Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds, #1)

by Marie Reynard

He didn’t want to contemplate what it said about his love life that someone’s lack of interest was rapidly developing into a turn-on.

The rush of power was immediate and intoxicating, like he was casting his first spell all over again. But that had taken effort, and this was easy, so smooth and simple. Victor’s energy was open to him, waiting for him, there for the taking. Where he’d expected a trickle, he received a flood.

God, he was turning into a cliché. A mage drooling over alpha energy. Could he get any more pathetic?

“With all due respect, Victor. Alpha. If you bounce your leg another goddamn time, I will not be responsible for my actions. Actions that I will carry out with love and respect.”

Fuckboys, shifter or otherwise, had never appealed to Elijah, but he could appreciate the scenery.

“I’ll leave you to get yourself prepped for Victor,” Kade said. “He’ll come for you whenever you want him to.” Elijah raised an eyebrow, but Kade only grinned and left. He couldn’t have meant that the way Elijah’s brain was trying to take it.

Victor’s wolf was in control if the hint of a growl in his voice was anything to go by or the way his lips curled to show his teeth—too rapacious to be a smile. He hadn’t moved a muscle, yet some primitive part of Elijah’s brain coiled, ready to run. The glint in Victor’s eyes said he’d like nothing more than a good chase. No, definitely not human tonight. And whatever hang-ups Victor had about mages, his wolf seemed to disagree.

For the first time since he’d started doing ward magic, it was instinctual. He’d built wards before, as he’d been taught, all formula and precision, but this was different. This was art.

With unwavering certainty, he knew he had been meant for this, meant to spin these wards, weaving a new layer into existence, protecting the pack, reinforcing the areas that had eroded, fortifying them.

Loopy from the exhaustion, Elijah stared down, the only thought in his mind that his previous efforts to avoid getting an eyeful of Victor’s dick had been wasted. From this angle, there was nothing else to look at. This was what he got for doing the right thing. He wasn’t sure if it was a reward or punishment, because fuck, he’d be thinking about it again when he had more energy.

“Elijah,” he said with a shit-eating grin. “After the way you went at it last night, I thought you and Victor would want to stay in bed for the rest of the day.”

It would never stop being annoying how Kade managed his cocky grin even in wolf form. The bastard probably practiced it in the mirror to ensure it was that impeccable level of obnoxious.

So instead, he changed the subject, not even trying to be subtle about it. “I’m going into town tomorrow. Do any of you need anything?” “Sage,” Rick said, not missing a beat. “Sage?” Victor asked. “Don’t we have a jar in the pantry?” “No, not for cooking. I mean the bundled type. Used for smudging or whatever.” “That’s perfect,” Will chimed in. “I was going to ask him to grab me a deck of tarot cards.” Victor groaned and turned to leave the kitchen. “Fuck you guys,” he said over his shoulder. “Not interested,” Kade called after him. “But I know a shop where you’ll find sage, tarot cards, and someone who might be.”

Aran I'm about to say something, and being who I am, I know you all are going to take it the wrong way. But hear me out. Elijah braced himself and waited for Aran to send his next message. Three dots appeared, paused, then appeared again. After an eternity, the message popped up on Elijah’s screen. Aran I think the ritual stretched you open. Basically, you're used to two fingers but have just taken a good, hard, night-long pounding from a giant alpha shifter dick. It might take longer than usual for your channels to return to normal. And until that happens, even an average-sized dick will slide in easier. And if you do have some of his energy left in your system, it might be trying to keep you ready for more of that thick shifter cock. All the bracing in the world would not have prepared him for that. Why were these his friends? Elijah It wasn't that kind of ritual! Aran Metaphorically! Not everything is about sex! Elijah Says the guy who used an extended anal sex metaphor to describe the current state of my magic. Aran I mean, if the dick fits. Miles I didn't think it was possible, but Aran has ruined magic for me.

“Lady of Dread and Slaughter, Lady of the East, Female Devourer, Mistress of the Oracle,”

“Sorry about him,” Victor said, voice rough. “As much as we’ve tried, we’ve never quite housebroken him.” Elijah huffed out a laugh. “You did say your betas were obnoxious.” “Him more than the rest.” “We all have one of those.”

“So you didn’t learn how we bond?” “Can’t say that was part of the curriculum. But I suppose there’s always MateHub if I get really curious.” Kade snorted. “Bond, not fuck.” “Don’t they go hand in hand?” “Sometimes, but those aren’t the body parts I’d pick.” It was Elijah’s turn to snort. He’d left himself open for that one. “Okay, fine. I’m going to regret asking this, but how do you bond?” “When two shifters love each other very much—” “I am perfectly capable of throwing a fireball at your head.”

Kade nodded. “Sometimes, if a shifter’s head is so far up their own ass their nose isn’t functioning properly, the people closest to them will notice it before they do.”

“You’re dangerously close to smiling right now. It’s pretty disgusting. I can’t even look at you.”

She’d also been insistent that it was for Victor’s mage, but Elijah didn’t need to know that.

Those books predated this house, this territory, brought with them when they’d crossed the ocean in hopes of land where they could run free.

Victor’s misgivings about showing him the attic were forgotten. There was no question in his mind: Elijah belonged there.

His hands roamed, sure and exploring, like he had a list of places he’d been wanting to touch and was now knocking them off one by one.

“She’s your… familiar?” “No, she’s a normal cat, as far as I can tell. There’s nothing magical about her. And she’s eyeing me now as I say this. Don’t look at me that way. You’re your own special kind of magic.”

Elijah was meant to be there, savoring the night air, the clean breeze coming through the forest, free from the taint of decay. Victor couldn’t get over how right he looked.

He didn’t need any help thinking of things he wanted to do to Elijah, and his wolf was less than pleased with Kade talking about him in that way.

Elijah’s heart clenched at the sight. A desperate, primal need coursed through him, so intense it nearly consumed him. It might have come from Victor or himself or both. It didn’t matter; the instinct was the same. Protect the pack, the land, each other.

“Okay, but for the record, you using my energy to kick ass? It was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. And as soon as we’re both recovered…” He pulled Elijah in once more and let his kiss promise all the dirty things he’d do to him, enjoying the lust in Elijah’s gaze when they broke apart.

“How’s Oliver?” Victor croaked out as she hauled him up. “Good as new. No one would ever guess he took ten years off my life tonight. The only way I got him to stay in his room was by promising I’d personally go check on Elijah.” “Elijah, huh?” “Yeah, sorry. You were an afterthought. You may have some serious competition for Elijah’s attention.” “I can’t fault his priorities.” His eyes jumped to where Elijah swayed on his feet, directing various pack members to grab Kade and the chest. Victor knew he was smiling like an idiot, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop. Katrina beamed at him. “Hey, would you look at that? Whatever happened out here must have finally knocked your head from your ass. It’s nice to see your face again.”

“Everyone else good?” “All good. Though, seriously. We felt what Elijah did with the pack bonds. If you think you can send him away without a mutiny, you’re sorely mistaken.” “He’s here for as long as he wants to be.”

“You do realize this would be easier if you let us carry you.” Katrina huffed in exasperation. She was already taking more of his weight than Victor’s pride could handle. “Hey now, let him be the badass, stoic alpha to impress his mage,” Lauren said from his other side. “We aren’t helping him walk. We’re huddling under the protection of his strong, manly arms.” Katrina snorted. “I’m getting a new pack once I can walk.”

Then they were hauling Victor upstairs. Before he could check to see what they were doing with Elijah, amusement bubbled up in his mind. He glanced over his shoulder, knowing he’d find Elijah there. His pack hadn’t bothered asking if he should be taken to a guest room. They’d made the executive decision to bring him to Victor’s.

His well-past-morning wood nestled against Elijah’s ass. It perked up even more when Elijah pushed back, half-asleep but practically purring in contentment as he woke. “Damn shifters,” he grumbled. There was fondness in his tone. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up if this is what you’re like twelve hours after having your guts almost ripped out.”

When he kissed Elijah, the steady presence of the tether flared wide open, and he was swept away in a simmering want that was only half his own. He pulled back to look at Elijah. “How does this work?” Elijah raised an eyebrow at him. “Please tell me I don’t have to explain sex to you.” Victor pinched his side. “The tether, you ass.”

“Here?” he asked, though he knew damn well where Victor needed him. His mouth hovered above Victor’s skin, his exhales gusting over his collarbone. “I thought I got to be the tease in this relationship.”

“Can’t rush this. How often does a mage get the opportunity to bite an alpha wolf shifter?”