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I opened the door to a silent home at the end of the night.

There was no smell of herbs or spices.

No flicker of candle light.

Noviana's elegant yet earthy scent nothing more than traces in the air. "Nova?" I called into the silence.

My footsteps echoed through the stone rooms, finding no sign of her or her golem.

In all honesty I was fool for hoping for another home cooked meal.

I closed my eyes and informed Mason through the pack link that I would be returning to the palace for dinner.

~~

Mason looked at me strangely as we sat in my private dining room, Veronica beside him cooing down at their baby. "So..." he began, "where is Noviana?"

I didn't miss Ronnys slight frown at the Mention of Nova.

"Actually. "I sighed," I was hoping you could tell me."

Mason gazed at me over his glass, "why would I know where your mate has gone to?"

I arched a brow, "you brought her here."

"No," he sighed out, "I don't know where she is, did you two have a falling out?"

I glanced at Ronny, shifting in my seat, not entirely sure I wanted to discuss this in the she wolfs presence, "we were, experimenting as Nova liked to put it."

"...experimenting?"

"With uh, another wolf."

Ronny choked on her drink, "Sebastian!"

I cringed, "I didn't want to Ronny, fuck I knew it wouldn't be good. But Novas never felt desire before me, she was interested in exploring her sexuality. I told her we could so long as we were not mated."

The she wolf looked as upset as Mason looked shocked, "she run of with the other wolf?"

I scowled, "no. She got an orgasm out of the other girl -which wasn't nearly as fun to watch as I was hoping- and then by the time the girl was trying to get in my pants, Nova realized she didn't want to share.

" I shook my head, "thankfully, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to, uh, perform for another woman.

But after that Nova got angry and disappeared. "

Mase blinked at me "well... people always talk when they see Nova."

"They do?"

Ronny scoffed.

I ignored her.

Mason shot his mate a warning look, "shes an interesting woman, people talk. But I haven't heard anything..." he seemed cautious as stared at his plate, "perhaps she went back to her home."

Her home? "I just came from there, it was empty."

Mason smiled a bit, "not your home Bash, although interesting you consider it hers as well. I meant hers, on Willowmoon Way."

I scowled at my food, "Then I suppose thats where I am going." I glanced at the baby in Ronnys arms, "how are you three."

"As good as we can be considering what happened." The brunette snapped.

"It wasn't Novas doing." I cautioned her.

"Says the witch." She sneered, rising from her seat.

Mason stood after her, "Ronny. We discussed this."

I shook my head, "Mason. Its fine, for now."

He hesitated.

"Im going to go find Nova see if we cant sort out whatever caused her fit."

~~

The house wasn't nearly as disturbing as I remember it to be.

Yeah, it was still creepy and dark but it was very Nova.

The iron porch swing, its back shaped like a spider web and its frilly black lace pillows.

Her front yard of overgrown magical plants, all dark colors and jewel tones.

Her actual home looked nearly like a cottage, in shades of black and grey. Tiny magic symbols carved and painted on various surfaces.

The cemetery stretched out behind the home that appeared much smaller than it actually was.

I stood in front of the small iron gate that lead to the cobblestone pathway, unsure what would happen the moment I stepped into the front garden.

She likely already knew I was here.

Sighing a bit I opened the gate walking up to the porch.

The door disappeared the moment I touched the knob. "Really Noviana?!" I growled out, "first you run off now you are just being childish."

The door reappear, swinging open to reveal the banished witch in all her glory.

Literally.

Nothing but a sheer robe covered her form, "a decent man knocks."

Scowling at her I knocked on the open door.

Even as her lips turned down, humor glittered in her dark eyes.

She turned her nose up at me, "I found myself sated and needed to continue with my life."

I arched a brow, "so suddenly? After hissing at me that I ruined something."

"Yes." She replied blandly, beginning to shut the door.

The sound of my palm hitting the door cracked loudly through the air and I made my way inside, "what happened Nova? I don't enjoy it when you leave my bed so soon after we exchange pleasure as you like to say."

"You ruined everything." She stated as if it were obvious.

"What are you even talking about?!"

"The spell." She spat out, "that keeps our emotional ties from manifesting in the mate bonding."

I just stared at her, "by fucking?"

"By caring even a small amount you imbecile." She practically snarled, snowy blond hair lashing out as she spun from me to walk through her home.

I caught her elbow as she entered her parlor where she worked, "the conditions were not to care at all?"

She nodded, tense.

"Nova, you foolish woman. It wouldn't have worked even if I didn't care."

"How so? You know nothing of magi."

"No. I don't, but I know that you also care little witch. Your jealousy showed what you apparently have not seen."

"I have had no jealousy."

Rolling my eyes I yanked the thin woman toward me, "you did little witch, you hated seeing another woman's hands on me."

She said nothing.

I leaned down, kissing her deeply.

He fingers fisted in my tunic, long nails scraping against my skin.

Then she hit my chest, wiggling away, "not in here!" She hissed.

I pulled her back to me, murmuring huskily, "yes in here."

She gasped softly as I teased her delicate throat with a trail of kisses and nips. "The energy will grow tainted.." she sighed out a soft moan, "with our lust if we do not depart."

"Then admit you care and we can make our way to the bedroom. And don't even think to poof us out of here, if you do..." i bit down on her shoulder, "I'm not fucking you."

She was tense, obviously trying to form a plan in that clever mind of hers.

I took the opportunity to lift her onto the table that held the enormous crystal ball and rip open her robe, planting myself between her creamy thighs.

Her back arched beautifully as I took one of her rosy nipples into my mouth, teasing her as her legs wrapped around me, fingers running through my hair.

I blindly reached for the crystal orb to push it away.

Suddenly Noviana pulled away and slapped me across the face with more strength than I knew she possessed. Here eye wild and her teeth bared, "NO ONE TOUCHES MY SCRYING ORB!"

I ignored the sting in my cheek and carefully moved my hand away from the object in question, never having seen the woman lose her composure or raise her voice.

Frankly I was shocked.

"I was just going to move it so you didn't hit your head, we tend to get... rough in our passions."

My calm words did nothing to sooth her, her magic crackled through the air, "get out." She hissed.

I blinked at her, "what?"

"Not only did you attempt to defile the energy of the room but to taint my orb!"

"I'm sorry Nova." I murmured, tugging on a lock of hair in a way that she normally found distracting when she was bitter, "as you stated I know nothing of magic."

She sneered at my apology, "why are you here."

My wolf was starting to feel like a kicked puppy, "...you were gone, so I came here."

"The spell will not work." She stated tersely, "your condition was no mated attachment. Otherwise you wished to die. The spell can be fixed in no other way."

"So-"

"So you die and I have wasted my time."

I searched her face, hand reaching up to stroke her cheek.

She slapped it away.

"I hurt your feelings."

"No. You damaged my work with your lack of regard."

"The spell-"

"Not the spell." She gestured to the room around us, "you defiled this place with lust, it will take weeks to cleanse your energy away."

"I'm sorry little one."

She scoffed lightly.

I gently lifted her from the table, pulling her robe back around her, "im sorry I tried to touch your orb thing." I tucked my fingers under her chin, "will you tell me about it? So I know why?"

She glanced at the crystal ball, "I see what others do not. The crystal makes it clear an only my eyes have been able to read it."

That explains nothing.

But she was tense so I pushed no further.

"Forgive me?"

"There is no point. You are dying anyway. Even more corrupt energy."

I followed her as she walked away, "Nova." I murmured.

She ignored me, continuing out to the cemetery.

"Noviana." I growled a bit, "damn you, you infuriating woman. Just stop."

She did, thin brow arched.

I held her hips gently, "I don't want to give you up. I don't really know how this will work, but I want it to."

She blinked those big beautiful eyes at me, "have you gone mad?"

Probably. "No."

"You are a fool."

Definitely, "I hate the idea of not having you." I admitted honestly, "we will figure it out."

"I do not wish to need you."

I brushed my hand over her silky blonde hair, "Noviana Nivara, you will never need another soul, I doubt even a mate bond will change that."

She peered at me through her lashes, "true."

She turned her back to me once more and walked among the tombs.