AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Calum’s wards are made of his magic, and no matter how weak it may be, Calum’s magic will recognize his mate.”
Fern trembled at that, the weight of what she was about to do settling on her shoulders but not swaying her decision. She could only manage a nod in response.
“Oh! Before I forget,” she fished around in her bag and pulled out a tattered book, “Mara said this was probably yours. It was in the stack that Calum gave me.”
Fern almost giggled in amusement as the massive wulver in front of her blushed head to toe and grabbed the novel from her, quickly shoving it in his desk drawer.
“Have fun, Fern.” Emmett coughed, and Fern knew when she had been dismissed. She hoisted her bag higher on her shoulder and took off toward Calum’s home.
The crisp night air greeted her as she wove through the campus buildings, making her way to the edge of the university. She ran under the gothic stone arch that marked the entrance to campus, unable to keep herself from going faster.
She had never been to Calum’s house before. It was difficult to wrap her head around, considering that they had hooked up twice, but nothing about their situation was normal. Nothing about Fern’s time in Scotland had been normal from the moment she walked off the plane.
It surprised her to realize how little she cared now. All she had wanted was a more normal existence, free to pursue whatever her heart desired. But now she craved the magic and the chaos that came with Calum Welsh.
Calum’s townhouse wasn’t hard to find. Emmett had been right; the magic recognized her and called to her. It was ringing in her blood as she got closer, like a sixth sense for where her mate was waiting. Fern had never been more alive as she hurtled towards it, not caring how ridiculous she might look, giving herself over to baser instincts. Everything was brighter to her now, even in the darkness, like Scotland had been unlocked.
The wind picked up, and she could smell the wild, crisp scent of the moors, heather and lavender enticing her closer. A low, buzzing hum ran underneath her skin, and she knew she was nearby.
She rounded the corner onto Meadow Lane, eyeing the row of townhouses before her. They overlooked The Meadows, a public park, and had a low brick wall that separated them from the road. The wall was covered in spots of bright graffiti that somehow modernized the Victorian-looking homes.
Without thinking, Fern hopped the low wall and ran to the house at the edge of the street. She could see there was a candle lit in the front window, and a small, golden plaque sat on the mailbox.
Dr. Calum Welsh
4 Meadow Lane
Please direct foot traffic to the address below.
Fern recognized the address to his office and gently placed her hand on the plaque. She wasn’t sure how wards worked, but she could feel them buzzing all around the house.
There was a small series of popping noises, and electricity danced over her skin. It didn’t hurt her, but it startled her, causing her to jump forward. She realized once the magic died down that she had crossed the threshold; the wards had let her in.
Dr. Calum Welsh, you cannot hide this from me any longer.
Fern bounded up the small set of steps towards the front door, pulling back with a quick gasp when the door swung open for her. She didn’t think about it for more than a second before she stepped inside.
The door swung shut behind her, echoing through the house, and Fern was blanketed in darkness. She waited as her eyes got used to the dim lighting. The first thing she noticed was that the house, like the library, was bewitched. From the entryway alone, Fern could tell that the interior was massive, far larger than the exterior communicated.
Fern was standing in an atrium. The walls were white plaster and stone, all intricately carved. There was an arch made of dark wood that led into what appeared to be a study, and a matching staircase was made of the same material. Fern looked up and realized that she could see four floors that opened out over the entryway, with a stained-glass dome at the top.
There was a chandelier that hung above the staircase, its gas light flickering enticingly. The floors were no doubt stone but were covered in thick red and gold carpet. Everything about the home looked like a Victorian mansion, plucked from time and wealth.
It looks like it belongs to royalty, is what you mean.
The walls were adorned with massive oil paintings, and Fern found herself distracted by the subject. She leaned in, decoding a painted tableau of what she assumed to be the Celtic pantheon feasting.
That wasn’t what got her attention.
At the very center of the table, the painter had chosen an unusual guest of honor. It was a fae.
A fae prince in full regalia with a sword at his hip, one hand on the hilt and one hand holding a chalice out towards the viewer. Even in the painting, power seemed to emanate off him. The figure almost broke the fourth wall, as if he was beckoning the viewer to join the debauchery. The prince stood taller than Calum and his eyes were gold, his features sharper…
Oh my god. Fern’s eyes got wide as she stared at the portrait. It is Calum, without his magic bound.
“Come inside, Fern.” A low voice called out to Fern from the darkness. The demand behind the words was undeniable. She jumped and turned around, biting her tongue to keep from shouting. “In the study,” the voice answered Fern’s unspoken question.
She inched forward, her heart in her throat, stepping through the massive archway towards the voice. The floors turned to hardwood, and the walls were painted emerald green. There was a massive fireplace at the end of the room, with two wingback chairs in front of it. Fern could see Calum sitting in one, his figure obscured in darkness in front of the fire’s light.
