Spell Bound

Lucian

Hearing the love of my life scream the way she did a few hours ago was enough to put me on edge for the rest of my life.

She cried out for me, begged me to help her and there was nothing that I could do to save her.

For a moment I was worried that my mate had suffered the same fat as Archer’s. Damned to the fire stone. The small breaths that she took as she slumped over the table let me know that she was still alive.

I cradled her close to my chest. After witnessing first hand the power of the fire stone I never want her near that thing again.

The flames that surrounded us, her screams and the agony that I felt through our bond.

Even after all of this I know she is going to fight like hell to use the fire stone against the witches who wronged her.

I can’t let her.

I will fight her, for her.

Her safety will always come before her happiness.

The air conditioner blasted cool air in our room, but her skin was still hot. Her entire body is covered in sweat and her hair sticks to her forehead and neck.

I know only my touch is currently bringing her unconscious body comfort. Even when she was fighting to stay awake after returning to reality she let me know in her own way that my touch was comforting.

A knock sounds on the door before Judah, Benjamin and Archer step into the room.

“Archer told us what happened.” Benjamin stated before walking towards Arabella and I.

He places his hand on her forehead, his hand glowing white for a moment. “She is showing symptoms of heat exhaustion, but she should be fine.”

I nod. My little spitfire is strong, I knew that she would survive whatever the hell happened back there. Yet, that doesn’t mean that I want her to be in pain, ever.

She sighs before moving her body closer to mine, burying her face into my chest.

“Do you think that this was another attack from the witches? Everyone knows that Archer has the fire stone.” Judah suggests.

Benjamin takes a step back from Bella and I, giving us some space, before shaking his head. “No, it can’t be them. They wouldn’t waste their time attacking another witch. Especially if Alpha Lucian and Alpha Archer are in the same room.”

I have to agree with his assessment. There would be no way for her former coven to know that she is with me, let alone them knowing that she plans on helping us take them down. They have no real motive for this attack, so it has to be something else.

“Maybe we should ask her friend, maybe there’s someone else who would want to attack her.” Archer suggests.

A low rumble exits my chest at the thought of another person going after my mate.

I know she is strong enough to protect herself from anyone I still have this strong need to protect her from anything that can cause her harm.

Bella starts to shift in my arms a bit, coughing as she pushes me away to sit up a bit. “No.” She states groggily before letting out a few coughs. “This wasn’t an attack.”

I reach over and grab a cup of water that has been sitting on our night stand. I hold the cup to her lips and she quickly takes little sips of the water.

My Bella slowly starts to stroke my arm, comforting me as much as she is comforting herself.

She takes a shaky breath before saying. “What happened back there.” She shakes her head. “I was sent to some kind of astral plane.”

Judah raises his eyebrow. “Explain, please.”

“It is usually used to trap the mind of their targets into another dimension. I was sent to something that has happened in the past.” She responds.

“Tell us, Bella.” I plead.

Her eyes catch Archer’s. “When you burned the fire coven to the ground.”

Archer slowly nodded before casting his eyes down to the ground.

Even though the fire coven deserved what Archer gave them, wiping the entire coven from existence will always be my brother’s greatest shame.

Every single wolf a part of the pack lands would do the same thing if it was their mate whose soul was damned to the fire stone.

“That explains the flames.”

Flames covered every perimeter of the room that we were in, caging us in with no way out. Yet, when Arabella woke up it was as if they were never there. There was no evidence of there being a fire, and none of the pack members were aware of it happening.

It was almost as if it were all in Archer and I’d head.

Bella waves her hand in the air. “Whatever happened back there was a fluke.”

I don’t believe her words, and I’m not sure that she believes them either. Yet, I don’t argue as everyone else nods their heads.

“I think the best thing that you can do is let her take a cold bath, and relax.” Benjamin suggests.

“I know that you want to be with your mate at this moment, but there are a few things that we need to speak about.” Judah says before nodding his head towards the door.

I squeeze Bella tighter to me, I can’t be apart from her. Not right now.

Just as a refusal is about to exit my lips Bella’s hand caresses the side of my face. She looks up me before a small smile forms. “I knew no matter what that you were going to be there.” She whispers. “I knew after witnessing what I saw that you were there, holding me. Even though I couldn’t feel it. You’ll always be there for me.” She slowly stands up. “You know that they wouldn’t want to keep us apart unless it was an urgent matter that they need to speak on. I am just going to sit in the tub and wait for you to get back okay.” She said before leaning down and placing a small kiss on my cheek.

Just like that, all of my worries melt away.

I reluctantly nodded.

As much as I want to be by Bella’s side at all times, she would soon accuse me of smothering her before using her magic to attack me.

“I will stay here with her just in case.” Archer volunteers.

Bella turns to him and gives him a small smile before nodding.

I nod as well, there’s no one I trust more with my mate than my brother. I know that he is willing to do anything to make sure that she stays safe.

Just as my hand touches the door handle I turn back to see my Bella giving me a reassuring smile. I smile back at her before stepping out of the room.

Benjamin and I follow Judah to his office in silence, letting me know whatever we are about to speak on is serious.

Pack members nod their heads as a show of respect as we walk by.

It almost feels weird to walk past people in these hallways, as I always make sure they are empty before Arabella and I go anywhere outside our room.

I doubt that I have to worry about how my Bella would act around the pack members now. Even though she is still unlearning some of her biases, she’s been very kind to Marisol.

Judah swiftly opens the door to his office and we all step into the room.

I close the door behind me, before taking a seat next to Benjamin.

“I know that it has barely been a day, but Marisol has yet to wake up.” Judah said before he threw himself into his desk chair. “I can’t help but be worried for her. It’s unlike anything I have ever experienced before.”

I nod. I know exactly what he is going through, only I had to deal with it for a very short period of time compared to him. “Arabella let me know that it can take a while, it just depends on how her body is reacting to the magic. She also told me that if her body rejects it, she can force it onto her. It will just be painful for both of them.”

Judah nods before slamming his head down on the desk. His crown falls onto his desk, but we don’t say anything. Benjamin usually has some sort of witty comeback from everyone, especially Judah being silent speaks volumes on how important this matter is.

“Even with everything that my mate has been through today, if she senses that Marisol needs help she would do it. It would hurt me to see her in pain, especially after what happened a few hours ago, but I won’t try to stop her.” My words probably don’t offer him much comfort, he wants his mate to be healed right away.

“There is something else. When Marisol first received her vision of your mate she was under the impression that she would be the one to help us take down these witches. The two of you seem, comfortable. There were no threats to any of our lives while we were in your room.” Benjamin said.

I nod my head. “Yes, as the days go on she is starting to get use to the idea of being mated to me. Though, I do still get threats.” I chuckle at my words. “I haven’t had the time to tell, but this coven of witches that have been attacking us is Arabella’s former coven. They shunned her and her friend a few years ago and she has been desperate for revenge ever since.”

“That’s why she kidnapped you.” Benjamin states before grinning in my direction. “I honestly wondered why she needed all that power, but it was because she wants to take down an entire coven.”

“She wants to do more than take them down. She wants to put some of their souls in the fire stone.” I respond.

“No.” Judah stated immediately as he sat up. “Marisol said she wants to preserve as many lives as possible.” He didn’t make a move to put his crown back on his head, but he did glance towards it before looking back at me. “I told her I would do my best to save as many people as possible.”

“I understand that, but you have to remember that some of these witches killed pups. They don’t deserve the mercy of our queen. Someone who specifically doesn’t deserve mercy is Arabella’s mother. She is the witch who we attacked our queen and is currently locked up. She will face the wrath of the firestone.” I respond.

Judah keeps his eyes on me, trying to gauge how important that this is to me.

I promised my mate that she will be able to get revenge however she sees fit, so it’s pretty damn important.

Slowly he nods his head. “Fine, but your mate is going to have to explain to mine why the plans have changed.”

Benjamin began to slowly clap his hands, a fake look of awe on his face. “Wow! I never knew that our king had the ability to compromise with someone that isn’t Marisol.”

Judah let out a low growl before grabbing a stapler and throwing it at Benjamin’s head.

Benjamin ducks in time, the stapler crashing into the wall before hitting the floor.

Benjamin straightens out his posture. “Anyways I need to go see Izumi.” He stands from the chair and bows his head to Judah before exiting the room.

“I should probably check on my mate as well, and you should check on yours.” Judah stands from his chair. “How will I know if I need Arabella’s help with Marisol?” He asks.

“Bella will know, she will be able to sense it, and will immediately go to help her. She knows how much your mate means to the entire pack lands.” I respond before standing from my chair as well.

Judah nods. “I’ll be counting on that.”

“How is she?” I ask Archer as I step into the room.

“She is as witty as always.” He states with a laugh. “The bath wasn’t cold enough for her so she performed a small spell to make it cold enough to her liking.”

I let out a sigh of relief. The two tells that lets me know that she is feeling okay. Her smart mouth and magic.

Even though I am sure that the spell that she performed was small, the fact that she can do any magic at all was good. It lets me know that she can still do the magic just in case Marisol’s body doesn’t accept the magic from the moon stone.

“I am sure she is still in the tub.” Archer says before tilting his head in the bathroom doors direction. “Also, I feel as if I should warn you that she still wants the fire stone. I told her no for now it seemed as if she was contemplating hurting me.”

I nod. “Thank you for the heads up. Also can you go pay a visit to her friend, Valentina? Let her know what happened and that she can see Bella later tonight around dinner time. She will surely be on my side when it comes to using the fire stone.”

Archer nods before exiting the room.

I really don’t feel like getting into an argument with my little spitfire right now, but I know how she operates.

When she wants something, there is little that anyone can do to stop her. Maybe having two people she cares about tell her that it’s not the best idea will be enough to sway her.

I open the door to the bathroom just as my Bella is wrapping a towel around herself.

She turns to me and gasps, holding onto the towel tightly.

I mean against the door frame. “I hope you didn’t have any plans of around my brother like that?” I ask as my eyes slowly sweep her body.

Goddess. I want her now.

Even after everything she has been through today. I must be the world’s worst mate.

She rolls her eyes. “If you must know I was going to perform a sleeping spell on him through the door. I would hate to see you lose a fight to your older brother all because of your jealousy.” She states before walking past me.

“I doubt that I would lose, especially after all of the spells you taught me yesterday.”

She groaned before stepping into the closet and slamming the door shut.

She soon stepped out completely dry, with another one of my shirts and a pair of cotton shorts.

“I know I just woke up, but I am so tired.” She stated before throwing herself on the bed.

I sit on the edge of the bed next to her. “Before you go to sleep, you and I need to discuss some things.” I said before twirling one of her beautiful curls around my finger.

She rolls her eyes before covering her face with a pillow. “We can talk later. Get in the bed and hold me.” She demands.

I throw my head back as an obnoxiously loud laughter leaves my lips. I never would have thought that I would ever hear my mate ask me in her own way to hold her.

It’s a demand that I will never ignore.

I lay down before grasping her by her hips and pulling her body on top of mine. “We will talk now.”

She sighs. “I am guessing that Archer told you that I still want to use the fire stone.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s not that big of a deal, I probably only saw what I saw because Archer has been holding onto the stone for so long.”

That is complete nonsense, and she knows that.

“I just don’t want you anywhere near the stone for now, maybe after I am sure that your body has completely healed from whatever happened.”

She pouts, but doesn’t say anything else.

I smile before running my hands through her hair. “You can keep making that face, but I will not change my mind. Your safety is my number one priority. Nothing will ever stand in the way of you being safe.”

She rolls her eyes again. “I can protect myself.”

“I know you can.” I agree with her. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to protect you.”

Her eyes soften, before slowly nodding. “Okay.” She says before slowly laying her head down on my shoulder. “I’ll take your words into consideration.” She whispers in my ear before pressing a quick kiss to it.

She places her face in my neck before relaxing her body.

I smile at the small victory.

Even though I know she will never outright say that she will do as I say, I know she won’t go anywhere near the fire stone without my permission.

She will never acknowledge it, but this is her way of submitting to me.

I start to run my fingers through her hair, occasionally giving her scalp a little massage.

I feel her smile against my neck before her breathing starts to even out.

I smile as well as I feel myself slowly start falling asleep as well.

I just want all of our moments to be like this.