Page 26 of Only You, No One Else

Caster’s voice startled him, and he looked up from the very interesting carpeted floor, expecting to find anger, only to be met with concern.

Caster held out his hand. “Come here.”

His body bowed to Caster’s desires, and he was moving before he could even think. All tension dissipated the moment they touched, and Caster pulled him into his arms with enough force that the landing was anything but soft. Still, he doubted he would ever resist.

Caster’s whisper tickled the skin on his temple. “I don’t know what happened. It was as if you called to me and I was powerless to resist.”

The embrace lasted a few long seconds, increasing his sense of safety, and then Caster said nothing as he pulled him further into the bathroom. The hot water caressed his tired muscles, and he sighed his contentment, leaning on Caster as they both struggled to accept the new change in their unusual relationship.

Mark was sure of one thing as he allowed the heat from the water, Caster’s care, and his love to lure him further into safety; the gentle, caring Zeke he’d once known was no more. It was now clear that whatever the witch had brought back wore Zeke’s face but couldn’t be the Zeke he’d once loved. Had he ever known him?

Caster’s hand moved over his back, tracing a path of comfort to the back of his head, urging him to meet his gaze.

The look on Caster’s face mirrored his concern, and he held on to the safety, the determination the look communicated. “He will never get close enough to hurt you. I won’t let him.”

It was a whisper, words he’d said before. But now carried more conviction, a vow Mark was certain he could rely on.

CHAPTER 17

Mark had felt safe enough to close his eyes and succumb to the oblivion of sleep. The crash, catalyzed by the fear of what Zeke would do, had been epic, and Caster almost panicked, only just holding on to his control. It would not do for him to display his fear. Mark didn’t need him to be afraid; he needed his strength. But the weight of the new turn their relationship had taken would scare anyone into inaction.

How had he occupied the same space as Mark’s wolf? He’d never heard of that happening anywhere. Maybe Riley would have answers. He should move, find Riley, get some answers, but he stood at the foot of his bed, unable to stop looking at the steady rise and fall of Mark’s chest. Leaving him alone was too difficult. Waking him was also not a viable option. He didn’t want to interrupt his peaceful sleep when there were hard times over the horizon.

He cursed and stepped away from the bed into the adjacent living area. It was identical to the one in the mansion the witch had destroyed, but like everything in his father’s house, it was much larger. It would not do to go to his father or Marcus without the necessary information, so he reached for the only two people who could help, hoping Damien was still here.

A frantic Riley materialized in front of him a second after Caster reached into his mind. He would be concerned about how disheveled his best friend looked if he hadn’t been too distracted by his own fear and Mark’s calm breaths.

“Are you OK?” Riley moved to the couch and sat, glancing into the adjoining bedroom. “Is he? That was some potent energy I felt there…”

“What?” Caster’s attention shifted from Mark to Riley, noting the deep frown on his face. “What are you talking about?” He couldn’t rein in his irritation. “And where the fuck is Damien?”

Riley’s frown deepened, even as his voice maintained its calm cadence. “He went to find X and Cy, you know that…” He ran a hand over his hair, disturbing the strands further, and sighed. “Caster, please sit down and tell me what happened.” He nodded towards the bedroom. “He’s not going anywhere. We’re both here.”

Caster released a breath and followed Riley’s instruction, even though he was now sure he would never leave Mark alone again.

Riley leaned back into the couch, his confidence and power granting Caster a modicum of security. “OK. What happened?”

“I assume Edie has told you about the resurrected Alpha’s new powers?”

Riley didn’t even flinch. “Yes. But what does that have to do with…”

“He can somehow access Mark’s wolf. He tried to, and then I was there.”

Riley frowned, leaning forward, his discomfort apparent in his movement.

Caster closed his eyes, took a breath, opened them, and then tried to explain something so monumental he was unsure he would ever have the words. “In his mind space, the one the wolf occupies. I was drawn there. Mark was in wolf form, and so was Zeke.”

The only indication of Riley’s surprise was an uptick in his heartbeat. “The protection spell.”

Caster tilted his head to the side, trying to understand Riley’s reasoning, as he maintained a close ear on Mark’s breaths.

“Mark’s protection spell is designed to call you to him. That’s what happened.”

Riley’s explanation made a lot of sense, and once again, Caster made a note to thank his mother for her foresight. He was the only one capable of protecting Mark, and that connection had been a stroke of genius, even if he’d thought it trivial when she’d suggested it.

“But I’ve never heard of anything like what you're describing,” Riley said. “What was it like?”

“Dark.”