Page 26 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 26

Atlas

W hen I came to, my head was in Caden’s lap, his fingers stroking my hair in a soothing, protective manner. My eyes fluttered open and I looked up at him, smiling despite my exhaustion.

“You’re okay…” I said, feeling the relief wash over me. “I… I wasn’t sure if…”

“I’m fine,” he nodded, a smile pulling at his lips. “Thanks to you.”

I stared up at him, those blue eyes I knew so well now rimmed with green. And that wasn’t the only thing that had changed either. Caden looked suddenly my chiseled, muscular, and confident. The room around me thrummed with magic, the scent of it thick in the air. I could feel energy pouring back into my body through Caden’s touch, his fingertips swirling through my hair with each stroke. He was restoring me, giving back the power I’d lent him to break his father’s curse.

“Did you succeed?” I asked, still holding his gaze. “Is the curse…”

“Gone?” he finished. His smile widened. “Yeah. My father has no power over me now. And it’s all thanks to you and your sacrifice.”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t a sacrifice,” I said, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I wanted to be your mate. And being your familiar… well, I think it’s an honor.”

Caden’s cheeks flushed pink beneath my touch, freckles standing out against his pale skin. Even with his newfound confidence, there was still that shy, hesitant boy I’d fallen for.

“An honor,” he repeated softly, his fingers pausing in my hair. “I never thought... never imagined anyone would willingly bind themselves to me. Hell, I didn’t think I’d even make it out of Widdershins Academy alive. But now… well, it feels like I’m seeing the whole world for the first time.”

I pushed myself up slowly, my body still weak but recovering with each pulse of energy flowing between us. The breaking of his curse had taken more from me than I’d anticipated, but seeing Caden now—truly free for the first time—made it worth every ounce of power I’d given.

“Your father was wrong about everything,” I said, sitting up to face him properly. “About your power, about what you deserve. And now, he’ll never know what he was throwing away.”

Caden’s gaze dropped, those impossibly blue-green eyes fixed on our hands as he laced his fingers with mine. The touch sent sparks dancing across my skin. Even the feel of his skin had changed. Before he felt warm and inviting, but now he thrummed with power.

“I can feel the earth now,” he whispered. “Not just the small things—not just making flowers bloom or herbs grow. I can feel the whole forest surrounding the academy. Every tree, every creature.” He looked up, wonder in his expression. “I can feel your heart beat even when I’m not touching you, feel the breath in your lungs. Your power as an Alpha… it’s overwhelming. And the wolf inside you, I can feel him too.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I pulled him into my arms. “Then I’m sure you can feel how excited and happy you make me.”

He nodded. “And there’s something else I can feel now too.”

“What’s that?”

He looked up at me, a serious expression replacing his smile. “I can feel the binding curses placed on Karrick and Wild. The magic… it’s like a signature. Before I could barely sense it, but now it’s as if the person that bound them left a photo of themselves attached to their victims.”

My heart thudded in my chest. We wanted to save our friends, but I wasn’t expecting to find the culprit so quickly, especially when I was in such a weakened state.

“W-Who is it?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.

“It’s Rowan,” he replied softly. “And I don’t understand why I’m surprised.”

That name sent a pulse of anger through my chest, my skin heating up immediately. Of course it was Rowan. He was the one that tried to drug me into doing whatever he wanted. And then he attacked Caden and tried to force him into a horrible situation. If there was one person at Widdershins that despised us both, it was Rowan.

“I didn’t realize he was capable of that kind of magic,” I said at last. “I’m not surprised he did it… I just didn’t think he could .”

“He’s not,” Caden replied. “Not yet anyway. He’s a student just like me. While he and his friends are from powerful families, they’re still learning the craft. And that kind of magic isn’t taught here. I suppose he could’ve learned it at home, but it would require too much power to pull off so quickly. And he’d have to outsmart and overpower people first. Karrick is too strong to get taken down by Rowan and Wild is too clever. That’s why… I don’t think he’s working alone.”

I felt my jaw tighten. “Do you think a professor is helping him?”

Caden nodded, his expression grim. “Or worse. My father has friends on the board of governors. Powerful mages who wouldn’t think twice about using students as pawns. They already made it clear they want to split us away from the rest of the student body. This would only hasten their plans and give them an excuse to execute it sooner.”

I shifted to sit beside him, wincing as my muscles protested. The small private room—which was now completely covered in moss and flowers—felt different. The walls seemed to pulse with a new energy that hadn’t been there before. His magic must’ve changed the very fabric of the enchantment hiding this place from the rest of campus.

“Can you break the bindings?” I asked, watching as Caden’s fingers traced invisible patterns in the air.

“I can try,” he said, uncertainty flickering across his features. “But if I’m right about who’s behind this, we’re dealing with dark magic. Blood magic. The kind that gets people put away forever or executed by the Elder Council.”

I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “You’re stronger now. We both are.”

Caden’s eyes met mine, that new confidence wavering. Despite everything that had changed, he was still Caden—still the boy who second-guessed himself, who needed reassurance.

“That might be true,” he whispered. “But nobody knows that yet. And if we want to lure Rowan out and get him to spill his secrets, we’ll need to act as if nothing has changed.”

I nodded slowly, understanding what Caden was suggesting. We’d have to keep his newfound power a secret, at least for now. It wouldn’t be easy, especially with how much he’d physically changed, but it was our best chance at catching Rowan and whoever was helping him.

“You’re right,” I said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. “We’ll have to be careful. But we can’t just sit back and do nothing while Karrick and Wild suffer.”

Caden’s eyes flickered with determination. “We won’t. I have an idea, but it’s risky. We’ll need to get close to Rowan, make him think we’re vulnerable.”

A chill ran down my spine at the thought of getting anywhere near that bastard again. But for our friends, I’d do anything. “What did you have in mind?”

Caden took a deep breath, his fingers intertwining with mine. “The entire campus is on high alert now. Nobody will be out after dark alone anymore. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch Rowan off guard. We’ll be the bait and since he hates us both, it’ll be too tempting of an offer for him to pass us. I’ll even act like I’m still struggling with my magic to throw him off.”

“Bait,” I repeated, the word tasting sour on my tongue. “I don’t like the idea of putting you in danger again. Not after what we just went through.”

Caden’s eyes softened, but that new resolve remained firmly in place. “I’m not the same person I was yesterday. Neither are you.” His fingers traced the line of my jaw, sending pleasant shivers down my spine. “Besides, if we’re right about Professor Blackwood being involved...”

“You think she’s helping him?” The question came out sharper than I intended.

“She’s been preaching separation since the beginning. And she’s been telling me father every tiny move I make all semester.” Caden’s voice dropped lower. “It’s no secret she favors Rowan either. If anyone is helping him, it’s probably her.”

I sat up straighter, ignoring the protest of my aching muscles. “Would she really do this though? It seems kind of extreme.”

“So does segregating all the students and practically building a walled off section of campus just for witches. But both her and the board think it’s a great idea. After the Dean’s announcement, we can’t deny what they’re trying to do.”

Caden’s words hung heavily in the air between us. I knew he was right, but the thought of deliberately putting ourselves in harm’s way made my stomach churn. Still, we had to do something to help our friends.

“Okay,” I said finally, squeezing his hand. “Let’s do it. But we need a solid plan.”

Caden nodded, his eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and newfound power. “We’ll start tomorrow night after your next wrestling meet. There’s a path near the gym that a lot of the monster students use, but will be totally abandoned after the meet. Everyone will be keeping to the public areas to stay safe. It’s pretty close to where Karrick was attacked. And it’s secluded enough that he might think he has the advantage if one of us is alone.”

“You want me to go to a wrestling meet after all this?!” I scoffed.

“You have to. We can’t let them think anything has changed.”

“Okay,” I said shaking my head. It felt strange to go to something so superfluous after everything that had happened. But Caden was right. If I didn’t go, it would look suspicious. “And how do we make sure he takes the bait after it’s over?”

A sly smile spread across Caden’s face, one I wasn’t used to seeing. It sent a thrill through me. “We’ll stage an argument. Loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. I’ll storm off into the woods through the barrier, and you’ll follow, calling after me. If Rowan’s nearby, he won’t be able to resist. We’re the two people he wants to hurt most after all.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Look at you, coming up with devious plans. I like this new side of you.”

Caden’s cheeks flushed pink again, the freckles across his nose darkening. “I’m still me. Just... more.”

“More is good,” I murmured, leaning in to kiss him again. This time, when our lips met, a current of energy passed between us that made the flowers around us bloom brighter, their scent intensifying. I pulled back, breathless. “Very good.”

Caden’s eyes had darkened, that new green rim around his blue irises seeming to glow. “We should rest. You need to recover your strength, and I need to practice controlling... whatever this is.” He gestured to a vine that had started creeping up his arm, seemingly of its own accord.

“And how do you propose we rest?” I asked, my voice dropping lower as I moved closer to him.

For a moment, I saw the old Caden—hesitant, shy—but then something shifted in his expression. He reached out, fingers curling around the nape of my neck, and pulled me to him with a newfound confidence that sent a thrill through me.

“Aren’t you tired of fucking?” he growled, his lips an inch from mine. “I figured your ass would be sore and used up by now.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Tired of getting fucked by you? Never.” I leaned close, kissing him softly. “And I’m not sore at all. That werewolf healing is good for something.”

“Huh,” he smiled mischievously. “I’ll have to try harder this time I guess.”

I nodded eagerly. “Harder is good.”

“You’re such a horny pup.”

“Only for you, my mate.”

“Maybe next time you can wear your wrestling singlet?” he murmured in my ear. “I bet that would be hot.”

I growled with enthusiasm, my fingers squeezing his waist. “As you wish.”

With that, Caden’s lips crashed against mine, the pair of us toppling back onto the cushions that were still covered with moss and vines. All at once they bloomed back into life once more, writhing around us as Caden’s power surged. I couldn’t help but smile, feeling the vines creep around my legs once more. Being bound to him… it was better than I ever dreamed.