” I pulled him inside and up to the small bar. “Do you want a drink? I’ve got most of the basics.”

“Sure.”

“Iced coffee?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.

“Yeah. With vanilla if you’ve got it.”

I smiled, pleased that I remembered his favorite drink. “Coming right up.”

As I busied myself with the coffee machine, Caden wandered around the room, his fingers trailing lightly over the spines of the ancient books. I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, admiring the way the ethereal blue light made his blonde hair shimmer.

“These books,” Caden murmured, “they’re all about werewolf history and magic, aren’t they?”

I nodded, pouring the coffee over ice. “Yeah, my family’s been collecting them for generations. Some of them are so old and rare, they’re probably the only copies left in existence.”

Caden’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s... that’s incredible, Atlas.” He paused, biting his lip. “I can see why you don’t want other people to know about this place. Some of these books… they go directly against the rules taught in the magic courses.”

I finished adding the vanilla syrup to his drink and walked over to him, handing him the glass. Our fingers brushed, sending a spark of electricity through me.

“You’re right,” I said softly, my eyes locked on his. “And that’s why we keep them safe. There are some things that shouldn’t be forgotten, even if certain witches would like us to forget.” I paused for a moment, taking a sip of my drink. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”

Caden nodded solemnly, taking a sip of his iced coffee. “I understand. There’s so much history here, so much knowledge.” He glanced around the room again, his eyes lingering on a particularly ornate tome. “It’s overwhelming, honestly.”

I watched him, fascinated by the way his mind worked. Most people would be intimidated by all this, but Caden seemed genuinely intrigued. It made my wolf stir again, pleased by his curiosity and intelligence.

“You can look at anything you want,” I said, moving closer to him. “I trust you.”

Caden’s eyes snapped to mine, surprise evident in their blue depths. “Really? But some of these books... they look ancient. Priceless, even.”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even as my heart raced at our proximity. “They are. But you’re my mate. What’s mine is yours.”

A blush crept across Caden’s freckled cheeks, and he ducked his head shyly. “That’s... that’s a big deal, Atlas. Are you sure?”

Instead of answering, I gently took his hand and guided it up to the book he was reaching for. “You might like this one actually,” I said, watching him pull it from the shelf. “It explains mates and their bonds in great detail from the werewolf perspective. It might help you better understand what I’m feeling.”

Caden’s fingers trembled slightly as he took the heavy tome from me. His eyes widened as he examined the intricate silver runes etched into the leather cover.

“This is incredible,” he breathed, carefully opening the book. The pages were thin and delicate, covered in flowing script interspersed with detailed illustrations.

I guided him over to the cushions surrounding the low table. We sat down, side by side, our thighs just barely touching. The warmth of his body next to mine sent tingles across my skin.

“Look here,” I said softly, leaning in close to point at a particular passage. The scent of him - like fresh rain and pine needles - filled my senses. “This part talks about how werewolves can sense their mates even before the bond is fully formed.”

Caden bent his head to read, his blonde hair falling forward to brush against my cheek. I had to clench my fists to keep from reaching out to run my fingers through those silky strands.

“It says the wolf will be drawn to their mate’s scent and presence,” Caden murmured. He glanced up at me through his lashes. “Is that why you kept searching me out after we met? Even though you tried to pretend it was just to thank me?”

“I did want to thank you,” I grinned, feeling my cheeks burn slightly. “But yeah… I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was so drawn to you that I couldn’t stay away.” I glanced down at the book again, the words hard to make out in the dim light. “Oh. I almost forgot.”

Jumping up, I headed back toward the door. There, on the wall, was a glowing blue circle of enchanted metal set into the wall. It was divided up into twelve different pieces, like a pie. Reaching out, I pressed the nine o’clock wedge, the magic fluttering around my finger.

In an instant the entire room shifted. The glowing blue metal inlaid into the walls changed color and expanded. What had once just been a dull glow was now a projected image, an illusion covering every wall including the ceiling. Caden gasped as it took form, the room filling up with light. The cushions, table, and bar stayed in place, but now they looked as if they were mysteriously located in the middle of a summertime forest. Dappled light pierced through the canopy above, casting everything in a yellow-green glow. The scent inside the room shifted and even the sounds of the woods seemed to seep in from nowhere.

“What… What kind of magic is this?” Caden whispered, his jaw hanging open in awe.

“The expensive kind,” I laughed, happy to see him so bewildered. “The enchanted copper running through the walls has the ability to create illusions complete with smells and sounds. It’s a good place to escape when I need to shift and unwind. It makes me forget I’m cooped up in this academy for a while.” I looked around at the forest surrounding us, the illusion so realistic I could barely tell where the walls were anymore. “I like this one the best. It… It feels like home.”

Caden’s eyes sparkled with wonder as he took in the magical forest surrounding us. “It’s beautiful,” he breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his amazement. “There are twelve different settings,” I explained, gesturing to the circle by the door. “Each one is a different environment. Forest, beach, mountains, even underwater.”

Caden’s gaze returned to me, curiosity burning in those blue depths. “Why show me all this, Atlas? You said you’ve never brought anyone here before.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “Because... because I want you to know me. All of me.” I took a step closer to him, drawn by an invisible force. “And I want to know you too, Caden. Every part of you.”

A blush crept across his freckled cheeks, but he didn’t look away. “Even the parts that are... different?” he asked softly. “The witch parts?”

I nodded, reaching out to cup his face gently. “Especially those parts. I know witches and werewolves aren’t supposed to be together, but that’s just everyone else’s opinion. I’ve read some of these books here and I know the truth. Werewolves and witches make powerful unions. They are something that should be revered, not forbidden.” I leaned in closer. “And the feelings I have for you are worth more than any power I could gain being your mate.”

Caden shivered in my grasp, but he didn’t pull away. “So… you said this setting makes you feel at home. Is this where you grew up?”

I smiled, kissing the tip of his nose before I pulled back. “No. Wherever this is, I’ve never been there. But it feels a lot more like home than the perfectly manicured woods on my father’s estate. There everything feels almost… clinical. It’s too clean, too planned. But this,” I said, gesturing to the forest around us. “This feels like the world before there were so many people. A place untouched by the march of progress. That’s the kind of forest I feel like I would call home.”

“I wish I could make something like this,” Caden smiled, staring up at the canopy above us. “I love plants and the green things of the world… but my magic… it’s hardly powerful enough to grow saplings much less an entire forest.”

“Every tree starts as a sapling,” I said, catching his gaze once more. “Maybe that’s your problem with magic.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are just a sapling now,” I explained. “And if you force yourself to grow too fast, to reach the light, you’ll be too weak and spindly to survive the smallest of storms. But perhaps if you accept the smallness of your power in the moment and bide your time waiting for a patch of sunlight to find you, then you can be ready to grow your power when opportunity knocks.”

Caden’s eyes widened at my words, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That’s... surprisingly insightful, Atlas. I never thought about it that way before.”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even as my heart swelled with pride at his praise. “I may be a jock, but I’ve got a few brain cells rattling around up here too.”

Caden laughed, the sound light and musical in the illusory forest. “I never doubted that. You’ve shown me more than enough to prove you’re not just some meathead wrestler.”

We stood there for a moment, surrounded by the ethereal beauty of the magical forest, just gazing at each other. The air between us felt charged, electric. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, urging me to close the distance. But I held back, not wanting to rush him.

“So,” Caden said softly, breaking the silence. “What else can you show me in here?”

I grinned, grateful for the distraction. “Well, how about we start with the books? I bet there’s a lot in here that could help with your magic or understanding werewolves. There might even be some history in here you don’t know about.” I paused, biting my lower lip. “Or… if you wanna do something crazy… you could maybe kiss me again?”

Caden’s breath hitched, his blue eyes widening at my suggestion. For a moment, I worried I’d pushed too far, too fast. But then a shy smile spread across his freckled face.

“That doesn’t sound crazy at all,” he murmured, taking a step closer to me.

My heart raced as Caden closed the distance between us. He reached up, his slender fingers brushing against my cheek before sliding into my hair. I let out a soft growl of approval, my hands finding their way to his waist.

“Are you sure?” I asked, giving him one last chance to back out.

Instead of answering, Caden leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but as I pulled him closer, it deepened. I could taste the vanilla from his iced coffee on his tongue, and it made me hunger for more.

My wolf howled with joy inside me, urging me to claim my mate fully. But I held back, letting Caden set the pace. His fingers tightened in my hair as he pressed himself against me, a small moan escaping his throat.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless. Heat flooded between our bodies. Not only could I smell his arousal, but I could feel that beautiful cock of his pressed flush against my thigh, pulsing rhythmically.

“Will… will you let me sit in your lap while I read?” Caden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I flopped down on the cushions, pulling him down into my lap. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight against my chest as he pulled the book onto his knees. And together we began to read about my people and their traditions. Sharing the world I grew up in with my mate made me feel closer to him than ever. And for now, that was enough.