Page 28 of Wounded Mate
“I’d be honored to help you, Bela,” says Sebastian. “To make an attempt, at least. I’ve no guarantee of success, but I’ll do my best.”
“Are you kidding?” Dominus grins, expression proud, and bumps their shoulders. “You are an absolute miracle worker. If it can be done, it’s you who can do it.”
Sebastian pats his thigh. “Thank you, love, but every curse is different. I won’t know until I have a good, up-close look at the spell.” He shifts his attention to Valius. “Bela says you’re mates. You introduced him as ‘my Bela.’ Seems to me congratulations are in order?”
Valius blushes an even darker shade of blue across the apples of his cheeks and demurs, his gaze on me.
My breathing shallows.
He hasn’t quite confirmed or denied my assertion, has he? And he really can’t be limited to only one lover. That wouldn’t be fair to him. Are we mates? Yes, I’m sure of it with every fiber of my being. But are we ready for congratulations? Probably not. I hate I’ve made him feel awkward.
But Valius surprises me. “Yes, thank you. It’s still very new, but I’m honored you and Dominus are among the first to meetmy mate.”
My entire body warms, and I feel light as a feather. Like I could float right up to the white puffy clouds.
“It’s our pleasure, surely,” says Dominus in a low rumble.
“Indeed,” Sebastian agrees.
Valius straightens, back to business. “What must we do to break the curse?”
“There’s not much for you to do but be open to my magic,” Sebastian explains. “We’ll need to go outside. My powers are stronger in nature. We’ll sit in a tight circle. I’ll need to touch you, Bela, if you’ll permit it. Holding your hand will work. That should give me a feel for what’s going on, and I’ll see if I can unravel the dark magic from your essence. It won’t hurt, though you may feel warmth or a tingling sensation. Valius can stay at your side the whole time.”
All that sounds easy enough. I want it over with. “Now?”
“If that’s what you’d like, I see no reason to wait.”
We relocate outside, out the back door this time, to the privacy of the wooded acreage behind the house. We cross a pasture, and even more goats gather here—overly friendly goats who clearly don’t have an ounce of self-preservation as they sidle right up to a wolf-man for pets. Which I oblige. Because I’ve never petted a goat before. And they’re soft.
Maybe I won’t eat any more goats after this.
“Don’t mind them,” says Dominus fondly. “Little beggars is what they are, always asking for another treat.”
The weird little herd clearly loves their caretakers, frolicking around us until we exit through a gate in the fencing, leaving them behind.
Under a canopy of an old-growth forest, we trod a well-worn path to a circle of stones. In the center, a fire pit.
“Just a little farther,” says Sebastian. “It’s best if I sit directly on the ground. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
He leads us to a shady spot covered in last autumn’s fallen leaves, and we settle together on the forest floor.
I’m perfectly comfortable here. I’ve slept in many places like this one, nestled among the trees in nature’s wild embrace.
Sebastian clears his throat and places both palms on the earth. “It’ll take me a moment to calm my mind and gather the elements to my call. In the meantime, touch each other. Valius, lean against your mate and offer your strength. Dominus, take Val’s hand, and when I’m ready, also mine. Bela, I will take yours. There’s no need to be perfectly silent, but being calm will help. Once I have an idea of what’s going on, I’ll explain it to you. Ready?”
I nod, but I’m not sure I am. It’s bizarre. I never dared to dream the curse could be broken, and now that we’re on the cusp of it, I feel as if I’m about to lose something.
A part of me.
But I keep this to myself. I don’t want to blow this opportunity I’ve been given.
Sebastian closes his eyes. He’s quiet, though his lips are moving as if he’s speaking. I wonder what he’s saying.
Valius is a comfortable weight at my side, gentle, because he worries about my injury, even though it’s fine now. Only a little tender.
I’m supposed to be calm, but my mind is reeling. What’s about to happen? Will I really be able to walk around a city unnoticed? As human-looking as anyone else?
