Page 33 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)

PANDORIUM WASN’T AN easy forest to pass through. Even avoiding the cursed areas meant traveling through thorn-covered growth. There were also the unpredictable weather patterns, from icy cold to abrupt downpours.

Calla and I certainly didn’t improve our speed by mating so often. Each time we began our journey, I intended to keep moving until we reached the forest’s edges. I was a stubborn creature capable of suffering for a long-term goal.

Yet, if Calla sighed, I was immediately upon her.

If she flipped her hair to the side and I caught sight of her bare throat, I tackled her.

When we were forced to jump up high into the trees and swing across unpassable areas, I became entranced by her body’s effortless movements.

By the time we dropped back to the ground, I pounced on her.

Every time, Calla only laughed and tugged me closer.

The forest floor didn’t quake as wildly each time we mated. The trees still shook, and a glow radiated into the sky.

“What is the plan once we reach the clearing?” Calla asked after redressing. “I smell something different in the air.”

“It’s grilled antelope,” I told her as my hand stroked the back of her head and my body craved her again. “The Elves must be cooking nearby.”

“Are we that close to Elatalora?”

“Close enough. They’re likely tracking the commotion we make,” I said and tugged at her front armor.

Calla gently shoved away my hand. “I’m not safe if the Elves learn we’re mating,” she said, and I instantly growled at the possible threat. “If the Gathering believes my presence threatens their group and the New Armgard, I will be eliminated.”

“You can turn them to magenta mist.”

Cocking an eyebrow, Calla asked, “Did that truly happen?”

“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, I am a 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 know of you,” 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.

“Wel of the Silver Elves. My unit was alerted to a strange phenomenon in Pandorium Forest.”

Nodding, I lied casually, “Yes, we witnessed odd lights and noises when we traveled through the forest.”

Wel focused his silver gaze on Calla. “And who is this?”

“A failed warrior.”

Wel studied Calla. The longer his gaze lingered on her, the more prepared I was to rip off his head.

“What sort of warrior?” he finally asked.

“Humans found her as a youngling in Pandorium Forest and trained her to protect them.”

“Where are these humans now?”

“Dead.”

“Did she kill them?”

“No, she failed to save them.”

Wel cocked his sharp, white eyebrow. “Not much of a warrior, then, is she?”

“That’s why I’ve taken her as my apprentice. Perhaps, the next band of humans won’t lose their lives to her ineptitude.”

I waited for Calla to react to my words, but she revealed no emotion.

When we mated for the first time, her every memory was offered to me.

I watched her childhood unfold. Though her creators viewed themselves as benevolent, they offered her as little kindness as the Murade did with the Bane Shifters.

After a lifetime of cruel honesty, Calla remained unaffected by my protective lies.

Wel said in a curious tone, “I wasn’t aware your kind took on apprentices.”

“Why wouldn’t you view my kind as capable of pity?” I muttered, cracking my neck.

“Take no offense.”

“I admit I’ve been on the mountain for a long time. I might find myself misreading others. Are you not challenging me?”

“I would never consider such a thing. In fact, please, travel with us to Elatalora. How long has it been since you’ve enjoyed a feast in your honor?”

“Too long,” I said and then shook my head. “I tire of the world outside Mt. Elysium. I plan to return.”

“What of those who attacked Haven Junction?”

“I’ve killed those I hunted. There might be more in need of death. Unfortunately, Koda and Delta are missing, and the Territories have changed while I was away. I need to speak to Tempe.”

I wasn’t certain my words were the right ones. Politicking was never in my training. When Bane Shifters moved into a location, we didn’t appease the locals. We moved them out of our way, or they were left in our wake.

Wel and his men wouldn’t be the first Elves I had dispatched. My ego insisted I challenge them, yet my mate bond was reluctant to instigate violence with Calla in the mix. The only time I’d seen her do well in battle could have been a trick played by the forest.

“The Grand Elf Mali has recently returned to Elatalora with news related to the slaughter at Haven Junction,” Wel announced. “Come with us to hear his information before you return to Mt. Elysium and speak with Tempe.”

I was at a loss for what to do. Fighting them seemed like a mistake. Going to Elatalora felt like a worse choice. What was the answer?

Calla stopped acting like a statue and looked into my eyes. She stared blankly, yet I felt her in my head. We had no choice but to try to find a peaceful way out of this situation. If that failed, we could always sneak out of the city and hide in Pandorium Forest until the Elves gave up searching.

Nodding, I told Wel, “I will speak with Mali and enjoy this feast you mentioned. But I can’t remain long.

If Tempe doesn’t hear from me soon, he’ll prepare the Bane Shifters for war.

I would suspect many within power wouldn’t appreciate our pack storming through the Territories in search of vengeance. ”

Seeming pleased, Wel nodded. I noticed how his gaze flashed to Calla again. He no doubt was curious about her lineage and why I would take on an apprentice. Either way, he only signaled for his men to begin riding toward Elatalora.

I glanced at Calla, who met my gaze. She offered a soft smile as if to soothe my racing heart.

“Should we run?” I whispered when the Elves were out of earshot.

Calla glanced in the direction we were headed. Mt. Elysium felt a lifetime ago, but we could reach its safety within days.

“Mali is a member of the Gathering,” Calla said. “Running makes sense.”

“But?” I asked, hearing hesitation in her voice.

“Though we eliminated the creatures that killed your kind, there are more collaborators in the world. Should we be so selfish as to walk away from the battle?”

“To protect you?” I asked and studied her lovely face. “Yes.”

“Mali might have information your leader will want to know.”

The Elves had slowed their movements, likely realizing we hadn’t followed them yet.

My gaze sharpened as I zeroed in on the peak of Elatalora in the distance. The city was the crown jewel within the world of magic folk. I was a little surprised the Murade hadn’t destroyed it long ago. Perhaps, even the humans admired what the Elven Empire had built.

I returned my gaze to Calla and tried to decide on our best path.

The idea of running felt right, but I wasn’t certain we could create enough distance between the army within Elatalora and us.

The thought of arrows raining down on Calla panicked me enough to decide to play nice with the Elves for now.