Spell Bound
Fourteen

Lucian

I carry Arabella in my arms as I walk her back towards the pack.

It was my poor decision making that put her in the predicament that she is now.

I knew that she was persistent, headstrong and irrational at times. These traits that I found endearing are now the reason that she is in my arms crying silently from the pain that she was in.

I should have stopped her from running the second that she touched the door, but I was so curious to see how she would react that I sat back and let it play out.

"I don't want to die." She whispers out softly as I step out from the edge of the woods.

I stop walking when I hear her words. Just the thought of her dying was enough to make my heart shatter, and piss my wolf off even more than he already was.

I slowly lowered us both to the ground, still holding her close to me as she continues to take in deep breathes of my scent.

"You will never have to worry about being in pain ever again, Bella." I whisper to her before I began to place light kisses on her beautifully curled strands of hair. "I will always be there to protect you." I vowed.

She let out a whimper as I continued to cradle her body, her body shoke and her breaths came out shaky. It is probably because she went from extreme pain to relief so quickly.

“I swear to you Bella, I will never make this same mistake again.” I whisper to her.

She whimpers again, pulling my shoulder, so our bodies are pressed against one another.

I feel my heart break once again as I feel her tears roll onto my skin.

I remind myself that this moment will pass, and she will most likely fall asleep in my arms before I return to the room that is ours for the moment.

I stroke her hair as she continues to breathe in my scent, as I whisper my promises to her.

My promise to help her get revenge against whichever coven she points out to me, revenge against them all if that is what she wants.

Promises that I would be the perfect mate to her. That I would do everything in my power to make sure that she is happy in our relationship.

Even though I cannot hear all of her thoughts yet, do to us not completing the ritual there was a thought of hers that I heard. This promise is one that I vow to keep until the very end of our existence. The most important one that I can give her.

That I will love and accept her even though she is different from most witches.

Her breathing starts to even, as her body relaxes in my arms. Letting me know that my little spitfire has fallen asleep.

“I will always protect you, even from yourself.” I said my final promise as I stood up with her in my arms and begin to walk back to our room.

I slowly shut the door to Arabella and I’s room, keeping my eyes on her sleeping form until I couldn’t.

I hate the fact that I had to restrain her, but I made a promise to protect her anything that would cause her harm. Including herself.

I know that she regrets her impulsive actions while actively dealing with the consequences of them, but I am sure once that storm is over she will be plotting another escape plan.

“I heard some gossip that your mate escaped you.”

I take a deep breath before turning to see King Judah leaning against the wall.

I bow my head to him slight before answering. “Yes, that won’t be happening again. After seeing what she had to deal with first hand.”

“I’ve known that some mates become uncomfortable when they are separated when the bond is new, but what some pack members described-“ He shakes his head cutting his sentence off.

“I know.” I agree. “I never expected that to happen. There is very little information available on activating the ritual between wolves and non-wolves. Now that I know that this is the outcome I will keep her restrained or close to me at all times."

Judah nods. "It is the best thing that you can do for now. Once the bond is completed and has settled I am sure that you will be able to have space from one another."

I never want to have space from my little spitfire, but I am not delusional and think that she feels the same way.

I hear footsteps getting closer to the two of us and I turn to see Marisol walking toward us.

Judah groans. "You are supposed to be in bed resting."

Marisol giggled before launching herself into Judah's arms. "I have been resting for the past four days, at least give me one day of freedom." She states before planting a quick kiss on his lips.

Judah grips her by her hair, there are more brown strands in it than the last time I saw her. Seeing this sent a warning to me that she may be declining at a rapid pace. "I need you to rest, I don't know how to reverse what is happening to you."

Marisol huffs before turning to me. "I heard from some pack members that your mate escaped you already. She hasn't even been here a full day and she is already causing you trouble." She teased, as she muffled her laughter with her hand.

I should have known that my mate's reckless behavior would cause gossip to spread across the Alpha King's pack like a wildfire. Especially the moment that the two of us had near the edge of the woods. "Yes, she did escape me. She quickly realized the consequences of her actions and now I hope she accepts that her and I are forever."

Marisol frowns at me. "Is she okay? I haven't had the chance to speak to her. Someone wants to fuss over me and make me stay in bed at all times." She states before she rolls her eyes dramatically.

"I will speak with her about having a conversation soon. I am afraid that her prejudice for our kind will hurt your feelings. She is not above name calling and cheap shots." I state with a chuckle.

Marisol nods. "Do you think that you will be able to ask her a few questions about what we have been dealing with?" She asks.

"Yes, do you have any questions in particular that you would like me to ask her?"

Marisol nods. "I know that this question may not seem important to the two of you, but the main thing that I want to know is where blood magic originated from. If we know the beginning, we might figure out how to end it."

Judah wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. "I believe that is the most important question." He smiled at her causing her to blush.

"I will make sure that is the first question that I ask her, is there anything else you would like me to ask her?" I ask, directing their attention back to me.

Marisol shakes her head. "If I have anymore questions I will just mind link Judah and he will ask you." She smiles at me before turning back to Judah. "I will be in bed resting." She palms the side of Judah's face. "Because that is what my bossy mate wants." She plants a quick kiss on his lips before turning and leaving towards their room.

"The confidence looks good on her." I comment as Judah shifts his body to watch her as she leaves.

"Yes, it does. It is unfortunate that as soon as she gained it she is dealing with what she is dealing with." Judah takes a deep breath before he continued to speak. "She is getting worse."

I nod. Even though her personality is now bubbly and confident it isn't enough to mask the effects of the blood magic. Her hair is slowly turning from the unnatural blonde to a brunette that matches her families, and her right eye is almost ninety-percent blue. "There has to be something that Arabella knows that can stop or reverse what is happening. She is intelligent, if she does not know she will figure out a way." I reassure him.

"Scarlet and Sofia are also looking into a way to help stop what is happening, but they haven't found anything." Judah runs his hand across his face, the crown on his head shifting slightly to the left. "I am just afraid what will happen to her is she loses her connection to the moon goddess altogether."

I nod along with his words. Everyone is afraid of what may happen to Marisol if she completely loses the connection to the moon goddess. It will tear apart the Alpha King's pack if they were to replace out that she died because she lost her connection to the moon goddess while doing her best to protect them.

"My mate may hold a prejudice to wolves, but she also is very inquisitive. She may not figure out a cure because of her love for me, but for her need to be the most knowledgable in the room. She is competitive and impulsive, once she knows that another witch is searching for answers she will make it her mission to replace the answer before Scarlet does."

Judah chuckles slightly. "It sounds like your mate is going to be a handful."

"I know." I say as I hold back my laughter. "She already has been, but I prefer it this way."

"The only other question that I would ask is, who does she want revenge against, and why. I am sure that all of the wolves in the pack lands would be ready to go to war with any of the covens on behalf of your mate, but there has to be a legitimate reason."

"I am curious as well, but I doubt that she will want or need help from any of us to destroy her ex-coven. She is the most powerful witch on this planet." She is the strongest witch on this planet, and she is all mine.

Judah nods his head. "I can accept that, but if she changes her mind, let her know that our help is available to her." Judah turns his head to the direction that he saw Marisol leave. I can tell that he is probably anxious to see her after our conversation.

"Go be with your mate." I nod in the direction that he was looking. "My spitfire will figure out a way to save our Queen, until then you need to be with her as much as possible. Make sure that she is safe and protected."

I didn't have to tell him twice as he began to walk in the direction that Marisol went.

I lean against the door to Arabella and I's room, the barrier that is currently in-between us. Her slow and even breaths letting me know that she is still asleep at this moment.

As much as I crave hearing her voice, and want to ask her these questions I tell myself to be patient. After everything that she has been through today she needs her rest.

I close my eyes and continue to listen to her breath, envisioning that I am right next to her while she sleeps. It may not happen today, but she is slowly falling for me. I can feel it