Page 31 of A Touch Of Death

I stare at him with my mouth parted in shock. "What about Ezra? She's tethered to him too, right? Has he mentioned anything?"

Zayn shakes his head, "He hasn't mentioned anything, though he's kept to himself since the decision to let Novia stay with us. But I don't think it's possible for an incubus or any other demon to create such a bond. Demons are known to be flighty, unable to form strong connections due to their distaste of monogamy. It's not in their nature. I'm surprised Ezra has stayed with us all this time, not that I'd want it any other way."

I take a moment to absorb that information. I've never encountered a bonded demon before, so maybe Zayn's right. But that then leaves the question of why Novia would tether herself to someone who couldn’t be bonded to her. Better yet, how is this even possible? fae only mate with fae, so how have a mage, a vampire, and a shifter found themselves with a mating bond that recognises Novia as ours?

"That's something I'm researching at the moment. It shouldn't be possible, but I'm positive we've all bonded to her, and she to us. I don't believe Novia understands or realises she's tethered to us, but she feels it. She feels the bond she's created as strongly as we feel ours," Zayn tells me, placing a bookmark in his book and lifting from the bed to return it to his bookcase. "The research I've conducted hasn't given me any answers, but I'll continue to search. There has to be answers for something that shouldn't be possible."

He comes to lie on his bed, mirroring my position, but while my hands are knocking my hat off as they run through my hair, his are clasped on his stomach. We lie in silence while my brain tries to absorb everything Zayn has told me. How is possible that a fae has tethered herself to Naturals that aren't other fae? How have three of the four of us bonded to the same female?

"What do we do about it?" I ask Zayn after a long stretch of silence.

He thinks about my question for a moment. "I suppose we should all discuss everything. Mating bonds can't be ignored. They'll only grow stronger the more they aren't acted on. Novia needs to understand what's happening because she's more confused than us, given that she doesn't even realise it's a mating tether she's created. It's best if we all gather and talk about it."

I give him a nod. "Sure. That would probably be best. I'm going to finish Novia's room, and then we can all sit down and talk it out."

"Perhaps we can discuss it after we take Novia to buy things for her room?" he says, smoothing a hand over his clean-shaven face. "I'd prefer that she has a completed room to retreat to if she becomes overwhelmed or needs space while she digests all we have to tell her."

That's a very good point. Best to have a room that she can hide in comfortably should she need it. I nod and lift myself from Zayn's bed, snatching my hat up and placing it on my head backwards. "Alright. I'll go finish the room. Should only take a few minutes. Go find Nix and Ezra. We'll all take Novia shopping. It'll be good to get everyone out of the house, I suppose."

Zayn smiles, and I head out of his room, heading back up the stairs at a slower pace. When I reach the top step, I find Novia standing on the balcony with the french doors wide open. Her hand is out in front of her, palm facing the sun, and the breeze stirs her hair, blonde tresses floating through the wind.

Just seeing her again has my heart thundering heavily in my chest, the bond demanding I be near her. I spent so many years telling myself I was never going to let anyone else in after my father used me like his personal power source. Especially after witnessing the man who loved me like my father should have, and raised me to be the man I am today, pass away after giving me something I was unable to give back until my immortality hit. Then I go and find my Link. A Mage Link isn't common, but not entirely rare. A few mages have been fortunate enough to find their Link, but many are still searching, even after years and years. I just never thought I'd find mine. And I definitely wouldn't have thought it would be thefaewe saved.

But here I stand, watching her like I can't tear my eyes away, a need so powerful that it's taking me all I have not to let instinct rule and claim her right here, right now. I never thought I'd allow anyone else in after the guys, but I know as well as any mage alive how important a Link is. I know that it's not something I can deny, and, surprisingly, I find I don't want to. For the first time in decades, I want someone to know me, all of me, and that someone is Novia.

I won't make any kind of move until she understands what's happening to all of us though. She needs to know, and the sooner we buy whatever she wants for her room, the quicker we can explain.

I step into the room, making my steps loud enough for her to hear. She turns her head and smiles a little awkwardly when she sees me. I'm not liking that smile as much as the other ones I've received from her.

"Uh, hey. Are you okay? Did you talk to Zayn about whatever had you rushing off?" she asks, her voice seeming a little more distant than it had before.

"Sorry about that," I tell her, avoiding answering her questions. Before she can say anything else, I say, "I'm going to finish your room. After I'm done, we'll take you to get whatever you need or want to make it yours."

Her smile turns more genuine. That smile does something funny to me, but I keep my shit on lockdown. We have stuff to do, and then we'll talk about everything.

"Okay. Give me another second, and I'll help you out." She turns her head to face the outdoors again, her hand still outstretched towards the sun. A couple of seconds later, she slowly begins to glow, faintly at first until a white misty light surrounds her entire body.

She moves away from the balcony and walks towards me. Holding out her hand towards me, she says, "We don't need you overworked again, so I'll syphon energy to you while you work."

I hesitate only slightly. I don't know if I'll be able to touch her without my bond surging to the forefront of my mind and the need to claim her becoming too strong for me to resist. When I see the flicker of hurt in her eyes though, I decide it's worth risking. My hand darts out, and my fingers clamp around hers, a look of surprise crossing her features before she grins at me.

"Okay, do your thing."

It's hard to concentrate on anything other than her hand in mine, the soft feel of her skin, or the way she's subconsciously brushing her thumb over my knuckles. It takes a lot of effort, but I finally push everything to the back of my mind and draw on my power. A yellow light flickered with gold sparks grows around my hands, my power feeling stronger than it has before.

I look down at the hand holding Novia's the same time she does. We both lift our heads, and I'm left absolutely breathless when Novia smiles the brightest smile at me. Her teeth sparkle in the light that's streaming through the room, while her eyes sparkle with something I need to see more of.

Before getting completely distracted, I pull my attention away from Novia and focus on her room. There are some electrical things I need to iron out before her room is finished, so I pour my effort into fixing that. I can feel Novia filtering energy slowly into my body, so whatever I use is replenished in a matter of seconds.

Quicker than it would have taken without Novia's help, I finish her room until everything is as it should be. I don't release her hand, though. I don't think I can make myself at this point. "Alright, sweetheart. Let's go get you some decorations and stuff."

She squeezes my hand, and I tug her towards the stairs, thankful to myself for making them wide enough for two to walk up and down at the same time. We get to the kitchen to find Nix leaning against the sink. When his eyes latch onto Novia, they light up like I've never seen them before. His eyes roam over her before stopping at our hands. I watch him closely, spotting the frown that forms and then disappears just as quickly, replaced by a different grin. The grin he's now sporting resembles more of a Cheshire Cat than anything.

I roll my eyes before asking, "Where are Zayn and Ezra?"

"Zayn is rallying Ezra. The asshole is being more stubborn than usual. Give it five minutes," Nix says, moving away from the sink and to the fridge. He opens the door and pulls out a glass of what looks to be Dr Pepper. He holds it out for Novia, who gladly takes it, thanking him with a smile. She releases my hand, and I send a glower in Nix's direction. He did that on purpose, and the smug grin he's sending me back just proves as much.

Just as Novia finishes her drink, Zayn and an irritated Ezra come from the hallway. Nix pulls a backpack on, causing me to wonder how the fuck that thing fits over the size of his goddamned shoulders, and asks, "Alright, tribe, are we ready?"

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