Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

W alking across campus to the laboratory after the endless Humanities Department meeting, Solomon Windham finally escaped to spend time with the druid scientist who traveled across the Eastern Realms to be with him. Well, it wasn’t only to be with him.

Solomon knew the discussion about traveling would come up. Again . Their summer together was almost done. They had three more days. Cormac Wyn had stormed into Solomon’s world when he came to help his cousin, Emrys Cadogan, the new Professor of Botany, save the resident Professor of Magical Ecology and the Legacy Grove he was attached to. Cormac — Mac as he preferred — traveled the realms and Solomon could never leave the east.

It remained out of his control, he was confined to the Eastern Realms. For intimate times, he dressed up and went off to clubs in Nucira Realm’s capital, Rookbourne City, or a little further to the nearby Ibemar Realm’s capital, Strafield. Because of his internal walls, he never expected to fall for someone and try for something deeper.

When he met Cormac Wyn, he was almost knocked off his feet. Mac was the kindest and gentlest man with a snarky bit of attitude and sense of humor. Brilliant and competent in his field, he never acted pretentious. His extended family wouldn’t let him act all high-and-mighty.

Even though Solomon had all his walls, protections, and secrets, something happened between the two of them. Cormac was warm and open and accepted all the complicated pieces of Solomon.

Perhaps it was time to let Mac go. End their personal relationship. He couldn’t keep Mac in his life. Not one based on secrets and lies.

Pulling off his robes, he stopped short. Someone had left the laboratory door open. Entering, he observed the difference. Tables were tied down. The equipment covered and replaced in the locked wall cabinets. The power needed to conjure the portal to transfer the laboratory was equivalent to a minor earthquake that could rattle and damage the sensitive equipment and jostle the chemicals. Everything needed to be packaged, protected, and secured. Even the front white boards that often had formulas or diagrams scrawled across it was clean and gleaming.

Mac was leaving. Soon.

After one of their steamy dates, Cormac delivered a special request binder to the academy about creating a summer graduate program utilizing the Cad-Wyn mobile laboratory. He would stay in the apartment connected to the laboratory. Along with awarding credits for the class, there was also the possibility of internships with Cad-Wyn or other companies in Gledinium upon graduation. Accepted by the Board of Trustees, Cormac arrived that first summer.

The back door to the laboratory opened and the brilliant, handsome man that occupied Solomon’s mind and heart stepped out with papers in his hand.

Dark flames help him. Mac still wore his white scientist coat with a moss green shirt and a golden-brown striped tie that picked up the rich golden brown pants and boots. The dark auburn hair was delightfully messy, as if Mac ran his hands through it multiple times while considering something deep. Solomon often ran his fingers through those soft tresses.

Mac lifted his gaze from the thick folder filled with paperwork and envelopes he had been reviewing and stopped. Those rich Wyn family green eyes became a little shuttered. “Greetings. I wasn’t sure you were…” Mac trailed off.

“Going to make it? The Humanities meeting ran later than I expected. One of the ancient language professors went on and on about the lack of interest and all kinds of other woes and complaints. It was a test program. The professor knew this and that a general meeting wasn’t the place to bring up their issues, but…” Solomon shrugged.

“Not your place to say anything to stop them.”

“I’m not the Head of the Humanities Department, it’s definitely not my call. I adore Natasha, the head, but she can be too soft-hearted. So… I kicked her under the table to make her step up.”

A chuckle escaped Mac before he could stop it. “You would do something like that.”

“It was keeping me away from you.” Solomon scrutinized the folder. “Though you were about to leave.”

“Finished grading the last exams, papers, and made my choices for the internships. That part took a little longer. I contacted colleagues at different companies that were better fits. I hope the students accept the offers. I was about to drop these off at Isabella’s office.”

“Then you were going to leave.”

“Since you never accepted my invitation to join me in Gledinium, I didn’t want to stick around and ask again.” Mac shrugged. “I learned to keep my mouth shut on that aspect of our arrangement.”

“Arrangement?” Solomon took a few steps forward.

“I’m the only one who seems to make an effort, Sol. Every time. I travel the distance between us. Physically. Emotionally—” Mac shook his head. “You keep pulling away.”

“Mac—”

Mac held up his hand and interrupted, “Don’t. I don’t want to hear the same excuses or lies. I can tell they are lies. You need to protect something. Something so dear and precious that it’s killing you.” He tapped his chest. “In here. Deep inside you. It’s killing you.”

While he wanted to say something, he couldn’t. If it wasn’t just his life on the line, he would’ve shared with Mac annuals ago. But other lives depended on his secrets. The words tore at him. Ripped deep into him.

“I thought we could have something together. Yes, a distant relationship because of our positions, but eventually, if we truly wanted more, we would work it out.” Tears filled those beautiful green eyes, but Mac refused to let them fall. “But I don’t feel that could ever happen.”

A whimper went through Solomon.

“The connection between Cad-Wyn and the Academy will not falter, but I may not be here.” Cormac rubbed his fingers over the folder. “I know a replacement who can provide the students with the same level of education and encouragement. You understand why I wouldn’t want to…” He paused. “Return.”

Everything felt crushed and broken within him.

His past.

His secrets.

His cursed illegal magic.

Everything that made him — him — destroyed and shredded the last hope of being free to love.

Crossing the distance between them, Cormac caressed his fingers down Solomon’s cheek. “It hurts too much to stay three more days. I can’t even spend a night. I’m not that cruel.”

“Nor am I,” Solomon whispered.

“When… though I doubt this can happen… when you are free of these demons. When you can talk about these secrets without lying. Call me.” Cormac stroke Solomon’s cheek again. “Better yet. Come and find me.”

Solomon closed his eyes as the pain ripped through him. Then he opened his eyes and noticed Mac stepped back.

“For what it’s worth, what we have between us… The little bits that were true…” Mac licked his lower lip while he paused, his voice breaking. “I want more of that. All of it. It’s something to fight for, but not if I have to with lies and deceit. I don’t deserve that.”

“No. No, you don’t. I never wanted to hurt you because of… what I can’t control.”

“I know what is happening is because of your magic. Your true magic. That tiny bit you shared with us while saving Julian. I will say nothing about you or your magic to anyone. Ever. That I can guarantee.”

“That’s why I used it.” Solomon swallowed hard past a clenched throat. “Let me take the folder. I’ll give it to Bella. You can leave without a big fanfare.”

“That might be better. Emrys knows I’m leaving today. He suspects?—”

“I’ll explain that it’s on me. Not you. Never you, Mac.” Solomon gently slid the folder away from Mac’s grip. “I wanted more of us, too. I wanted the happy ending. Will always want it.” He kissed Mac’s cheek. “Good journey, my dear Mac.” Spinning on one foot, he raced away before he spilled all his secrets.

When he reached the main building, there was an energy shift. The soft ‘pop’ signaled the massive portal opening and the displacement of the laboratory.

Mac was gone.

Gone.

Not to return.

Holding in the pain and tears, he entered and made his way to Bella’s office.

“Professor!”

Solomon continued to walk.

“Professor.”

Wanting it to be someone else, Solomon pushed forward.

“Professor Windham. Wait, please. The headmistress sent me.”

Groaning, Solomon stopped. “What did she want? I was going to her office.”

A student ran over to him. “She’s not there, Professor. You need to go to the special room.”

“Special room?”

“That’s what she said, Professor.”

“Right. Thank you.”

“I was also told to give you these messages.” The student handed over two envelopes with his name scrawled across the front.

Accepting the envelopes, Solomon considered Mac’s folder and transferred it to the student. “Deliver this to Bella’s assistant. It’s from Professor Wyn. His final grades and internship offers. Do not lose it.”

“I promise I will not lose it. I’ll get it to her office.”

After the student raced away, Solomon returned the way he came and chose a different hallway. While walking, he opened and scanned each message. His stomach turned nauseous at the messages. A chill shivered down his spine.

According to this flames-begotten flyer, they were running out of precious time and resources. If this proposal was true, it would destroy everything.

The time for secrets was over.

“Screw the rules. We need more firepower and allies.” Maybe he could open up to Mac? Having him and his family on their side would be a boon. A thought to ponder later. He tucked the messages into one of his many magical pockets for safekeeping and continued down the hallway. After another turn, he perused the surrounding area. Then he tapped three different bricks and pressed on another stone.

A glitter appeared upon the stones. Then the stones disappeared to form a doorway. Magic lights guided the way down.

Hurrying down the stairs, he ended up in a small hallway with a massive room built underneath the academy. Multiple layers of protective wards surrounded the lower levels. They were anchored to Nucira’s magical gemstones, the Scarlet Crystalline Laumeldite.

Solomon studied what was happening within the room. He tossed his robes onto a chair, yanked at his tie, and rolled up his sleeves.

In the middle of a protective circle carved into the floor was a child covered with a series of multiple protection wards.

A massive flare of blue and white light and flames filled the entire dome.

The boy’s magic.

Arcane magic.

The foundation for everything magical. Few mages had pure arcane magic.

Thanks to a devious societal group, the Society of the Carmine Knot, that gained control over the last four generations, many folks believed arcane magic was evil. That arcane could destroy.

This was Solomon’s magic.

Solomon’s gift.

Solomon’s secret.

To save this child, he needed to use his gift. Like someone long ago saved him when he arrived.

Thanks to the restrictions created by the Carmine, he remained in the East and became a simple Professor of Mythology with air and lightning magic registered to his name. To hide, to live, and to save lives.

Rushing forward, white flames covered his lower arms.

This was Solomon’s magic.

Solomon’s gift.

Solomon’s secret.

This tore him away from love.