What Magic?

Cayden is Twenty-Four

Cayden knew something was wrong. I was in a meeting with Uncle Bjourn and I was frustrated. I sent my dad my feelings to go talk to Cassie. My Uncle cleared his throat. I put the files on his desk. “We have been more successful in the last year with our busts than prior.”

Uncle Bjourn replied, “Than ever you mean.”

Yes, well having Ashley on the inside was invaluable.

I admitted, “I want her out, but she’s refused.”

He asked, “And when you asked her to meet me?”

I cringed, “She balked, big time. I don’t think I have heard one person say so many scattered words at one time in my entire life.” Literally. I’d never seen someone so nervous in my life. Her voice squeaked so high I nearly winced.

He sighed, “It goes against every instinct in my body to continue on with her without meeting her myself. Even though that would be to the detriment of our people and the realms. I am sworn to protect both.”

I acknowledged yet again, “I feel very protective of her.”

He nodded, “Oddly, I do as well, and I haven’t met her.”

He was clearly struggling with the decision of what to do. He changed the subject, “What’s wrong with my niece?”

I snorted, “Isn’t that the question?”

He stared at me. I replied, “In part it’s what’s wrong with all of us. All of them going down fucked us all up.” I refused to think about it. I couldn’t go back to it right now with everything so fresh in my mind.

I forced my mind to be in the present. Uncle Bjourn acknowledged, “It was a very scary day.”

I asked, “Has anyone whispered about anything having to do with it?”

He shook his head, “Did you ask Ashley?” I nodded, “Yes.” He waited, but when I didn’t say anything he added, “And?” I scoffed, “She looked at me like she had no clue what I was talking about. Before she could answer her friends swooped in and changed the subject.”

He pressed, “Then you asked them about it.”

I nodded, “Yes, they all went down.”

He drew a conclusion, “But Ashley didn’t.” I replied, “They weren’t with her and when they bring it up, she gets agitated.” He raised an eyebrow. I explained, “That’s why they claim they changed the subject and got her away from me. They are only somewhat lying.”

He told me, “Get with Eric and ask how their wolf less reacted. Maybe her reaction is normal.”

I asked, “Then why would they get her away from me? They have wolf less pack members.”

He reasoned, “You didn’t try to talk to them though.” That was true. We wrapped our meeting, and I left.

My mom was waiting. I greeted, “Hi, mom.”

She crossed her arms, “Your dad has Cassie so out with it.”

I asked, “Out with what?” She said, “I’ll hold a family meeting, and we will go through it all with you and Cassie until you both admit your feelings behind everything that’s happened. Alexander is going to come see Cassie and talk through it with her.”

I asked, “How do you know that? I mean, he texted me earlier but…”

She cut me off, “I asked Haley.”

Naturally. She said, “You and Cassie are struggling and I’m at the end of my patience for this bullshit. You guys feel guilty about being happy.” I argued, “I don’t feel guilty for being happy with my mate.” She replied, “Well, I’m certain Cassie does.”

I agreed, “Yes, she does.”

She pressed, “Then WHAT is your problem?”

I answered, “I couldn’t help her. She went down and I couldn’t do anything. Seeing Haley that day…” I trailed off before acknowledging, “Broke my heart on multiple levels. Seeing Cass down, I can’t even rationalize how terrifying that was. Going through a portal and seeing the realm’s Princess, who not only babysat me, but is my mother in law, in visible despair rocked me. She never shows emotions.”

My mom nodded, “No, she doesn’t. I consider it personal growth she didn’t shut down that day, but we aren’t talking about her feelings right now. You couldn’t have stopped what happened to Cassie. It happened to all of them.”

I asked, “Then why they HELL isn’t someone taking credit? Someone wants us to move on and I can’t!”

She urged, “Then don’t. Keep looking for answers. But life doesn’t stop. You didn’t do anything wrong that day.”

I yelled, “Then why was my mate on the ground screaming in pain! My fiancée was rolling around in agony and I stood there with my thumb up my ass.”

She rolled her eyes, “You did what you could.”

I ground out, “It wasn’t enough.”

She kissed my cheek, “And now you’ll feel better.” I did not feel better. She scoffed, “I felt that. You will eventually. Now, go hunt down your mate and send your dad back to me.”

She bit her lip nervously so I went through her feelings. I told her, “Cassie has plenty of time to find a dress.”

We had a date for our wedding and the details were coming together. She sighed, “I just want her to have the moment she wants so badly. I’m going out on my mission, and I worry people will pressure her into letting her mom conjure it so we stop going to dress shops.”

I asked, “What people? Her Fairy relatives adore going shopping. You, Tenley, and Aubrielle have gone when you can. Her mom loves spending time with her and so does literally everyone who goes.”

My mom waved, “People talk around the realms. They wonder why she doesn’t just conjure the dress. Or have her mom do it. They just don’t get it.”

I assured her, “Cassie won’t back down. Plus, having her mom conjure the dress is her back up plan.”

My mom groaned, “But I don’t want her to have to do that. I want her to have everything she wants. She’s my daughter now too and I want her to have the world. It’s so stressful when the world tries to get in the way of that. Sometimes the universe, or in this case dressmakers, try to stand in my kids way. I’ll chop one to pieces if they can’t get it right for her.”

I laughed, “That’s hilarious.”

She warned, “I’m dead serious.”

I grinned, “I know and it makes me love you so much. I’m glad Cassie has two moms who would fight tooth and nail for her. You know it makes Haley deliriously happy when you say things like that in her presence.” My mom scoffed, “Because she got the world’s worst mother in law. The number of times I had to talk Veronica down from killing her was high.”

She paused then confided, “I think that was a mistake too. We should’ve just told her to kill the bitch. Or told a Fairy. They hated that horrid woman too.”

I snorted, “If I’d have met Cassie before she died, I would’ve killed her.”

She blew out a breath, “That tells me that we should’ve just told Veronica to kill her. I don’t think I’ve ever regretted anything more in my life.”

I put a hand on her shoulder, “It wasn’t just you that advised against it. Everyone wanted Haley to have her happy family.”

She snorted, “But it wasn’t happy, was it? That girl has such a lock on her emotions I think we all hesitated. She’s kind to a fault, but even she didn’t want that woman around. We should’ve done it for her because that’s what she deserves. I know everyone was glad when Arion died, but I wasn’t. He did bad things, but I think we needed him.”

I gasped, “MOM! He kidnapped Haley!”

She replied, “I know what he did, but he did it. That’s my point. He did the things that weren’t popular, but he had reasons for doing them. I’m not saying they were right. Or that they would’ve been my choices, they wouldn’t have. I just think if he’d lived, he’d have done what none of us could do and killed Cassandra Conners. She deserved it.”

From what I knew, that was true. I also knew that my mom knew more than me.

She waved, “Just go find Cassie.”

I asked, “Are you going to be ok?”

She laughed, “Cassandra is dead now and that’s what matters. The woman is lucky you and Cassie didn’t meet when she was alive, which is confounding. We were around them all the time, but somehow you two weren’t.” I’d call it annoying. A thought that could possibly be something popped into my mind, involving my ex who wasn’t yet dead. I’d have to go talk to her and ask my question.

She waved, “Anyway, she’s lucky you guys didn’t meet because I would’ve killed her if she said anything to you about not being mates like she did to other kids. I would have NONE of her attitude and no one would’ve thought to corral me besides your father, and he’d have let me go off the deep end.”

I snorted, “Thanks, mom.”

She winked, “Anytime.”

I jogged and went to find my dad and mate. I found my dad first. I asked, “Uhh, aren’t you with Cass?”

I smacked my own head, “She’s with Alexander now.”

He nodded, “Yup. You good?” I nodded, “Mom corned me and talked about my feelings.” He warned, “Don’t make us do that. Talk to your mate and us. It’s what we do.” I nodded, “I know. It’s just hard feeling like I failed her.”

I put my hand up when he went to protest. I said, “I know you’re going to say I didn’t, but it feels like I did.”

He conceded, “Feelings are not always rational, and handling failure is hard for us.”

I rubbed my face, “Particularly the kind of failure that is induced by our mate being in pain. I just want to solve this for her. I want to know how it happened and make sure it never happens again, but no one is talking.” Only one pack was being weird about it though. With one specific member.

It didn’t make sense though, because her birthday wasn’t the day we went down. It was Melanie McAlister’s. Ashley’s birthday was after hers, but Melanie wasn’t acting weird; Ashley was. My dad asked, “Where did you go?”

I admitted, “To a weird conversation with Ashley about this situation. Hell, it wasn’t even with her. Her friends swooped in and whisked her away.”

He nodded, “I remember.”

He would since I came home and talked to him about it.

I told him, “I just need to know what happened. I can’t see Cass like that again.”

I knew my voice broke. My dad pulled me in for a hug. He assured me, “We will do everything in our power to make sure that it doesn’t.”

I pulled back and nodded before jogging towards where the bond told me my mate was.

I found Cassie and Alexander both drinking in silence. Alexander linked, “I’ve started the process and she’s mostly good. Now her and Rain need you.”

I teased, “Need me how?”

He replied, “You evil motherfucker. Don’t you dare make me say it.”

I hid my grin playing dumb, “How am I supposed to help when you won’t tell me?”

He ground out, “Sex, asshole. Have life affirming sex and watch Rain run or something. She told Oden she hasn’t run since we went down.”

Damn it! I should’ve asked about that. I nodded to him.

He went to leave. I linked, “In all seriousness, thanks. I should’ve asked about Rain and didn’t.”

He replied, “We are all on a learning curve when we get our mates. Or so I’m told.”

I agreed, “It’s definitely one and something tells me in you’re in for it with yours.”

He asked, “Why?”

I replied, “Because I’ve read up on people who are highly intelligent in anticipation of adding a certain someone to the family alerts. They can be quite hard to reason with because they have logic on their side.”

He shrugged that off and left.

I got Cassie to our pond and figured out exactly how to help Rain. She was a massive wolf, and I could ride her easily. It probably looked like me riding a horse, just bareback with no saddle. I could tell out on the run Rain really needed this. I would make a note to go for rides with her more.

When we got back Cassie got back in charge and the mischief I felt in our bond told me I was in for it. She was edging me, and I was nearly losing it. Then she had all thoughts literally leave my brain as I stared at sexy Sailor Moon. It was a literal fantasy of mine. I think the first time I jacked off was thinking of Sailor Moon. She’d even made the outfit sexier. Aesir above, help me. Then she spoke to her mom and popped away.

I yelled, “ARE YOU FOR REAL RIGHT NOW?!”

Milana burst into laughter. I turned and saw her and Hendrix behind us. He winced, “I guess she left you all hard and bothered.”

Milana said, “It’s hot and bothered.” He pointed at my dick, “It’s hard, not hot. I’m positive a certain Princess of this realm would agree.”

I asked, “And you are here because?”

Milana answered, “I was going to try to get the partial Fairy intoxicated and coax out of her what was wrong. I see someone else already enacted my plan.”

I told her, “You’re a good friend.” I yanked my shorts back up and took off, following my bond with Cassie.

My dad’s emotions told me she was with him. Angus saw me and started laughing, “I knew it! I just KNEW mom and dad’s feelings related to Cass. If I could get in on this, I’d be happy.”

I rolled my eyes and kept going. He called, “It’s no wonder you are mated to a Fairy. You need to lighten up.”

I yelled back, “I’m changing our meeting location tomorrow. Tell dad we are meeting in the dungeons. I have questions for Corursula.”

He groaned, “And just like that, you ruined the mood. My sister in law can bring it back. I have faith.” I knew he’d still tell my dad despite his ruined mood.

I burst into my childhood home in time to see my mom in an outfit herself. I asked my dad, “Was mom sexy Velma?”

He answered, “YES! Let’s go!”

I grabbed his hand, “Yes, but just one second.” He groaned, “I swear to Aesir, you kids like to test my love for you. Go ahead.”

I grinned, “I told Angus…”