Four: Something is going on in Keylar that neither Vitus Hale nor Oberyn Tolvare want the public to know about.
It takes almost an hour for them to sift through it all, to decide what is important and what is unimportant. To addtogether everything that everyone knows. Malice tells them of Bruin’s warning before leaving the gym. Theoden tells them about murmurs of unrest from Rogues in the West.
The most contention comes during the discussion of bonded-mates. Khortland is suspiciously quiet. Though Theo immediately shares the information he has on the Mer binding ceremony.
“Absolutely not,” Malice objects, wary of her safety during the ceremony.
“Mal—” Aerin starts but he only shakes his head.
“I said no.” He holds steadfast.
“You’re not her keeper,” Theo snaps back at the Dragon-Fae. Vicious eyes turn to the Mer, narrowing. Everything about Malice tightens, pulling back like a coil about to explode.
Instead of responding to Theo, Malice looks at Aerin again. The look he gives her feels like a threat. The look he gives her feels like an ultimatum. The blood-bond in her side goes from a dull ache to a piercing pain that has them both wincing, breaking the stare.
Aerin turns to Theo. Already reading the apology on her face, he shakes his head disapprovingly before falling back into his chair, arms folded over his chest.
“Unbelievable,” Theo grumbles. Aerin sighs. Malice sits back as well, smug.
“As well as the bonds, we have the Pack magic to worry about,” Emrys says, trying to ease the tension.
“The Alpha told us the Pack magic would require three members,” Malice shares.
“There is no way I can handle another Wolf in this house,” Khortland murmurs.
“Yeah, Gods forbid you become less of a dick,” Emrys snaps, glaring at the Fae. Aerin still doesn’t know what happened between them yesterday nor does she care to. She refuses to betheir babysitter, even if Emrys snapping at Khortland is out of character.
Malice places a hand over Emrys’s arm where it rests on the table.
“About that,” Reyna pipes up. It’s the first time the Human has spoken since their discussion started. “I have a theory.”
As the only other Rogue at the table, Aerin supposes the Human may have some insight that could be worth listening to.
“My lessons in healing included all creatures, not just full-magic creatures. I learned a lot about Wolves and Pack magic because their connection to that magic is integral to the way they heal. Pack magic is tenuous, picky, almost sentient. Some Alphas have even described being able to speak to their magic, hold conversations…” Reyna trails off, looking at Aerin as if she’ll suddenly reveal the Pack magic has been speaking to her all along.
Aerin shakes her head. There is no sentient magic in her head. In fact, Aerin rarely feels the Pack magic at all. Reyna’s hope seems to falter a bit, but she continues. “Pack magic is not cut and dry; the laws are flexible.”
“So, you’re saying we don’t need a second Wolf?” Emrys asks.
“I’m saying, I think the Pack magic has already accepted a third,” Reyna explains. Brows furrow around the table while understanding blooms across Emrys’s face.
“Malice,” he concludes, looking from Reyna at one end of the table to Malice at the other. Reyna nods. Aerin already knew; she’d just been hesitant to explain it.
“My theory is that once each of you becomes bonded-mates with Aerin, the Pack magic will accept you as well. Binding not just Aerin to each individual as the Core of the Bond Group, but all the individuals to each other.”
The theory is digested in silence.
Theo finally asks, “So, you’re telling me I’m going to end up linked to him?” gesturing to Malice.
“Theoretically,” Reyna says with a grimace.
“I think she’s right.” Malice finally speaks up.
“I guess that’s one problem solved,” Aerin comments, leaning back in her chair. Aerin had attributed all her uneasiness around the fragility of her and Malice’s relationship to the blood-bond, but there is a possibility it is the Pack magic, similar to what Soren described with Ash. Is it driving them to make things right? She rubs her ribs absentmindedly.
“Well, what do we do now? Today?” Khortland asks after silence falls across the table again.
This, Aerin does have an answer for.
