Page 119 of Magical Midlife Conclave

It didn’t feel like his. It felt like it was bubbling up from the ground…and bubbling up inside him.

He yanked on another thread of power. Darts flew. Another. Dolls ran out onto the grass. Doors opened and closed all through the house; Austin could feel it. He could control it, like an extension of his body.

“I’m right here,” Jess said, confident. More love and support pumped into him from her. His mind spun. “We can do this together, Austin. We’ve always been in this together.”

He breathed faster now, his chest shallowly rising and falling. His grip on her was tight. Too tight, probably. He was afraid to let go.

“I love you,” she whispered, and smiled, so beautiful. So angelic. “Fall into it. Sink as deep as you want. I did that, remember? I let it take me on the battlefield in the redwoods, with the basajaunak. And then I found you to pull me out. Well, I’m right here. Nothing will keep you from me, Austin. Nothing.”

He snapped his head back and roared, an animalistic sound but not like any animal that walked the earth. His body shook. Sweat broke out all over him as he resisted it. He tried to push it away, fighting the rage.

The circles moved closer around him and Jess. His primal urges rose up to lash out, not wanting anyone near his mate.

“Don’t bother,” Jess said, a note of command in her voice. “We’re okay.” Her eyes blazed as they held his. “I’m grabbing all the connections now, Austin. All my magic and power. I’m holding it right here. Come to me. Share in this with me.”

His beast thrashed, feeling that thrumming power. Trying to get away. Sensing danger and trying to fight it.

“Join me,” she whispered. “Don’t fight it. Join me in it.”

She would never hurt him. She would only help him. He had to trust.

He forced himself to slow his breathing, to inhale deeply, and then he closed his eyes and did as she said.

White-hot points of power tore at his flesh as the darkness settled into him. It scraped along his bones.

She jerked within his grasp, and his howls were echoed by her. A gush of blinding power flooded his body.

“She has shared her magic with you,” a female voice said within his mind. “She has done this of her own free will, trusting you mean the best for her. You now have the option of sharing your magic with her. I cannot force this. You must share of your own free will, like she did.”

“Will it hurt her?” he asked.

“No more than hers hurts you now. The difference is, she’s a woman. She can handle it without whining.”

The voice belonged to Ivy House, then.

“Did the past protectors share their magic?”

“No. And they all died in the end, as did the heir. Take the hint.”

Having her in his head would take some getting used to.

“Yes, share the magic.”

Jess’s gasp of surprise said she wasn’t expecting it. Her eyes squeezed shut, fear and worry racing across her face.

“Does she know what’s happening?” he asked in alarm, wanting to tell her but unable to unlatch his jaw for the chaotic magic and rage still ripping at him.

“She does now.”

She dropped her head forward, her body tense, her fingers gripping his hands like claws.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, taking deep breaths. “It’s okay.” More deep breaths. “It’s primal.”

She released her tension and straightened. Her eyes fluttered as her gaze found his again. A beautiful, sparkly sheen covered them for a moment before settling. A smile soaked into her expression.

“Thank you for sharing with me,” she told him, love overwhelming the bonds. “You’re the first to do so, I guess. You’re the very best mate I could’ve chosen.”

His body trembled, as did hers, but he soaked in her love and returned it through the bonds. Her power pumped and pulsed and threatened to tear him apart, ripping at his skin, at his bones, at the very fabric of his being…and then she laughed, coaxing his higher. Pulling at him to match her stride.