“I don’t understand,” Noro growled. “How could he have hidden this fromme?”
“As far as I know, he’s only used it in small doses. Not enough to get caught.” Tholan lashed his tail angrily as he spoke of his own son. “But he must really want to control Matheson if the magic’s wavelength was enough for you to pick up on.”
Everything fell together, piece by piece. Noro had suspicions about the gryphon king in the past, but had no way of proving anything--not even to himself. If Blaze used magic in small doses so as not to caught like Tholan said, then he was a powerful mage, and much more dangerous than he realized.
Not only that, but Noro finally understood what he had been missing. Before he’d thought the only magic elements were water, fire, earth and air--he was completely ignorant of clear magic until learning about it from Colton’s book, and seeing Matheson use it with his own eyes.
Then Blaze must be using clear magic to control Matheson,he realized with horror.
Noro asked, “How can I undo it?”
“I don’t know.” Tholan sounded exhausted. His eyes shone with real sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
Noro wanted to curse. “If I take him away from the source of the magic, will it break the spell?”
“I don’t know.”
Noro grew irritated but knew it wasn’t Tholan’s fault. He suspected the old omega was just as upset about this situation as he was.
Resting his greyed head on his front claws, Tholan sighed. “I wish I could help, Noro. I do. That omega doesn’t belong here.” He glanced up. “Can you not take him and escape, far away from here?”
Noro winced. “I wish I could. But his home is among the wolf packs. He has three mates there, waiting for him.” He decided not to mention their mission to save Matheson.
But Tholan steadily met his gaze. “Are you not his mate, too?”
Noro paused. How did he know?
“I can see it in your eyes,” Tholan said, a slight smirk on his face. “You care for him deeply, don’t you?”
“I love him. I would do anything for him,” Noro said honestly. “I just wish I knewwhatto do.”
Tholan stood up. “Then talk to him. If your love is as strong as you say, then prove it to Matheson. Maybeyoucan break the spell.”
The idea wormed its way into Noro’s skull. He wasn’t a powerful mage, nowhere near as strong as Matheson or Blaze, but he did hold some hint of magic in his blood.
He just hoped that it would be enough.
“I’ll try,” he promised.
“Good,” Tholan growled. “That boy needs a protector here. Let it be you.”
The words sunk in, and Noro nodded. “Thank you, Tholan.”
He turned to leave, armed with new knowledge and determination, when Tholan called out, “Wait, Noro.”
Noro turned to him. The older gryphon’s face was tired and heavy with thoughts.
“If it turns into a fight,” Tholan began quietly, “don’t let Blaze hurt Matheson.”
Noro realized what Tholan’s real words were--the words he couldn’t say out loud.Protect Matheson, even if it means hurting my son.
Noro nodded deeply. “I won’t.”
* * *
The wolves were restless.
They had set up camp for the night in an abandoned cavern in the mountainside. After travelling non-stop on wolf’s paws for two days, they were exhausted--but at least they’d reached their destination. Now they needed to rest, for their confrontation with the gryphons loomed over the horizon.
