Chapter Five

Bennett hadn't seen a lot of magic since he'd arrived at the castle. He'd arrived by a portal and had seen Jarvis opening it, but that was about it. The mages mostly worked in their offices, far from sight. Bennett understood why, but he was also curious, so he was bouncing this morning.

Ansley was about to cast his seeking spell.

This was the spell he'd used to find Bennett and Meyer. Well, it was the spell he'd used to find Bennett. They hadn't expected to find Meyer with him. He'd been a bonus.

Bennett didn't think either of them felt that way. For most of the life Bennett remembered, he'd been alone or with Meyer. He hadn't wanted to get close to anyone because of his massive winged secret, and he didn't regret it. That meant he'd been able to leave as soon as Jarvis and the others had knocked on his door. He hadn't abandoned anyone behind because his only friend had come with him.

He looked around the courtyard. The air was still cool, but spring was coming, and it was nice to see the flowers in the vases and to hear the birds sing. Unfortunately, Bennett couldn't focus on any of that. Hell, he couldn't even focus on Ansley, in spite of wanting to see how this magic worked.

No, all of his attention was on Penley.

Penley wasn't looking at Bennett. Part of Bennett wasn't surprised. Even though they'd finally had a conversation and Penley had promised they could become friends, Bennett hadn't expected him to actually relax. Penley wasn't avoiding Bennett anymore, but he was still visibly tense when Bennett was around.

Bennett couldn't help but wonder if things had been like this before, too. Penley had said they hadn't known each other well and that they'd only started working together, so maybe that was how it had been. Maybe Penley wasn't like this because he had something against Bennett or because they shared bad memories like Tyne and Meyer. Maybe he was like this because he hadn't known Bennett before and still didn't.

Bennett wished Penley would look at him. He was fascinated by the mage, and not just because he could wield magic. Penley was adorable, but there was also a quiet strength in him that pulled Bennett in.

Penley was incredibly attractive. He looked painfully young, even though Bennett knew he wasn't. His blond curls, blue eyes, and sweet personality made him look like a college student. He wasn't one. He'd been alive for decades, and he'd experienced a lot of pain during that time. Bennett wanted to soothe that pain, but he wasn't sure how, since Penley wouldn't allow him that close yet. In time, he would. Bennett truly believed that, and he'd do everything he could to show Penley he could trust him.

That was, if he didn't have to leave the castle.

He eyed sighed Meyer, who was standing next to him. Meyer was doing his best to avoid looking at Tyne, who was on the other side of the courtyard. Tyne hadn't looked at Meyer once, and Bennett wanted to shake him. He wanted to demand an explanation and force Tyne to tell him what the fuck was going on. He'd had enough of Tyne hurting his best friend, and at this point, he didn't even care about what Meyer had supposedly done when he'd been Tyne's shield. What Tyne was doing was awful. He might not have hurt Meyer physically, but he was doing even more damage with his words and behavior.

"You should talk to him," someone said next to Bennett.

He turned and blinked at Jarvis. The mages and the other dragons were gathered around Ansley, who was softly talking to Parker. Bennett wasn't surprised to see everyone was there. He would have been if they hadn't been.

He hadn't talked to Jarvis much. The mage was in charge of their little group, possibly because he was the oldest, but he'd given Bennett and Meyer space. It would have been easy for him to intervene in the situation between Tyne and Meyer, but he hadn't, and Bennett resisted the urge to ask him why. Neither of them knew what had happened between Tyne and Meyer in the past, but Jarvis knew Tyne much better than Bennett did. There had to be a good reason if he hadn't said anything. Either that, or he didn't realize things were this bad.

"I'm sorry?" Bennett asked.

Jarvis tilted his chin toward Penley, who hovered several feet away from Bennett. His attention was on Ansley and Parker, and Bennett could see his body almost vibrating with excitement and anxiousness.

"You should talk to Penley."

"I have. I cornered him in his office a few days ago, and we agreed to be friends."

"Just friends?" Jarvis asked, arching a brow.

"It's what he was willing to give me. I don't remember it, obviously, but he said the two of us were never close, not even before. We hadn't been together long as mage and shield."

Jarvis nodded. "That's true. You were the most recent couple we had."

"Couple?" That word shouldn't send Bennett's heart racing. He understood what Jarvis was saying, but part of him couldn't help but imagine him and Penley actually being a couple.

"Of mage and shield," Jarvis said, confirming what Bennett had thought he was saying.

"Penley told me he had trouble understanding why you asked us to help with Carlyle."

"We wanted the element of surprise, and I believe we got it. It didn't end the way we hoped it would, and Carlyle is back, but we had some peace." Jarvis grimaced. "At the very least, Carlyle was unable to hurt anyone for a few decades. I wouldn't call our lives since then peaceful, but we learned to live with the pain and the feeling that something was missing in our lives."

Bennett could only imagine how much pain Jarvis had been in when he'd lost Marlow. They were so clearly in love. Bennett knew they'd been together for a long time, even before Marlow was taken away. The situation had been awful for everyone, but especially for these two.

Jarvis sighed. "Penley doesn't see himself the way we see him. I think it's our fault, at least in part. He's the youngest, and we tend to be overprotective, especially after what happened. He was so lost right after you were taken from him, and we all needed something or someone else to focus on. We mothered him a bit too hard, and we still do."

"That's understandable," Bennett murmured as his gaze drifted back to Penley.

"It was, and I suppose it still is. He's an adult, though. He was before, and now he has you back. We all want the two of you to be happy."

"We're working on it."

Jarvis nodded. "That's good. No one expects things to go back to how they were before, but Penley's crush on you is still there. If the two of you give this a chance, you can be very happy."

Bennett's brain had screeched to a halt. "Penley's crush on me?"

Jarvis's smile was fond when he glanced at Penley. "You won't find a sweeter and more loving person to be with. You're very lucky, Bennett."

Bennett wouldn't have thought that before, but he hoped Jarvis was right. He wanted to be lucky. He wanted Penley to have a crush on him.

Because God knew he had a crush on Penley.

* * * *

Penley had to work hard not to look in Bennett's direction. He wanted nothing more, and he'd promised Bennett they would be friends, but now wasn't the right moment to start that friendship. Ansley was ready to cast the seeking spell again, and everyone's focus should be on that.

Yet Penley couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much trouble focusing. Every time he tried, his thoughts drifted back to Bennett. It didn't help that the man was standing there, looking handsome even wearing a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. His clothes appeared comfortable, and they made Penley want to climb under them and snuggle against him.

He forced himself to pay attention to Ansley. He was still talking to Parker, who looked worried. He kept touching Ansley's arms and shoulders, and seeing how much love and care there was between them made Penley yearn to have the same. He wanted all of it with Bennett, but he had no idea how to find out if Bennett wanted the same.

Penley had never been in a relationship. He'd had a few boyfriends, but none of them had been serious, and things had died off after a few weeks. That had been before meeting his shield. After Bennett, Penley hadn't been able to focus on anyone else or imagine himself with another man. He'd thought that he and Bennett would end up together, but Bennett had been taken from him. For decades, Penley had been alone, and he'd been fine with that. He'd always had hope that eventually, Bennett would come back.

He had, but that didn't mean Penley knew what to do with him.

He wished there was someone he could ask. He looked around the courtyard, wondering which of the other mages he could talk to. Jarvis was almost a father figure to Penley, although he was probably closer to an older brother. Penley could talk to him, but he felt awkward just at the thought. It would be like talking about sex with his parents, and that thought was enough to make him shudder in horror.

Tyne was out. He barely spoke these days, and his feelings for Meyer made it clear that talking to him about crushes and love wasn't the best idea. Dallin and Keylon were still focused on finding their shields, as they should be. That left Ansley, but he was busy with the seeking spell and recuperating after he did so.

Penley sighed. He was on his own. He supposed he could talk to Parker's best friend, Matthias, or to Thorne, who was in charge of making sure everything ran smoothly at the castle. They were both human, but surely, they understood love. The problem was that while Penley liked both of them, he didn't feel as close to them as he did to the mages. He hadn't spent a lot of time with them, especially Matthias, who'd only recently arrived at the castle. He'd come as a package deal with Parker, and Penley was glad for his presence, but things had been hectic, which meant they hadn't had time to get to know each other.

That was another thing they needed to change, but before they could, everyone's focus would be on finding the other dragons.

Thinking about Matthias and Thorne made Penley wonder if Bennett had noticed them. They were both handsome men, albeit very different. Matthias was younger and bubblier. He was open, had an easy time talking to anyone, and seemed to always have a smile on his face. Thorne was older but just as handsome. He had a calm energy to him that always made Penley feel better, and he was competent.

Maybe Bennett found one of them attractive. Maybe he wanted to be friends with Penley but have a relationship with someone else. There were plenty of single people at the castle. There was a strong possibility that Bennett might end up with one of them instead of Penley, and the thought made Penley want to throw up.

He glanced at his shield, who was talking to Jarvis. Was that possible? Could he really lose Bennett before he truly got him? Penley didn't want to think about that possibility, but it was there. He and Bennett hadn't been together before, and there was nothing that said they had to be now. Not every shield and mage fell in love. Their bond was deeper and fuller if they did, but it wasn't necessary for a shield to do his job. Some shields were more bodyguards than anything when it came to their mage. That might be the relationship Penley and Bennett would have.

The thought was enough to break Penley's heart.

* * * *

Bennett's mind was still reeling with the news that Penley had a crush on him. Jarvis knew Penley better than most, and he definitely knew him better than Bennett did. If he said Penley had a crush on Bennett, he was probably right.

But what should Bennett do with that piece of information?

He didn't know yet. He could tell that he and Penley could have what Parker and Marlow had with their mages. He was almost surprised to realize that he wanted that, although maybe he shouldn't be. Being with Penley wouldn't only mean that Bennett now had a family and a home where he could be himself and would never have to hide who and what he was. It also meant being with Penley, and who wouldn't want that?

But as sweet and adorable as Penley was, that wasn't why Bennett wanted him. He wanted to protect and shield him, cherish him, and make him feel loved. He yearned to see him spread his wings and learn how to be himself. Jarvis had just admitted how sheltered Penley had been, and that was fine, but Bennett wanted him to see the world. That might not be possible until Carlyle was taken care of, but Bennett could see them exploring various countries and flying together. He wanted it so badly it almost hurt, so he was glad when Ansley cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.

"I'm ready," he announced.

Dallin and Keylon stepped forward. They looked at each other, and Dallin put a hand on Keylon's back and pushed him toward Ansley. Keylon stumbled and turned to the other mage.

"Are you sure? I can wait."

Dallin shook his head. "I'll wait."

Bennett didn't know them well, but from what he'd seen, Dallin was a quiet kind of guy. On the other hand, Keylon never hesitated to let people know what he thought and how he felt. Bennett liked that, but then, he liked all the mages he'd met until now.

Except Tyne.

Tyne had found his shield, yet he treated Meyer as if he were useless and unimportant. It was almost as if he was bothered by his presence, and Bennett didn't understand it. He was tempted to corner Tyne but wasn't sure that was the best idea. Tyne could hurt him with his magic, which Bennett didn't want to happen. But eventually, something would break.

He hoped it wouldn't be Meyer.

Keylon moved closer to Ansley. He wrung his hands as he looked down at the map Ansley had spread out on the ground in front of himself. Ansley gestured at him to come stand next to him, and Keylon almost fell on his face in his haste to do it. No one laughed. The tension in the courtyard rocketed, and Bennett was sure that even the birds were holding their breath.

Ansley took Keylon's hand. "Close your eyes and think about him. Think of any detail you can remember, like the shape of his jaw and the color of his eyes. Think about how he was. Focus on him and nothing else."

Keylon gave a quick nod and obeyed. His eyes slid close, and the intense focus in his expression told Bennett that he was doing what Ansley had asked him. Since Ansley would be the one to cast the spell, Bennett turned his attention to him.

Ansley was staring down at the map with a frown on his face. He raised his other hand, and Bennett sucked in a breath.

He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but he'd thought it would be more spectacular. There weren't fireworks or anything like that, but the small fire on the map in front of Ansley made him and the others jump. He swore as Ansley let go of Keylon's hand and crouched beside the map. He was still frowning, which meant something was wrong.

Keylon opened his eyes. "Well? Where is he?"

Everyone's attention was on Ansley, who shook his head. "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Bennett glanced at the map. It was just a normal map, and it looked the same as it had before.

"The spell worked, but it didn't locate Alvin. There's nothing on the map."

"How can you say it worked, then?"

"Everyone saw the flames. They should have indicated the spot where Alvin is, but there's nothing on the map. That means that the spell worked but couldn't find him."

Bennett looked around the courtyard. He was relieved to see that everyone looked as confused as he felt—well, everyone but Ansley and Keylon. Keylon appeared distraught, which was understandable since he'd just been told that his shield couldn't be found. Ansley, on the other hand, looked worried.

He'd cast his spell, yet he hadn't been able to find Alvin. What did that mean?