Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers, page 6
He came back over and turned to a page near the back where there was half a page of writing. I leaned closer to look at it.
“It’s written in code?” The curling symbols, lines, and dots made no sense to me.
“Mom used coded writing for things in her Temporal work that required privacy, and for other important things like where she hid the pastries from my father.” A quick smile flashed across his lips. He pointed to the first set of symbols. “That’s my name, which means this message is for me. The rest took some time to decipher but…” He removed a folded piece of paper tucked at the back of the journal and opened it. “They’re coordinates.”
“She left you coded coordinates? We gotta check them out.”
“I already looked at a map. They correspond to a huge forested area in northern Nova Celes. I asked Gideon for one of his maps from the Before Times. The area aligns with where Mount Mansfield State Forest in Vermont was.”
“Looks like we’re going hiking? Ashe will be pleased about a forest run.”
“I’m puzzled as to why she would leave me coded coordinates. Something about them is pulling at my memories. I remember being somewhere forested with her, but it’s like watching a screen that’s underwater. The picture isn’t clear.”
“Let’s go tomorrow. Maybe once we’re there the memory will become clearer.”
“I hope so.” He sounded frustrated at his inability to already have it figured out. “And…I might be reaching, but it continues to be hard to accept the circumstances of her death and part of me wonders if going here will provide answers.” I could hear the sadness in his voice, see it on his face. “I know you left her alive and well in the past, but there’s still a timeline where she existed with me for many years and died at the hands of dark magic. It’s been so hard to understand it all. And…”
I was leaning against the windowsill and he moved forward and braced his arms on either side of me, resting his forehead on my shoulder.
“I want to forgive her.” His voice was soft. And pained. “I want to let go of this anger. I understand why she altered my memories. But I’m still so mad at her.”
He raised his head and I cupped his cheek. There was so much hurt in his expression, I wanted to alter time again to find some way to fix it. It would never be easy for Callan to reconcile these feelings, knowing Linella did what she did from a place of love, but feeling abused by her anyway. I wanted to take that pain away, but I was struggling too.
“We’re a hot mess, aren’t we?” I said, which made him chuckle and shake his head.
“The hottest.” He tilted his head, his eyes roving over my face before trailing down my body and back up. “Speaking of hot…” His voice dropped lower, and I bit my lip as his expression shifted to something that spoke of heat in all the best ways.
I slid my hand under his shirt, his abs tightening at my touch.
“I think we both need a distraction.” I straightened up and stepped closer. A sly smile curled my lips. “Wanna see who can distract who better?”
“Woman.” He grabbed my hips and pulled me against him, sliding his hands beneath my ass and hitching me up onto the windowsill. “I’m gonna distract the shit out of you.” He pressed me up against the window and claimed my mouth.
The kiss was demanding. There was no buildup.
Our tongues clashed, pushing and tangling as our lips slid against each other. The taste of chocolate mingled between our mouths, making me kiss him like his lips were candy, sucking, licking, and biting his bottom lip.
We broke apart long enough for him to pull his shirt over his head, then mine was lost, leaving my breasts bare. He picked me up and I locked my legs around him, grinding against his erection as he reclaimed my mouth and shifted me until my back was against the wall.
I found my footing and quickly made my shorts and undies disappear as he kissed heat down my neck to my chest. One hand played at my nipple in a way that arched my back and had me gasping while his mouth found the other. I moaned as his tongue danced circles around it.
He moved one hand sensuously down the line of my body between my legs and made a hungry noise at how wet I was. His touch made me ache with anticipation.
He explored me with his fingers, gently probing and teasing, sliding two of them inside me, our eyes locked as he watched my reaction to his touch. He slid his fingers out and trailed them up my body, leaving my skin slick. I watched him suck his fingers.
“Mm…” A hungry sound rumbled in his throat as he licked my taste off his fingers.
I reached down and took him in my hand, trying to guide him into me, but he moved back.
“Not yet.” He kissed me roughly, one hand tangled in my hair while the other moved back down my body and shifted my legs open wider.
He dropped to his knees and licked between my legs, the slightly rough texture of his tongue doing a slow exploration that had me taking short breaths, my body quivering, waiting, wanting.
He picked up one of my legs and draped it over his shoulder, then cupped his hands under my ass and went to work.
The deep, hard strokes of his tongue were like every good thing I could ever feel.
He exhaled against me and the whisper of his breath across my most intimate place made a vibration go through me that tightened every muscle in my body.
Callan’s mouth was a sin I never wanted there to be a prayer for. The stimulation he brought to my clit was maddening in the best way. My fingers had a firm grip in his hair as my hips fell into a rhythm with the movements of his mouth.
His hands slid up my body, palming my breasts, his teasing fingers doing everything right to turn me on even more. I gasped his name as the orgasm built, screamed it as I came and he kept his mouth right where I wanted it.
He stood up and I reached for him, intending to return the favor, but he pinned my arms above my head and kissed me, his slick lips fusing with mine, his tongue running over then between them.
I ground my hips against him and he chuckled.
“I’m not done with you.” He flipped me around so my back was against his chest, moving his hands to my waist and hitching my hips up.
“I crave you.” His voice was rough, raspy. “And I’m a very greedy man.” He slid his hands to the front of my body, dipping them between my legs before moving them up to my breasts.
“Come for me again.” The words were a hot promise of dark pleasure against my ear. “Scream for me again.”
He guided himself into me slowly, so slowly.
I arched my head back and to the side so I could kiss him, wrapping one arm behind his head as he entered me.
We needed a better angle, so we shifted to the table, my palms slapping against the surface as he started to find a rhythm. He stroked faster, our bodies beaded with sweat, his hands a delicious pressure on my hips.
He pulled out and flipped me over, entering me again almost as soon as my ass hit the table. I fell back on my elbows and he gripped my thighs and pulled me forward, almost to the edge, keeping a hand on the table while the other went around to steady me, holding me in place as he pumped.
I bit his lip hard enough to make him grunt before kissing him like he was something to be consumed. I screamed against his mouth as I came again and reveled in his pleasure as he came moments later, his body shuddering, chest heaving, his grip on me tight as he picked me up.
We landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs, our bodies pressed against each other. We were on our sides, my leg thrown over his, his hand at the small of my back holding me close. He smiled slyly.
“I win.”
“You played dirty,” I accused.
He kissed me. “And you loved it,” he said against my mouth.
My body tightened again.
I moved my leg off him and took him in my hand, stroking him and giving him a look that spoke of doing things to him that would leave him unable to form words.
“You got fifteen minutes to recover, then it’s my turn.”
He made a sound of anticipation, rolling onto his back and pulling me on top of him. “This time I’m ready to lose,” he whispered, before his lips became one with mine again.
Chapter Six
I was trying to placate my Circoux, who was pacing in a tight circle and growling. She was unhappy enough that tendrils of smoke puffed from her flared nostrils, so people were starting to edge away nervously. I put my hands on my hips and blew out a breath as Ashe’s anxiety wound through me. If I was getting a hit of her emotions, they were strong.
“Today woulda been a good day to stay home, huh?” Ashe’s head whipped up and she narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth. I brought up my palms in a calming gesture. “Not the time for jokes, sorry. But it’s only a little water, you’ll be fine.” I paused. “Well, it’s more than a little water but you’ll still be fine.” I considered the wide expanse of river we were standing near. “I mean we’ve never done this before so it’s not like I can say for sure but…”
Ashe threw her head back and released a dismaying howl. It wasn’t very loud, but a few people had audible reactions, and a jogger who was coming in our direction did a quick turn and his jog became a run.
“Okay, that wasn’t helpful. But this will be fine, Ashe. Or you can head to Gideon’s shop and get in the way while he sets up for the auction?”
Ashe shook her head, stopped pacing, and stood up straight.
“Does this mean you’re gonna be a big girl now?” She tossed her head and strode away to empty her bladder under a nearby tree. Callan came over, holding a couple tickets. One of the sleeves of his yellow T-shirt was bunched up so I smoothed it down. The rest of his outfit consisted of jeans and hiking boots, and he had a flannel shirt tied around his waist in case his arms needed extra shielding as we hiked to the coordinates. A backpack with supplies was slung over his shoulder. I was once again wearing my armor and had freshened up my bun-hawk.
“Ashe gonna be okay?”
“She’ll survive. I don’t blame her for not liking water, she’s a creature of fire magic and the only time I’ve seen her tolerate water was when she used to splash in the tub with Kinari. She only behaves during grooming because she likes being clean.”
Callan smirked. “Well, let’s see what our first time on the Aqua Paths is like. The ticket attendant said creatures of Ashe’s size aren’t allowed on, but if she Morphs into something that can fit on your lap it’ll be fine.”
“You heard the man, time to turn itty bitty,” I said to Ashe, who had trotted back over. She shook her body, hunched down, gave herself a good stretch, then I felt her Morph magic rise as colorful bands of light swirled around her. People stared open-mouthed as Ashe seamlessly transitioned from a six-foot-tall Circoux to a fox cub with Ashe’s same sapphire eyes, long tufted ears, and fluffy double tails. She could have made herself look closer to an actual fox, but since she hadn’t Morphed for the purpose of hiding, she’d kept some of her Circoux features. The fox’s fur was whiter, but there was a hint of the blue hues her coat normally carried. She jumped into my arms just as a little girl squealed at how cute she was. Ashe released an adorable howl that made the girl squeal again.
Callan gave her an ear scratch, then we headed to the pier near the ticket booth. A woman dressed in a floral-pattered maxi dress who stood at the edge of the grounds raised her hands, and seconds later the sound of rushing water intensified as a huge column of water rose. She pushed her arms forward and the water followed the movement, the wind it kicked up blowing our hair and clothes. Under the Water Conjurer’s manipulation, the water coalesced into the form of a bridge about ten feet wide.
“Wow,” Callan and I both said. Aqua Paths hadn’t been around during my first lifetime. We’d mainly traveled seas and rivers using ships or wide, flat creatures called Omnara. Now, these water bridges provided a fast travel route across bodies of water.
We were directed to a sleek metal train that lay at the edge of the grounds. After we were loaded on, the Water Conjurer entered the driver’s cab in the first car, which was where we were. She stretched her arms out of one of the windows and used another stream of water to lift the train onto the bridge. And away we went. Manipulating the water bridge was what propelled the train, and she would keep building the bridge as we moved. There was a Water Conjurer in each carriage that helped.
I sat by the window with Callan on my left and Ashe curled in my lap. The Divine sword was between my knees, its thrum of magic gently vibrating against me. Ashe was still nervous so I gently stroked her fur, knowing eventually it would lull her into a nap. I took in the view as we traveled the wide river that cut through a portion of Nova Celes. It reminded me of the Hudson River where Manhattan lay on one side and Brooklyn on the other. The wind that blew past brought the fresh scent of saltwater.
“A Killipsion,” I said, as the huge creature reared its head from the water, throwing its long neck back and sending a spray behind it. Ashe raised her head to take a look.
“I’d forgotten how big those creatures were,” Callan said. The Killipsion’s orange and yellow scales were vibrant under the sunlight, as was the cluster of corals, shells, and plants on its wide back. It barrel-rolled across the water, flashing its ridged belly and slapping its flukes against the water.
“Mama, Killipsion are my favorite water creatures,” came the matter-of-fact voice of a girl sitting behind me. “They’re not as big as Omnara but they’re prettier and I like that they help keep garbage out of the water.”
My lips twitched. Very good reasons for liking Killipsion. This one was likely trained to use its powerful tail to sweep trash and debris across the riverbed to the shore, where it could be retrieved and disposed of properly.
Ashe enjoyed the Killipsion’s antics until it dove underwater, then she resettled, and I resumed petting her. After about twenty minutes the train began to increase in speed as we exited the river into the Atlantic Ocean. The windows slid closed, but there were vents in the ceiling to keep the carriage ventilated. The train picked up speed until the scenery became a blur.
Ashe dozed off, and thankfully her snores fit the size of the fox cub or no one on this ride would know peace. Callan had rested his head on my shoulder and at some point, his light snores joined hers. Guess I was gonna be a human pillow for the duration of this ride. I smiled as I popped in some earbuds and opened my favorite playlist.
…
We docked at a town called Merewynd, which was as picturesque as I was expecting it to be given that it was a harbor town. We stopped long enough for a bathroom break and to buy drinks and codfish fritters at a street vendor. The town square had a few food carts, and Ashe parked herself by one selling huge cuts of roasted Jagark: a boar-like creature with twice as many tusks and twice as bad a temper. They were one of Ashe’s favorite creatures to hunt. Personally, I think she liked besting a creature that was happy to fight back. Callan bought her two meaty leg cuts before I could pull out my wallet and she devoured them in record speed.
So much of the town reminded me of the magic-era; a lot of the homes and buildings were made of wood and sported an older style, the streets were cobblestone, and along with the food carts, the town square was bustling with apothecaries, rustic bakeries, a vintage clothes store, and a small library made of wood and covered in ivy.
But there was also a modern grocery store, an electronics shop advertising the latest phone model, and people zipping by on electric bikes. There were modern streetlights in some places and Firi Stone lanterns in others.
I thought I’d be repelled by the mix of magic and modern technology, but I wasn’t.
The present day was as it should have always been. Though it would take some time to get used to. Especially when my thoughts strayed to the fact that neither Callan nor I should even be around to experience this.
But today wasn’t the day to pull at that thread.
We left the town through the gate at the back and paused at the side of the pathway. We were close to a main road that split in different directions.
Callan pulled out a tablet from his bag, opened a digital map of the area, and typed in the coordinates.
A red dot appeared about eight miles from where we were.
The closest campsite was three miles from the coordinates. There were shuttles taking people to and from campsites in the area, so we checked the schedules and took one that would get us closest. Ashe Morphed into a fox again, spending the ride on my lap with her head out the window. Once we got off, we took another bathroom break then headed into the woods.
There were clear pathways through the forest to make navigation easy for hikers.
Ashe, back in her Circoux form, was in her element as she bounded ahead of us, exploring the brush and nipping at startled creatures. She was warned off hunting, though, as it wasn’t allowed in the immediate camp area. For which the squirrels and rabbits were grateful.
Melodious chirps drew my eyes up to tree branches. Not only did I see cardinals, sparrows, and blue birds, I also saw birds that had gone extinct after the Magical Collapse.
I felt more moved than I thought I would looking at some birds.
Callan, who noticed my bird-watching, squeezed the hand he was holding.
We walked for some time, amused by Ashe’s antics scaring the wildlife, and enjoying the quiet as we moved into the wilder parts of the forest.
Every now and then I would catch sight of a compact house nestled in a small clearing. A Tamer’s hub, where Tamers worked to keep the local Wild creatures under control.
“It’s peaceful here,” Callan commented. “Reminds me of woods I used to explore when I was a boy.”
“Reminds me of woods where I rounded up bounties who were very bad at picking hiding spots.”
