magical-mistakes-vm

[magical-mistakes-vm]

22

CHAPTER 21

While Mahala and Bala are at the Cadona Mansion, Vollrath, Baldur, and Elmar have a meeting...

Vollrath’s phone chimed, the insistent ping cutting through the relative quiet of the room. He reluctantly pulled the device from his pocket, his thumb swiping across the screen to reveal the message. A weary sigh escaped his lips, a prelude to the eye-roll that inevitably followed. Typical Balor. At least the infuriating mage was in good spirits, if the breezy tone of the text was anything to go by.

Elmar, ever observant, noticed Vollrath's reaction. His dark eyebrow arched in silent inquiry, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He’d learned over time to gauge Vollrath’s moods based on the smallest of cues, and the combination of the sigh and the upward gaze spoke volumes. “Dare I ask?” Elmar ventured, his voice carefully neutral, unsure of what fresh absurdity Balor had managed to conjure.

Vollrath’s expression was a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. He shook his head slowly as he recounted the contents of the message. “My brother,” he began, his voice laced with a dry sarcasm, “has inquired if we can… keep,” he paused for emphasis, his fingers making air quotes, “the cute, inquisitive, little imp.” He snorted softly. “Apparently, he ‘likes her’ and finds her ‘fun.’” Vollrath’s head gave another, more vigorous shake as his thumbs flew across the screen, composing a reply. “He further elaborated that he doesn’t think that she will ‘eat much’ or ‘take up much room’ in my mansion.” Despite his internal turmoil, he was treading carefully in his response to Balor. Pragmatism dictated politeness for the time being. They needed Balor’s particular brand of chaotic magic, and more importantly, Balor was the one currently ensuring Mahala’s safety, a fact that Vollrath couldn't afford to jeopardize.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Baldur inquired, his gaze shifting between Elmar and Vollrath, a furrow in his brow suggesting a genuine attempt to grasp the underlying tension. Was he failing to perceive a crucial nuance in their exchange? Or was Vollrath merely succumbing to his often-present irritability?

"Of course, in principle, it is a positive development. I just…" Vollrath paused, his eyelids fluttering shut as he drew a deliberate breath through his nostrils, seeking a moment of composure. "It's Balor, you see. He, too, is a Nachtnebel. Which unfortunately means the ancient prophecy we’ve been dissecting could just as readily apply to him." His jaw tightened, a visible manifestation of the internal struggle he endured to voice this unwelcome possibility. It was a thought he had been actively suppressing ever since Balor's unexpected appearance in the conference room – an arrival made all the more unsettling by Balor's apparent prior knowledge of a highly confidential Council meeting for which he held a seat yet had not been formally informed. The manner in which Balor had simply walked in, exuding an air of effortless belonging, had planted a seed of unease that Vollrath had been desperately trying to ignore.

"For fuck's sake, Vol," Elmar interjected, his tone a low growl laced with exasperation. "Balor is undeniably an ass, a monumental one at that, but even he wouldn't stoop to overtly trying to usurp your position in such a blatant manner. He would have made his move long before now if that were his intention, especially during the numerous instances when you were absent from these chambers, wouldn't he?"

"That's not what he's saying," Baldur stated, his voice calm yet carrying a note of intrigue that immediately snagged Elmar's attention. Elmar’s thick brows furrowed, crinkling the skin above his intense gaze as he turned fully to face Baldur. The air in the room, thick with unspoken tensions from the day's earlier events, seemed to crackle with this new line of thought. "It's always been assumed, hasn't it? Ever since Vollrath took control of the Coven, everyone just automatically accepted that he was the Lion, the prophesied protector." Baldur paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes flicking between Elmar and the silent, brooding figure of Vollrath. "But what if we’ve all been wrong? What if it was Balor all along? He is the elder brother, after all. Doesn’t that carry some weight?"

Vollrath, who had been staring intently at the intricate patterns in the ancient wooden table, finally lifted his gaze as Baldur finished speaking. A slow nod, almost imperceptible at first, confirmed he had been listening. Inside, however, a knot of unease was tightening in his stomach. The implications of their speculation were unsettling, stirring emotions he preferred to keep buried.

Elmar leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "If that were the case," he began, his voice laced with a confident skepticism, "I think we would have seen things go very differently today. Certain… reactions would have been absent." He paused for emphasis, his gaze locking onto Vollrath. "Icebergs don't simply melt without significant heat, Vol. If she truly meant nothing to you, then do you honestly believe that your perpetually frosty exterior would have thawed even a fraction? When have you ever felt a flicker of jealousy over a woman? Just name one single instance. And yet… today… well, today was certainly… interesting." A bit of a cocky smirk played on Elmar's lips as he continued, his confidence growing. He’d known both of the formidable warlock brothers since they were unruly children, witnessing firsthand Vollrath's characteristic indifference towards romantic entanglements. "Now, after all that transpired, you’re trying to tell us she's destined for Balor again? It doesn't quite add up, does it?"

Baldur chuckled softly, adding his own observation to the unfolding theory. "He has a point, big guy," he agreed, nodding towards Elmar. "And not to mention the rather significant fact that if your charming big brother was indeed supposed to be her destined partner, I think Elmar and I, your ever-present shadows, would have noticed at least a spark of something when he met her for the very first time. Instead, his reaction was… well, Balor being Balor. Polite, detached, almost clinical."

Vollrath finally broke his silence, a low, guttural grumble escaping his lips. "This is precisely why I don't do relationships," he stated flatly, the words laced with a deep-seated annoyance. He hated the uncomfortable, introspective nature of this conversation, the way it forced him to acknowledge feelings he’d spent decades suppressing. The entire situation was infuriating.

"I mean, if you genuinely hate it so bad…" Baldur began again, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. Whatever teasing remark he had been about to utter died abruptly on his lips. The look Vollrath was now directing his way was not merely annoyed; it was downright murderous. Baldur swallowed hard. As the Master Warlock of their Coven, Vollrath possessed the terrifying ability to kill with a mere thought, without so much as a touch. Some lines, Baldur wisely concluded, were definitely better left uncrossed. The heavy silence that descended upon the room was more telling than any words could have been.

“I would strongly advise against completing that particular sentence,” Elmar interjected, a suppressed chuckle bubbling beneath his earnest tone. He cast a pointed glance at the other man. “And Vol,” he continued, his voice firm yet laced with concern, “reign it in. He was merely teasing you, a bit roughly perhaps, but ultimately in jest. You absolutely MUST develop a thicker skin if you intend to prevent your… shall we say, volatile emotions from turning her delicate mind into an unsavory pudding at some unforeseen moment.” His dark eyebrows arched dramatically as he inclined his head towards Vollrath, a silent plea in his expressive eyes. “I am acutely aware that there is likely some form of utterly bizarre and potentially sanity-shattering chaos currently unfolding within the labyrinth of your brain,” Elmar elaborated, his gaze unwavering, “but you must, for your own sake and hers, gain some semblance of control over this internal maelstrom. She has made her affections abundantly clear, displaying a singular focus of attention solely upon you. Balor is not going to interfere; you can be certain of that. Even if, hypothetically speaking, he were to somehow embody the legendary Lion itself, he would not dare to act against you in secret or otherwise. You possess a deep understanding of his character and his respect for protocol, a knowledge that runs as deep as our shared history.” Elmar’s attention shifted between his two companions, his lips pressing into a thin line of growing frustration at the palpable tension that hung heavy in the air.

“I know, I know,” Vollrath conceded, expelling a long, ragged breath that seemed to carry a sliver of his inner turmoil with it. He consciously reined in the tempest of his emotions, his gaze fixed on the worn surface of the table before him. An overwhelming confluence of pressing concerns was swirling around him, each demanding immediate attention and making it an agonizing struggle to focus on any single issue for more than a fleeting moment. The woman who had, much to his chagrin, burrowed her way into the deepest recesses of his heart, now found herself under the care – or perhaps, control – of his own brother, a man with whom his relationship was, to put it mildly, strained even on the most auspicious of days. Furthermore, a subtle but persistent unease had taken root within the Coven, a creeping suspicion that someone within their ranks was actively working against them, sowing discord and undermining their efforts. A nagging intuition whispered that the true scope of their predicament was far greater and more complex than any of them currently comprehended. The weight of these uncertainties pressed down on him, leaving him with a profound sense of disquiet and a gnawing lack of security.

Baldur, ever the pragmatist, cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to the matter at hand. “Then let us endeavor to refocus our collective energies on the critical matters that require our immediate consideration,” he stated, his voice calm and measured, a stark contrast to the underlying tension in the room. “This will allow us to conclude our discussion at a reasonably decent hour, affording us the opportunity to obtain some much-needed rest before the inevitable demands of the tomorrow. We must not forget that we have a uniquely powerful novice witch under our charge, for whose magical development and well-being we will all bear a shared responsibility. Additionally, there is the potential task of thoroughly investigating the aforementioned mansion, the necessity of which hinges upon the discoveries made tonight by her and Balor.” Baldur’s keen gaze moved steadily between his two friends, carefully weighing their limited options and considering the most logical starting point for their deliberations. “We have a finite amount of time and a considerable amount of ground to cover. It is imperative that we proceed efficiently and decisively, addressing each issue methodically so that we are adequately prepared to confront whatever challenges lie ahead.”

“Let’s start with who we think the weak link is besides Jonathan,” Elmar began, his gaze sweeping between Vollrath and Baldur. “Obviously, it’s ballsy enough to go into Vollrath’s office and think he can go through his desk, but he had to figure he had some kind of backup to do that. I wouldn’t even do that, and I consider myself his friend. What would possess a lesser warlock to attempt such a brazen act? If it hadn’t been Mahala that interrupted him, but one of us, he had to have formulated some kind of plan on what he’d say or do. I seriously doubt attacking us was his intended course of action. That seems too…unintelligent, even for Jonathan in a panicked state.”

“Agreed,” Vollrath affirmed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Attacking me directly would have been disastrous for him, potentially fatal. So, the question remains: who would he have ready to vouch for him and provide cover? It would have to be someone higher up in the Coven, someone in good standing, capable of concocting a convincing story that would withstand scrutiny. The risk of exposure for both of them would be immense otherwise.” Vollrath paused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to mentally sift through the ranks of the Coven.

“Do you have him assigned to any other projects currently, or perhaps collaborating with anyone on other tasks?” Baldur interjected, his voice laced with the same frustration that was evident on the other two men’s faces. “Maybe that was the excuse he intended to use as a cover – claiming he was looking for something related to that collaborative effort.” Baldur shrugged, the gesture conveying his own lack of certainty regarding Jonathan’s motivations. The sheer audacity of rifling through Vollrath’s personal belongings was still difficult for him to fully comprehend.

“He’s been lending a hand to a couple of individuals with smaller, relatively insignificant projects, nothing that would warrant such behavior,” Vollrath replied, his tone reflecting his own bewilderment. “However, I’m not going to entirely dismiss the possibility that he intended to use that as a flimsy excuse if confronted. The individuals he’s assisting might be completely unaware of his true intentions, which means we’re going to have to be exceedingly careful in how we proceed with our investigation. The last thing we want to do is inadvertently spook anyone who might be actively working to undermine the three of us. We need to gather information discreetly and ascertain the extent of this potential treachery without alerting the conspirators.” Vollrath sighed heavily, the weight of the situation visibly pressing down on him, his shoulders beginning to slump. “And now Balor as well. Someone deliberately tipped him off about Jonathan’s actions. Did they do it naively, perhaps thinking that Balor’s loyalty to Jonathan would somehow shield him from the consequences? I was genuinely shocked at Balor’s response, his unexpected… resignation.”

“I probably was the only one who wasn’t entirely surprised by Balor’s reaction,” Elmar confessed, his statement earning him inquisitive looks from the other two. “I don’t share the same history and inherent distrust that you two have with Balor. Furthermore, I observed his genuine concern and profound unhappiness with Mahala’s recent… instability. Regardless of your past interactions, he was clearly looking out for her well-being, and looking out for those weaker or more vulnerable has always been a defining characteristic of your brother, Vollrath.” Elmar was relieved when Vollrath offered a slow nod of agreement, choosing not to challenge his assessment. They already had a potentially significant internal crisis brewing; the last thing they needed was to exacerbate the situation with unnecessary internal conflict.

“El’s right,” Baldur conceded, his gaze softening slightly as he considered Elmar’s point, “he does have a tendency to shield those he perceives as weaker, and that often includes women. It's a frustratingly chivalrous streak, but it’s undeniably there.” He tapped a finger against his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. “Maybe someone on the Council, perhaps someone who was uncertain about which way the disciplinary vote was leaning, discreetly informed Balor of Jonathan’s duplicity. Balor’s unusual appearance might not have been an attempt to undermine your authority, Vol, but rather a strategic move orchestrated by someone who actually supported your proposed punishment.”

Baldur paused, pacing slowly as he voiced his evolving theory. “Think about it. He didn’t even directly challenge your pronouncements, Vol, his only real demand was to meet Mahala, a request that, according to established Council protocol, you were obligated to grant. It wasn't until after everyone else had departed the chamber that he raised any substantive objections, and even then, his immediate target wasn’t you, but rather Elmar and myself, because of our deliberate omission of information.” He offered a small, almost apologetic shrug, a slight upward curve touching one corner of his mouth.

“So,” Vol began, a thoughtful expression replacing his earlier frustration, “whoever tipped him off might have inadvertently done us a favor. While Jonathan might not have a high-ranking conspirator actively working to destabilize the coven, I think we can all agree that his behavior was undeniably suspicious. He outright lied to the three of us, and it defies logic to think he believed that one, if not all, of us wouldn’t eventually uncover his fabrications. Even if Mahala wasn't…”

Vol’s words trailed off abruptly as the distinct, synchronized chime of their phones sliced through the air. A collective groan seemed to ripple through the room as all three warlocks instinctively reached for their phones. Vol’s eyes scanned the brief message displayed on his screen, his breath hitching in his throat. “Fuck!” The expletive escaped as a low, guttural sigh, his eyelids squeezing shut as his head gave a slow, disbelieving shake. There was simply no scenario in which a summons from his brother, urging him to immediately scry the notoriously private Codona mansion, could be interpreted as anything remotely positive.

“I’m going to venture a guess that we all received the same cryptic missive?” Baldur inquired, his gaze sweeping between Vol and Elmar, his usual sardonic amusement noticeably absent. “How often does anyone request a scrying of a specific location, especially the Codona estate, rather than simply traveling there directly? The very nature of this request sends a shiver of unease down my spine. My instinct screams that we should proceed with extreme caution. I propose we go in armed, and I’m not just talking about our inherent magical abilities. If this turns out to be nothing more than a trivial discovery, then no harm done, but if there’s something more sinister at play, then we’ll be prepared to face it.”

“Agreed,” Elmar affirmed with a decisive nod, his usual calm demeanor edged with a palpable tension. Judging by the grim reactions and worried expressions etched onto the faces of the other two powerful warlocks, none of them harbored even a sliver of optimism regarding the cryptic message. While Elmar possessed a considerable degree of faith in Balor’s capabilities to protect Mahala under normal circumstances, the events of the day had already veered drastically off course, leaving him with a gnawing premonition about just how much further into chaos their carefully ordered world might descend.

reblog banner @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

21

Chapter 20

Balor and Mahala head to the Codona Mansion

Balor extended his hand towards her, his voice firm, "Give me your keys." The black truck crunched over the gravel of the long driveway leading up to the Codona estate's mansion. Darkness had enveloped them during their journey, and Balor was taking no chances with fumbling for keys in the lock.

If he had her keys, he could unlock the door remotely using magic—a skill she hadn't yet mastered. He made a mental note to ensure that either he or Vollrath would rectify that oversight as soon as possible. The poor girl had no inkling of the power she would wield once he and his younger brother were finished with her training.

He smirked to himself, imagining the surprise on her face when she finally realized her full potential. Balor had seen that spark of raw magic within her, and it was his mission to fan it into a flame that would consume her enemies and leave her standing triumphant.

"Why?" Mahala asked, her curiosity piqued. Yet, there was an underlying trust in her tone, a belief that he had a valid reason for his request. With a hint of reluctance, her keys jingled as they fell into his outstretched hand. Her gaze remained fixed on him, a silent demand for an explanation that she wasn't entirely sure she would receive. And even if he did offer one, she wasn't confident that it would make any sense to her. The situation was shrouded in mystery, and Mahala was caught between her innate trust and a growing unease.. He muttered the incantation under his breath, "Remote unlock." A sly smirk played on his lips as he glanced sideways at her, adding, "Call it a nifty trick that I'll teach you in time, babygirl," accompanied by a playful wink.

He found her inquisitive nature refreshing; she asked questions without demanding immediate answers. This set her apart from Vollrath's previous lovers, and he already favored her more. It boded well for the future. He was certain that when his brother inevitably messed things up — and there was no doubt in his mind that he would — he and the other two guardians of Vollrath's existence would be able to clean up the mess. Patience was a virtue anyone dealing with Vollrath had to cultivate..

"I'm sorry, what?" Her eyes widened, disbelief etched across her features as she waited for him to elaborate, half-expecting him to burst into laughter and admit it was all a joke. "You... you can unlock my front door remotely just by holding the key?" She now sounded utterly incredulous, her voice laced with a hint of mockery. "There's no way. That's not possible... is it?"

The events of the past 24 hours had left her questioning everything she thought she knew. The boundaries between reality and fantasy seemed to be blurring, and the impossible was starting to feel disturbingly plausible. Was this just another bizarre twist in the surreal narrative that her life had become?

She stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deception, but he simply nodded, his expression unwavering. A shiver ran down her spine as she grappled with the implications of his claim. If he was telling the truth, it meant that her sense of security had been an illusion, that the walls of her home were not the impenetrable barriers she had always believed them to be.

Balor's grin was not one of amusement but reassurance. He tucked Mahala's keys into his inner jacket pocket, a gesture both protective and symbolic. Taking her hand, he felt her tremble with fear. He understood her apprehension; unlike him and Vollrath, who had grown up understanding their powers and learning to control them, she'd had this reality thrust upon her abruptly. The shock of Vollrath's loss of control was an additional burden she carried, yet she was facing it with remarkable resilience.

"This is going to be a steep learning curve," Balor told her, his voice steady and calm. "We'll do our best to be patient, but we're not perfect. Our tempers can flare, especially when we're under pressure. Our lives are inherently dangerous, and despite our best efforts, we can't guarantee your complete safety."

With a gentle squeeze of her hand, Balor infused a calming spell, hoping to ease her anxiety. "We're in this together," he continued, his gaze meeting hers. "You're not alone. We'll teach you everything we know, and we'll help you harness your own unique abilities. It's not going to be easy, but you're stronger than you think."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in. "Remember, we're family. We'll always be there for you, no matter what."

"Why?" The word escaped her lips, a trembling whisper that echoed the turmoil within. A wave of fear and trepidation washed over her, threatening to consume her. It felt as if the very air around her crackled with an ominous energy, closing in from all sides.

Her mind raced, desperately searching for answers. Had she missed something crucial? Was there more to this ominous situation than what had already been revealed? The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her, a suffocating burden that made it difficult to breathe.

She had already been confronted with a litany of shocking revelations, each one more unsettling than the last. Could there truly be more to uncover? The thought sent a fresh shiver down her spine. Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic rhythm that mirrored the chaos that had overtaken her once-ordered world.

“Mahala, your father holds the esteemed position of a Master Warlock. However, there's a long-standing history of animosity between his coven and ours; in fact, "outright hostile" might be a more fitting description. This deep-seated feud likely explains why your mother chose to flee, especially if she kept your innate gifts and true nature hidden from you.”

“My intuition tells me that your family mansion holds a trove of secrets waiting to be unearthed. It's possible that Vollrath's residence conceals its own share of mysteries as well. The fact that Baldur harbors distrust towards his own people suggests an internal threat, a realization that fills us all with unease.”

As Balor spoke, he made a conscious effort to exude calmness and reassurance. He couldn't help but steal another glance at Mahala from the corner of his eye. He was relieved to see that she remained composed, taking the news with remarkable equanimity.

Mahala fixed Vollrath with a steady, inquisitive gaze. "I'm curious," she began, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism, "Why did you consistently defend and explain Vollrath's actions if you two don't get along? It was... peculiar." She paused, allowing her words to hang in the air. "Elmar and Baldur were both noticeably distrustful when you arrived to meet me. Your claim of brotherhood doesn't seem to hold much weight given their reactions."

Balor let out a light chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he gazed at Mahala. "You certainly have an inquisitive mind, don't you?" He paused for a moment, considering his response. "The reason is that Vol and I don't always see eye to eye," he began, "is because we have differing perspectives and opinions. We often clash, but that doesn't mean I harbor any hatred towards him."

He continued, "Vol isn't inherently evil; he's simply misguided, at least in my view. I suspect he'd say the same about me." Balor's expression softened. "We typically function better when we're not in close proximity, but it seems that luxury won't be afforded to us in the near future. Despite our differences, he is my brother, Mahala, and I do love him."

Balor's tone shifted, becoming resolute. "Our priority now is to ensure your safety and keep you out of your father's clutches. It looks like we're going to have to put our differences aside and work together.  Congratulations - you’re getting the band back together!" He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he brought his truck to a halt in front of Mahala's mansion.

The mansion, a place he hadn't seen in years, seemed to exude an aura of darkness and foreboding. It appeared even more imposing than he remembered. A chilling thought crossed his mind: the ghosts of the Codona past, once dormant within those walls, were about to be awakened... and the awakening promised to be violent.

The chill of the evening air wrapped around them, a stark contrast to the warmth in Balor's voice. His large hand gently enveloped hers, a comforting weight that grounded her amidst the uncertainty. "Come on, sweetheart," he urged, his voice a soothing balm against the fear that gnawed at her. "Let's get you inside."

His gaze held hers, a silent promise reflected in the depths of his blue eyes. "Stay close to me," he instructed, his tone firm yet gentle. "No matter what is in there, or out here, I can handle it." His words were a reassurance, a vow to protect her from whatever lurked in the shadows.

But it was more than just physical protection he offered. He sought her trust, a bond that went beyond the immediate danger. "You have got to trust me though," he added, his voice laced with a hint of vulnerability. "Do you think you can do that?"

Turning to face her fully, he searched her expression for any sign of understanding. His blue eyes, usually so bright and confident, held a flicker of uncertainty. He had answered her questions honestly, baring his soul in the hopes that it would bridge the gap between them. Now, all he could do was wait and hope that his honesty would be enough to earn her trust.

Mahala nodded, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. "I'll leave it up to you, Balor," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever you think is best." She swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves.

Balor's demeanor had shifted subtly. The tension in his shoulders had eased, and his expression, though still serious, held a hint of reassurance. It was as if he was silently conveying a message of confidence, a promise that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Alright," Balor said, his voice steady and resolute. "I'm going to get out now and assess the situation. Stay here for a moment, and I'll let you know when it's safe to come out."

Mahala nodded again, her grip tightening on the seatbelt. She watched as Balor carefully opened the truck door, his movements smooth and deliberate. He paused for a moment, scanning the surroundings before stepping out onto the deserted drive.

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Mahala felt a flicker of hope. Balor's calm and collected demeanor was contagious, and she found herself drawing strength from his presence. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she wasn't alone in this. Balor was there, and he would protect her.

“Wait for me.  I don’t want you taking one step alone until I know it is safe.  I’d rather not have those other three hunting my ass by dawn.”  He winked at her and shut the door, immediately locking it behind him.  His eyes scanned everything around them, taking it all in and waiting for even the slightest movement from any of the shadows. Anything did move, it was dead.

reblog banner - @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

Balor can't remember the last time he was close to his brother, Vollrath. However, he has come to realize that the prophecy his grandmother frequently spoke of has now been fulfilled. With a threat looming over the coven and his brother's safety at stake, it’s time to set aside old rivalries and unite. Already, events are unfolding that are influenced by forces from beyond our realm, and all magical abilities will be necessary to confront the enemies of this world and the next.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

20

Chapter 19

Reality is setting in for Mahala

“Vollrath, what is really going on here? With you? With us? With all of you?” Mahala’s voice seemed small and frail. She was terrified suddenly of him, of them, of everything. Nothing seemed to be making any sense, and she so desperately wanted it to. While she had slightly lied that she didn’t trust or forgive Baldur or Elmar, the only one she trusted implicitly was Vollrath. She couldn’t even have explained why she did, but she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her.

He sighed heavily, not even really knowing where to start without making her fear worse. Vollrath wanted to reassure her, to make her feel safe with him, but nothing he was going to say would do that. “My darling little witch, there is something wrong in the Coven. We don’t know what it is, but Baldur, Elmar, and I need to make a plan forward after what happened today to you from one of our own. Balor is the last person I would have expected to walk in here and be an ally, but he is. He is my brother and while we do not always get along, I do trust him to keep you safe. I would not let you go otherwise.” He gently kissed her forehead. “The prophecy, the one you’ve heard at least twice now, he knows it as well as I do but there are parts of it that we’re forgetting. So, what it means right now? I can’t say, I’m not hiding that from you.” He gently held her face in his hands as he spoke, his eyes never straying from hers. It was as if he was trying to memorize her in case this was the last time he saw her, a thing he did not truly want to imagine. “What started last night between you and me, we felt it from when we first touched. I’ve never had that with anyone. Already you are so special to me, and it scares me that someone could hurt you because of me. I don’t understand it all either, but we’re all going to figure it out together. Tonight though, tonight I need you to trust me, and trust Balor. Please.”

“Why would someone want to hurt me?” She was keeping her questions simple. It was her hope that she’d at least understand the answers then. Most of what Vollrath had just said was putting things she’d already heard in order to make sense of them.

“You are very, very, powerful, Mahala. They might want to keep me, or the Coven, from having access to your power. Then there is the fact that it is now known that you are special to me. There are many that know of the prophecy of our family, it would not take much for those that do, to figure out exactly who you are from that. I wish I could say that it protects you, but it makes you a target just as much as it offers protection.” Vollrath closed his eyes and brought his forehead to hers. An ache was starting in his chest, one he didn’t like. It was the reason he never let people close, it hurt. The thought of pushing her away already had that ache getting worse. He wouldn’t ever be able to do it, and he knew it.

“Who is going to protect you?” Vollrath’s eyes snapped open to meet hers again and she saw the worry in his. The beautiful hazel she was coming to adore shifting almost every second to a slightly different color with his warring emotions and thoughts. She had to wonder if he knew how open he was to someone who knew how to read them.

“I’m pretty good at protecting myself, Mahala. I also have Bal and El here with me. You’ve got my brother. Not an equal split, but I need both of them here with me, or I’d send Baldur with you. That and the humor in the two of them tripping over one another’s name.” Now one corner of his mouth ticked up in amusement. “Trust me, if they keep getting along, it may be the most amusing thing about this situation.” He tipped his head to kiss the end of her nose, then pulled her in tight against him and kissed the top of her head. The last thing he wanted to do was let her go and send her off with Balor; but the longer he waited, the later it would be when he made it back to the two of them.

Reblog banner - @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

19

Chapter 18

"Oh….god…." She breathed out, horrified and on the edge of blind panic. In the dim light that remained, her eyes flicked between the three warlocks in front of her as her hands tightened around Vollrath’s till her knuckles were white and aching. "You all could…"

Hearing Mahala’s breathing increasing and her voice thinning, Balor stepped forward to take her face gently between his hands.  He lowered his face till they were eye to eye, keeping his expression soft, trying to keep her calm "Could, but absolutely will not.  You could feel when he did that, you'd know if he'd done it before now.  You. Are. Safe."  His eyes flicked up to his brother’s then back down to hers.  His expression was still soft, but firm.  Balor needed her to understand that she had to trust the four of them. "None of us will allow you to be harmed, Mahala, least of all my brother."

"Why do you keep defending him if you don't get along?  It’s clear you don’t like each other.  What is going on?  What are you all hiding from me?!" Panic was beginning to set in with the realization that nothing Vollrath had said the night before had been an exaggeration, and that she was completely unprepared for anything.  Her eyes kept jumping between the three men in front of her, wishing that one of them would give her some kind of answer, tell her that what she had experienced was some kind of nightmare, or that it was a prank that they’d been hired to do by her mother to keep her running from whatever had terrified her mom.

One arm banded around her waist and the other up across her shoulders, as Vollrath held her gently but firmly to him from behind, his head resting against the side of hers.  "Shhhh…it'll be okay."  His eyes closed, a silent spell being woven to try and induce some calm upon her. It wasn’t his wish to force anything on her, but he hated hearing the panic and fear in her voice, let alone the waves of it coming off of her. 

He wished he could tell her that his brother was lying, that none of it was real, or at least her father WAS dead; but he couldn't.  "I will protect you, and nothing is going to happen to you as long as the four of us are around.  I vow to you, Mahala. I told you that you are safe with me, and I meant that in all ways."  There was nothing he could do but  just hold her, trying to control his breath and keep calm for her.  She needed a rock, a guide, and his heart was demanding he be that for her.  So many new emotions were raging inside his heart and head, but he knew that in this moment, she needed him more than he needed to deal with them.

"Vol, let me take her to her mansion so she can rest tonight.   She still needs to be watched for concussion symptoms for a few more hours before she can sleep.   You, Baldur, and Elmar can come up with a new plan on the path forward.  Whatever you had in mind obviously will need to be changed, with all that has happened." Balor’s voice was calm and even.  Gone was the challenge from earlier in the evening.  As had seemed to be the case all day, it was Mahala that centered the warlocks around her and focused them.  "No harm will come to her, you know me, Vol.  You and I may not get along, but I would never hurt someone just to be an ass to you."

"Am I safe there?  Am I safe anywhere?" Mahala’s voice sounded small and once more on the edge of hysteria, there was a tremor in it that was almost palpable in the air around them all.   It broke Balor’s heart, but he knew his brother was struggling worse trying to deal not only with all that Mahala was going through, but also with everything the prophecy was hitting Vollrath with as well.  No one had challenged Balor when he'd called her the Lioness, which meant they already knew…which meant everything had started.  His chin dropped to his chest, the weight of reality settling in.

"Love, he is the best one for you to go with tonight.  I'll be there in the morning with Baldur and Elmar. I promise."  Vollrath held her tighter and kissed the side of her head.  He felt like his heart was being ripped out, but he knew what had to be done and why.  If he went with her, or she stayed there, he’d be distracted, and right now they needed to focus in the short term, so that they could relax in the long term.

"Balor, do you want to call your people or have some of ours do patrol around the area of her estate?  We can do it because she was attacked.  It won’t raise too much suspicion on reasoning." Elmar asked.  He was trying to decide which would be better.  Jonathan still had friends, which made him and them dangerous. 

"Not our people." Baldur answered, and everyone looked at him confused at his resoluteness.  "No one knows her last name but the five of us.  You have them start guarding the Codona mansion and who the witch was attacked gets out.  People know A Codona is in town, let's not make it easy on Bazyli to find out his daughter is here.  We don’t know if he knows about the prophecy for Vollrath or not, but I’d prefer not to find out the hard way." 

Balor nodded. "I'll only have two of my best.  I don't want this out there either.”  He glanced at Vollrath. “My brother and I might not always get along, but I’ll kill anyone coming after him or Mahala.  Personally if I have to.” The icy blue of the warlock’s eyes glowed silver in the dim light briefly.  “We're still missing something, and until we're all comfortable, I prefer that the five of us in this room remain the inner circle who know exactly who and what Mahala is to my brother and to this Coven.  The more that know, the more danger she is in."  He saw the surprise on Vollrath’s face, but his brother still had not realized Balor’s concern was the woman in Vollrath’s arms, not destroying his brother's ego. 

"Let's give them a minute then I'll take her home." Balor motioned for Baldur and Elmar to follow him.

banner - @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

18

“I honestly don’t give one single fuck what your problem is with your own brother, but if it concerns me then I do.  So either spit it out in plain fucking English or get the fuck out of here.  I’m losing patience with you and for some reason it seems like the other three in this hallway won’t confront you, so I damn well will.”   Her back was straight, her head erect, and she didn’t flinch from the icy blue eyes that seemed to be trying to bore a hole in her.  She wasn’t sure why Vollrath, Baldur, and Elmar were intimidated by him, but she wasn’t.  That could be a mistake, given she had no clue how powerful of a warlock he was, but it was her mistake to make.  She’d certainly made enough mistakes in the last twenty-four hours, what was one more?

Vollrath was tensed and ready to go at Balor if he so much as twitched wrong at Mahala. Baldur and Elmar weren’t sure which side to take if things went south, but both seemed to be watching Mahala closer than Balor or Vollrath. She was the one who needed protection, the brothers could bloody each other for days. They had never known Vollrath’s brother to be violent, but there was something going on that they didn’t understand either. After coming in, voting death to Jonathan, and seeming to support his brother, now Balor was confronting Mahala. It made no sense.

“Die Lionessa des Nachtnebels wird ihnen die Kehlen herausreißen und ihnen die Köpfe wegnehmen.” (The Lionessa of Nachtnebel will rip out their throats and take their heads.)” Balor’s eyes didn’t waver from Mahala’s, he was wanting to judge her reaction to it. If his brother had given her the prophecy from their grandmother, it would have been in English. Now it was in the tongue it had been delivered in and with no translation provided.

“Want me to start with yours?” Her chin lifted, her eyes narrowed, and the corners of her lips just started to tick up in a malevolent smirk. She had understood what he had said perfectly, but she didn’t know how. Judging from the grin that was forming on Balor’s face, he had expected her to. How had he known?

“I’d prefer not, Löwin. I’m rather fond of both of mine.” He winked at her, cheeky asshole. “The time will come for that to happen to others later, I have no doubt. Right now, you might want to keep my brother from taking me on though. I’ve heard that blood is a bitch to get out of this carpet.” His grin made her want to smack him again. It was clear Balor knew something, something he wasn’t intent on sharing. “At least you know who you are, and so does he.” Balor’s eyes flicked up to look over her to Vollrath who was on the edge of violence, then back down to the beauty before him. “I do as well. Now those two do as well,” his head jerked to Baldur and Elmar. So, the five of us have a secret that needs to be held closely. Because the Lion is the warlock behind you that wants to be the one to take my head right now. Until you know how to control yourself and your power, the last thing that anyone needs is you getting hurt again, or your father getting a hold of you.”

Balor could not have shocked her more if he had actually smacked Mahala. While his physical intimidation attempts had failed, that made her step back and almost trip over Vollrath who had moved forward as soon as he’d figured out what Balor was going to say. When his arms closed around Mahala from behind, he could feel her literally shaking.

“My father is long dead. My entire family now is, I’m all alone. I don’t need you reminding me. There are no other Codonas.” Balor’s sympathetic look confused and upset her more. He knew something that she did not. “Stop looking at me like that and saying confusing things.” More tears made slow and silent rivulets down Mahala’s cheeks. She didn’t need to be reminded that she was alone in the world. Maybe not alone anymore, Vollrath seemed pretty insistent on not letting her away from him, and she had a feeling Baldur and Elmar were becoming protective as well. But why? What did they want? None of this was making any sense.

“No, he’s not, Löwin.” Balor’s face became serious, and there was a sense of sadness to his voice. “It seems you have been misled at best, lied to at worst. You will have one slight problem, he happens to hate my brother more than any other living person on the planet.” He took a step towards Mahala and Vollrath. “Which is why until you can control your abilities and know how to defend yourself, the four warlocks in this room are going to be the best line of defense you have to him getting a hold of you. I may be no fan of my brother, I’m less of one of your father. And before you turn around and scream at Vollrath, he didn’t realize who you were till I told him.” Balor’s eyes flicked up to meet Vollrath’s then back down to hers. No matter the problems he had with his younger brother, he wouldn’t cause problems where there didn’t need to be any.

Elmar stepped forward, “he’s telling the truth, Mahala. None of us realized it until Balor revealed it. He’s also right that I’ll do anything I can to keep you safe from him. Vol may be an asshole, but he’s a goodhearted one. He’s just stubborn and got a bit of an ego. Your father is a different story.” Baldur stepped up next to him, nodding in agreement.

“What would my father do if he got ahold of me?” Mahala looked at the three men in front of her, then leaned to the side to look up at Vollrath. All of them seemed to be looking at each other, not quite sure who wanted to answer that question. It caused a knot to form in the pit of her stomach. Nothing good was answered that way.

“First, he’d kill my brother, using you.” Balor was the one to say it, but they all knew it. “A Master Warlock, a strong one like any in this room, like your father, can force someone who is not trained. Think of it like a parent taking the hand of a child to guide writing, only it’s guiding the power of the witch or warlock under their control. He’d use you and your power to kill Vol.” Balor’s eyes fell to the ground. Even with all the years of differences between them, he would not wish death on his brother, nor would he wish that death to come at the hands of an innocent under compulsion. Sharing the information with her brought him no joy, and the look of horror on her face made him wish she had never returned to their territory, no matter what the eventual outcome might be for his brother. Between destiny and that very moment in the hallway would come much hardship, and he didn’t know how to save any of them from it.

"I couldn't resist? Fight him? Refuse? I mean there has to be something I could do. You can't just force someone…" Mahala’s voice cut off when Vollrath grabbed her hand, closed his eyes, and made all the light bulbs in the hallway explode in a shower of sparks.

"Yes, they can. Those without scruples will, and light bulbs won't be the damage.' Vollrath’s voice was low and calm next to her ear. He hated having done that much, fearing she'd run now and they'd all have to give chase. Already he was erecting emotional walls for the rejection.

"Oh….god…." She breathed out, horrified and on the edge of blind panic. In the dim light that remained, her eyes flicked between the three warlocks in front of her as her hands tightened around Vollrath’s till her knuckles were white and aching. "You all could…"

[magical-mistakes-vm]

17

"No worries, Elmar, I have made challenge regarding Mahala.  As such, she will come home with me." Balor gave no one time to react before he strode quickly from the room, leaving the others to try and catch up.  He was grinning as he made his way down the hall.  It was game time.

"The fuck you will," Vollrath replied, and almost jogged after Balor.  He grabbed his brother, and brought him to a stop in the hallway.  Elmar and Baldur weren't sure if they should step in or just go grab Mahala and run.  "She is going nowhere with you."

"So, she does mean something to you?" He'd known it.  Baldur had been covering for his brother.  Balor broke out laughing, then calmed and leaned towards Vollrath.  "She needs away from emotional stress and raw power unrestrained in the air.  You're a live wire of both right now, little brother. " Balor tipped his head and raised his brows, waiting for Vollrath to try and argue. “And I still give challenge, so…she is coming home with me.” His grin grew wide.

"She doesn't even know you.  After all she's gone through she should either go home alone, or with one of us.  Do you really want to inflict Coven politics on her after what you know she’s gone through today?  Just to be a complete asshole to me?" Vollrath could not even say why he did not want her alone with Balor other than jealousy.  Unlike his two friends, it would not be beneath his brother to sabotage things with Mahala.  He was ready to resort to violence to stop his brother.

Balor led a faction of the Coven that leaned towards darker magic.  They butted heads regarding this frequently via email, but was one of the reasons it had been so long since a face to face meeting had taken place.   Not only could Balor cause a rift between him and Mahala, he could lead her down that path.  The thought of either of those made Vollrath’s heart hurt in his chest.  

"Let her decide." Balor knew he was playing with fire there, but he also wanted to make sure this was not Stockholm Syndrome or some undue influence. He'd never known Vollrath to do that, but something was definitely off with the whole situation.  If nothing was being done to cause her to choose his brother, he would abide by the female’s decision.

Vollrath didn't like it, but he also didn't want to keep fighting with him.  "Fine.  But what she decides is final." The men shook in agreement.

When the four men made it back to Vollrath’s office, it was clear Mahala was tired and really did need rest.  On the walk there, Elmar shared his suspicion that she was still suffering a concussion.   While he could force total healing, without knowing exactly what you WERE healing, you could do more harm than good.  So he had been mitigating symptoms more than anything and trying to boost her natural healing magic.

"Sweetheart," Vollrath started, and from the beginning she could tell something was wrong, "there is a possibility that you may have a concussion.   You shouldn't be alone tonight, and someone needs to keep you awake.  So, you have an interesting assortment of warlocks to choose from.  Baldur, Elmar, myself, or my brother, Balor. I believe you met earlier." 

Mahala looked at all four of them in turn.  Was this a joke?  Maybe a test? How was she supposed to decide on one of them?  After at least a full minute, she sighed heavily and closed her eyes.  What had she done to deserve such a day?  Maybe this was a hallucination and she had yet to wake up in Vollrath’s arms on his couch.  Unfortunately, she wasn’t that lucky.

"I have not totally forgiven Elmar and Baldur for their behavior earlier, " she started as she slowly opened her eyes.  Mahala wanted to fall into Vollrath’s arms, to feel his lips on hers again, to talk more as they had the night before.  However, he was irritated, and she could feel the same pressure in her head as earlier but not as strong.  As the day had worn on, she had learned to differentiate the vibration of each man, and it was Vollrath affecting her currently. 

Paying no mind to the others in the room, Mahala walked over till she was right in front of Vollrath.  Her hands slightly clasped the lapels of his suit coat.  "I need you to trust me.  You get jealous and mad after one night spent talking, and I get the migraine from hell from it.  You're doing it again." A soft sigh escaped her slightly parted lips as her gaze fell to the middle of his chest.

"Löwin, he's still getting used to you having gotten under his skin." Balor interjected, garnering looks from the other four assembled.  "He trusts you, he doesn't trust me."  His brows rose as he tipped his head towards his brother with an annoyed smirk that narrowed his eyes slightly.

Mahala looked back and forth confused.  She felt like she was being set up by being asked to choose who she was leaving with,  and she wasn't liking it.  "Then why even offer you as an option?  What is going on here?"  Vollrath tried to put his hands on her lower back as a sign of affection, but now she pushed him off.  "No, I feel pushed and pulled like this is some kind of game, and I don't like it.  You're all four fucked up." 

Pushing away from Vollrath, Mahala strode quickly from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.  Vollrath quickly followed, not sure what he was going to say to make anything better, but knowing that he couldn’t leave her alone.  Her tears were already shredding his heart.  Fuck, what did he do now?

Balor was right behind his brother with Baldur on his heels, Elmar bringing up the rear.   None of them wanted Mahala alone or upset.   It was clear that the day's events, plus the familial issues between the brothers, had brought about a situation that needed handled, and needed handled NOW.

"Mahala, wait." Vollrath lightly touched her arm as he caught up with her in the hall.  He didn't want to grab her.  She'd been jerked around enough by Jonathan earlier, but he wanted her attention.  "I think you misunderstood."

She stopped and spun to face him, upset etched on every part of her face and laced through her voice. "Then explain. Do you trust me? Him? What is going on, Vollrath?" Her eyes searched his face, imploring him to give her an answer that made sense, to ease the ache in her heart and eradicate the feeling she'd been a fool.

He sighed, running his hands lightly over her upper arms. "Yes, I trust you.  After all we discussed last night, I would hope you would know that.  I also have no reason to demand or expect anything from you." Vollrath stepped closer, still wondering where the foreign feelings of protectiveness and possessiveness came from.  "Do I trust Balor to keep you safe and take care of you? Yes. Do I think he'd also tell you one sided truths and try to put me in a bad light?  Also yes."  One hand rose to cup the side of her face while the other found the small of her back to pull her closer to him. "We already know there is something pulling us together, little witch.  I'm sorry if my fumbling of handling it is causing you pain. I don't want that, and I don't want you pushed away." 

The other three men had stopped a few feet away.  Balor wanted to step in, not to cause his brother problems, but because he had a clearer picture of what was transpiring; and also the complications of who she was.  There were things he doubted Vollrath knew, things he needed to if he was to be with Mahala and protect her.  Unfortunately, he also knew if he even tried to utter a sentence at the moment, he would most likely end up with a broken jaw courtesy of the brother he’d be trying to help.

"I…I just feel so confused with all that has gone on.  Last night with us. Then today here, not only with Baldur and Elmar, but with Jonathan too." As she had earlier, Mahala’s hands gently held the lapels to his suit coat.  "I don't understand what is going on.  Not with us. Not with your friends. Not with any of this."  Her eyes slowly closed as she choked back a half sob.   Her heart hurt almost as much as her head.

“My brother is not easy to figure out, Löwin.”  Balor said from a distance, he might have decided to interject, but not to get in his brother’s reach.   “He’s still trying to figure it out himself, and he’s not the best with patience.”  The death glare that Balor was getting would make most men wither, but he was not afraid of Vollrath lashing out at him from a distance.  For one thing, his brother knew he was right, also, Vollrath had to be wondering what Balor knew that he didn’t.

“You aren’t helping.”  Vollrath’s jaw locked and he closed his eyes, focusing on breathing and not hitting Balor.  He would keep following Mahala if she kept trying to run away, but he would prefer not to have to.  

“I’m not trying to.  I’m trying to let her know what she’s in for.  After all, you haven’t been paying attention.”  Now Balor was just smug and all four of the others were looking at him quite annoyed.  He wasn’t going to share anything any sooner than he had to.  Watching his brother trying to figure it out was much more entertaining for him, and currently Vollrath couldn’t be much more frustrated.

Mahala took a breath, pulled away from Vollrath, turned and strode over to Balor quickly.  The sound of her hand impacting the side of his face seemed to echo off of the walls of the hallway, as the other three men stood there with eyes widening, Baldur’s jaw actually going slack as well. For his part, Balor looked no less stunned than the others that she had not only challenged him, but physically assaulted him.  He might be at least six inches taller than her, but Mahala went toe to toe with Balor and stared directly into his eyes, her face only inches from his.  Her chest rose and fell with her breath for a full minute before she spoke as she fought to get control of her own anger, fuck everyone else in the room.

“I honestly don’t give one single fuck what your problem is with your own brother, but if it concerns me then I do.  So either spit it out in plain fucking English or get the fuck out of here.  I’m losing patience with you and for some reason it seems like the other three in this hallway won’t confront you, so I damn well will.”   Her back was straight, her head erect, and she didn’t flinch from the icy blue eyes that seemed to be trying to bore a hole in her.  She wasn’t sure why Vollrath, Baldur, and Elmar were intimidated by him, but she wasn’t.  That could be a mistake, given she had no clue how powerful of a warlock he was, but it was her mistake to make.  She’d certainly made enough mistakes in the last twenty-four hours, what was one more?

[magical-mistakes-vm]

16

The meeting is over, but the conflict is just beginning...

"Who is she, really?" Balor asked when only he, Baldur, and Vollrath remained in the conference room. His eyes studied the two other powerful warlocks closely.  There was no missing she was more than just a novice witch that had been innocently in Vollrath’s office.  Something more was going on and Balor aimed to get to the bottom of it.  "Don't bullshit me, little brother. I touched her, she is no average witch, and your two best friends are twitchy as fuck.  You're barely containing yourself, and that isn't like you, Vol."  A smirk formed as he waited for one of the two in front of him to answer.

"Mahala Codona. Last night I caught her in the forest near my mansion preparing to summon her mother's spirit, but the spell she was going to use was not one she was prepared for.   Not to mention you can sense her strength of power, and she could see through double enchantment cloaking.  I thought it best to bring her under my protection.  She has had absolutely no training, and had no idea of her abilities." Vollrath left a ton out when speaking to his brother, and Baldur wasn't about to add anything.  Neither of them had any idea how Balor had learned of the meeting, and for the moment that meant they trusted him just barely more than an outsider.

"So she's nothing to you? Interesting and positive." Balor’s brow rose and his smirk grew.  He knew Vollrath better than that, and he was pressing buttons to see which would get his little brother to react first.   It had been decades since a Coven Council of Elders had been called to hand out such a punishment as the one they had tonight. For it to have been called now meant there was a reason for Vollrath not to have made the decision alone.  That reason meant one of the two in front of him had a vested interest in Ms. Codona.

"Should she be?" Vollrath’s head tipped and his eyes narrowed as he regarded his brother.  What was Balor getting at?  What did he know? Vollrath wasn’t sure, but he didn’t want to give too much away till he did.

"What if it is not Vol she means something to?" Baldur was not about to watch the two Nachtnebel brothers spar, and have Mahala hurt again by neither of them considering the fallout.  Easier to just use a little subterfuge and get this conversation over quickly.  Balor was less likely to take him on than Vollrath, so there wasn’t much risk.    When Balor turned his attention to him, he met Balor’s gaze evenly, their blue eyes boring into one another.  There was no doubt the elder warlock was trying to ascertain if he was being honest. Baldur had no intention of flinching.

"Interesting." It was all Balor said but his mind was turning that video over and over in his head, scrutinizing every small detail.  There was still something wrong with the situation unfolding now in front of him.  Why hadn't she had on Baldur’s jacket when attacked?  It had been his brother’s, not something that Vollrath would have given out lightly. Any stray hair or attachment to him could be used against him.  Why had Vol cut him off in the healing, and Baldur let him?  Yes, Vollrath was the Master Warlock, but they were not so different in strength and ability for it to have made much of a difference. Why had they been trying to hide how badly she was hurt from Vollrath?  If it had been Baldur or Elmar that she meant something to, then they would have been more upset, although it was clear she did mean something to Baldur.  So, Baldur was covering for little brother, time to press a little harder and a slightly different button.

"Then Baldur, you will not mind if I see fully to her current healing, and personally do the initial set of enchantments and shielding?  Consider it a blessing from the other half of the Coven." Inclining his head with what could be best described as a sarcastic smile, Balor completely ignored his brother, but did not have to see him to know the nerve had been hit.  The very air of the room crackled with Vollrath’s reaction. It was all Balor could do not to gloat over having found the exact button to press to get right under his brother’s skin perfectly.  That had been a little too easy.

"So a new witch brings peace?" Baldur didn't trust him.  However, that is exactly what Balor had just implied with his statement.

"She is a Codona.  She is THE Codona. The lost witch.  Of course it is going to." Balor smirked and raised his eyebrows, letting the statement hang in the air with no further clarification. 

Baldur glanced at Vollrath.  What was he missing? "Which means?"  Something told him that he was going to absolutely hate the answer that was coming, but he had to know.

"Her father is Bazyli." Balor now grinned like a fool, and watched all color drain from Baldur’s face.  The other warlock had no clue, nor did Vollrath from the looks of it.  "So if you have intentions with her, you'll be joining the two Covens, and mending one gigantic ass rift.  I have to say Baldur, I never quite pegged you as one with brass ones quite that big.  So, of course I want to assist with that.”  Sarcasm dripped like honey, pooling around their feet.  “Or…." he looked directly at Vollrath, "has the Lion met his Lionessa, which is more of what I suspect.  Her power is impressive, as is her ability to survive such an attack.  If  she is not, then I challenge you Baldur…" He felt the hard snap of Vollrath’s power, as his brother’s jealousy and anger started to get the best of him.  There was the sign that had been exactly what Balor was going for to know that he wasn’t just under his brother’s skin, he’d struck a death blow to Vollrath’s ability to hide any semblance of the truth.

"Balor…." Just one word. Just his name. Vollrath didn't need to say more. His voice was full of warning in its tone, his hazel eyes narrowed and went jade green, his jaw tensed as he stood straighter, and his shoulders went back.  No, this was not happening.   Elmar and Baldur had been goading him teasingly, both were in serious relationship with witches within the Coven.  Balor was serious and looking to challenge Baldur in a way that would take Mahala from him. 

"She is a powerful, single, untrained, uninitiated, witch.  I am within my rights as a Coven Elder and my level as a warlock. There is no ring upon her finger. The customs of the Coven are very clear.  Unless there is a betrothal or other engagement to an Elder of the Coven, it is my right, as an Elder, to give challenge for rights to train, bring under apprenticeship, and more.  She is exceptionally beautiful, so I will look forward to seeing what more there might be.  I do have the right and you know it.  I aim to exercise it RIGHT. NOW." Now it was Balor who looked aggressive, as he smirked at his younger brother, his eyes going from blue to an icy grey.  There was little that Vollrath could say to argue with him, unless he were to reveal that she was in the beginnings of a relationship with Vollrath himself.

A knock at the door had both men stepping back and relaxing some.  There was no doubt who it was. Neither wanted to cause a scene or bring Elmar and Mahala into the disagreement that they were so far not a part of. There was about to be a war in the room between the two Nachtnebel brothers, Elmar entering the frey was not needed.

"Guys, it's late.  If you’re still having some kind of meeting, I'm going to take Mahala home with me and Savina.  She's still having effects from what happened earlier, and really should be resting somewhere other than an office couch." Elmar was annoyed, and he let his gaze rest briefly on all three in the room to show it. Someone in the room was pissed off and trying to hide it, he guessed more than one someone.    

"How is she?" Vollrath didn’t hide his concern from his face or his voice.  His brother had already figured it out, and was looking for a fight.  There was no reason to put Elmar further on edge by acting indifferent.  This night had already gone straight to hell without adding more to it.

"Let’s see…you tried to give her a stroke over being jealous," Elmar noticed Balor’s rather surprised reaction to that news, but failed to care and continued, "then she's slammed twice into a wall, choked, almost killed, gets intimidated by your brother, and has several hours of the Council being here and none of them ratcheting down their magic.  The fact she's still sane and her brain hasn't oozed out her ears might be a blessed miracle.  Someone in this room is also about to go atomic, so please ratchet that down before she does decide to have a brain bleed, and I have to fix that too." His arms crossed over his chest as he looked at the other three in turn, lips thinning in irritation.

Baldur’s brows had been raised as Elmar unloaded on Vollrath.  He was normally the calmer and reserved one, but it was clear he'd reached his limit. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen that happen with his friend.  Looking between the Nachtnebel brothers, Baldur also noticed that Balor was studying Vollrath who once more looked frustrated with the whole situation.  It was going to become a pissing contest and the whole building, if not area, would be the battleground.  Hopefully Elmar could get Mahala out of the blast zone before that happened.

"No worries, Elmar, I have made challenge regarding Mahala.  As such, she will come home with me." Balor gave no one time to react before he strode quickly from the room, leaving the others to try and catch up.  He was grinning as he made his way down the hall.  It was game time.

banner by @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

15

It is time for the Council of Elders meeting and to decide Jonathan's fate...

Mahala was still asleep when the time for the council meeting arrived.  If it hadn’t been for all three of the warlocks checking on her, and being sure that she was fine and just resting as she healed, Vollrath would have stayed and told the council to fuck off and he’d deal with Jonathan as he saw fit.

Instead, Vollrath replaced his suit jacket, that had been wrapped around Mahala, with a throw blanket and prepared to walk down to the conference room with Baldur.  The lingering scent of her perfume on the collar of his coat made him doubt his decision to head the meeting, and simultaneously evoked an overwhelming sense of protectiveness.   “Anyone comes through that door but Bal or I, kill them, El.  I don’t give a single damn who it is or what the fuck they want.  I will not allow anyone to come for her from the meeting, but that does not mean that someone won’t sneak into the building to try to get some kind of weird revenge or some shit, if it’s gotten out to the Coven at large.”  

If he managed to keep his temper till the end of the meeting, it would be some small miracle.  Already he wanted to go down to the holding cell that Jonathan was in and end the man’s life; then spirit Mahala away to his mansion like some prince locking up his princess to keep her safe from dragons.  He’d been worried about witch hunters the night before, yet it had been a member of his own Coven who had almost killed her. 

“Don’t worry, Vol, I’ve got this.  I get it, she’s special to you.  Fuck, she’d damn special period.  We don’t have a witch that powerful in the whole damn Coven.  I’m not sure I’ve ever met one in my whole life.  If you think I’m letting anyone near her, you are insane.” Elmar reassured him.  He kept his voice calm and level.  Of the three of them, he always was the one with the longest fuse, and at the moment that was a good thing.

Vollrath nodded, then went over and placed a soft kiss in the middle of Mahala’s forehead.  His breath stuttered slightly, the expression on his face tight and pained.  “I will make up for this, meine kleine Hexe.  Just don’t hate me when you wake up again.”  His fingers almost trembled as they ghosted over her forehead and down the side of her face, the softest feather light touch.  It was as if he was afraid one false mood could literally cause her to shatter.

Clearing his throat, Vollrath stepped back, straightened his suit, and then he and Baldur left the room.  All the way down to the conference room they discussed in hushed tones their ideas on what punishments to put before the Council.  Banishment from the Coven seemed the least that could be accepted, binding of magic next, and then there was full death for the attack.  Normally Vollrath would make decisions on his own, but everything about the situation demanded the Council of Elders take action.  It had been a long time since the Council had been invoked, and he knew that none of them would take it lightly that it had been now.  

****

The video had been watched repeatedly, slowed down, and even parts enlarged so the Council of Elders members could see more detail.  The Council had been deadlocked for over two hours, at times almost shouting at one another in disagreement of what the appropriate next steps and punishment should be.  If no one changed their vote, another option would have to be devised and voted on.  Vollrath informed the room of this once more, and prepared for debate again, something he was dreading.  He had not anticipated this.  He really had thought that the vote would not be very contentious.  

Then the door to the meeting room opened.  “It’s not a tie, dear brother, there is one vote left that has not been cast.  So, you will not have to come up with another option.  And, looky here, I’m it.”  Every head in the room whipped around to the door of the conference room.  Eyes went wide, a few scooted back from the table, gasps were heard, both Vollrath and Baldur were on their feet, but it was a toss up which of them was more shocked.  “What?  I mean, I do still get a vote, right Vol?  You haven’t taken me off the Coven Council of Elders ranks have you?”  

“No.” Vollrath felt his mouth go dry as he stood staring at his brother Balor.  The last time he’d seen him had been four years before, and it had not ended well.  If it wasn’t for his voice, Vollrath might not have even recognized him.  Balor’s dark blonde hair was darker and longer, pulled back now, his beard longer than it had been before, but his startlingly blue eyes were as piercing as ever.  He cut an imposing picture, his shoulders taking up the breadth of the doorway, arms crossed over his obviously muscled chest, and standing straight to his full six and a half feet height.  

“You still have your seat, Balor.  It was you who walked away from it, if you remember.”  Vollrath fought to control his tone and expression as his brother entered the room with what could best be described as a strut.  It caused Vollrath to straighten, but even then his brother had just over four inches on him.  They had always looked similar, but at the moment, they were opposites.  Where his brother looked like he could be a performer at a metal concert, Vollrath was in his finely tailored suit, perfectly trimmed facial hair, his auburn hair shorter and neater, and his eyes the ever changing hazel that had led his grandmother to bequeath him with the title of the Lion of the Nachtnebel. 

“Good, I didn’t think so.  I do apologize for my tardiness, it seems my invitation got lost in the ethos.  Thankfully, a kind soul did ensure it got delivered in time for me to attend.” Balor smirked as he strode further  into the room, expression smug and stride cocky.  Only his brother and Baldur could match him in abilities and magic in the room, and he knew it.  He did have to wonder where Elmar was, although glancing around, the little witch he’d heard so much about was absent too. “Play the video again, dear brother, I’d like to see for myself what transpired.  I’ve heard the allegations, but I don’t like to vote on rumors and second hand information.”

Baldur slid his phone into his inner suit coat pocket with the mic facing up.  Elmar was now on speakerphone so he could hear who just arrived, and not be surprised if anything went down.  There was no doubt that Balor would press things, he always did, so better to be prepared.  The fights between Vollrath and his brother had been legendary since they were children, and had not lessened as they got older.  Since Mahala was affected by unshielded magic, it might be best for Elmar to be ready should the Nachtnebel boys go head to head once more.

“Of course.”  Vollrath didn’t sit, but hit the button to play the video again.  No one other than Balor was watching it as it once more ran though, projected on the screen. The rest of the occupants of the room were watching him, uneasy at his sudden appearance.  How had he learned of this meeting?  While he technically had a seat on the Council, most in the Coven feared him if not outright disliking him as well.

“I see.  Interesting.” Balor commented once it had finished.  One hand stroked his beard as his head tilted to the side, a silence stretched for a few minutes as he considered things.  “And half of you are ready to allow Jonathan to escape with just banishment for his attack on the witch?”  Balor’s gaze swept the room, landing on every one who had voted for just the banishment.  “You really think that should be the only punishment for that attack?”  His eyes narrowed, and Vollrath could swear his brother’s eyes seemed colder than he’d seen them before.

No one said anything.  No one even moved.  The room was so silent that even the smallest brush of fabric or deep breath sounded loud.  Balor regarded them all with a bit of condescending amusement.  This is why he kept to himself and his small group; hypocrites, the whole lot of them.  Was his brother proud of this Council?  Of these Elders who were afraid to voice condemnation for the violence they all saw?

“I want to see her.” He spoke to his brother, but noticed Baldur tense next to him.  That was interesting.  Vollrath, he expected to react, but that Baldur did and Elmar was missing meant this woman was important.  He wanted to know how important, and to whom exactly.   It seemed there was much more going on than he had been informed of, than maybe anyone had.

“Why do you want to further traumatize her, Balor?” Vollrath’s voice was eerily calm.  Even Baldur was concerned how calm he sounded.  With all that had gone on during the day, he’d expected more of a reaction.  Balor was the last one that Vollrath had expected to see show up.  He rarely cared about general Coven business and now something regarding Mahala hung in the balance. The universe had to be hating him for some reason. How had he been notified of this meeting?

“I don’t and I won’t.  I was called to be here, I want to meet the one who has someone around you VERY concerned.  Then I will vote.” Balor’s smile took on a sarcastic edge as he dared his brother to deny him.  If he’d been paying attention, Vollrath already knew what he was going to say, there was no reason to keep him from meeting the woman.  Or was there?  Was there more than the video showed?  

“Baldur, please escort Balor to my office.” Vollrath was once more almost too calm.  He knew that Balor was looking for a reason to strike out, to make a scene before all of the Elders.  At least that was how it felt to Vollrath, who had more than once faced his brother’s anger for being passed over for Master Warlock.  If this was a test, he did not intend to fail, and he knew that Mahala would not.

Baldur nodded and led Balor from the room.  “You will not upset her, you will not intimidate her, and you will not hurt her in any way.  Elmar is with her, and if you do anything…”

“Save it, Baldur.  I’m not going to.  Something is up with my brother and I want to know what.  You don’t think I can read him?” Balor interrupted him, and made it clear what his intentions were as they walked down the ball.  “I am not going to challenge him in that room, but this I can do.  That you and Elmar are standing by him means he has not lost the faith of the general Coven, and that he's on the right side of this….whatever the fuck it is.”  His brows rose as he tipped his head and looked over to Baldur.

“Your brother hasn’t even slipped a bit, Balor.  I’m not sure why you would think he had.” Baldur’s brows drew together.  How had Balor known about the meeting?  The vote? And Mahala?  Someone in the Coven was talking out of turn.  That it was to Balor was not that big of a concern, but if they talked farther it could be.  Maybe it had been a bad idea to leave Balor out of the Council of Elders' call, but that still meant someone else had decided to involve him.  Who else had someone decided to involve?

“I did not even flex my magic in the slightest, I pulled it back to be honest.  She is very weak physically and drained, I felt the pull on my power, and wasn’t sure it was safe to let her feed off a strong tap not knowing her abilities.  I can heal her if one of you two is not going to, however.  I can feel residuals of Vollrath’s magic on her, so I know he tried and she is quite powerful in her own right when not drained, but she could use some help, Baldur.  I did no harm.  Ask Elmar if you doubt me.”  Balor was now extremely concerned.  He also understood why his brother seemed off.  This witch needed protection, and instead had been attacked, in Vollrath’s own office no less.  He was quite sure that at one point, she had been on the brink of death, even with her supernatural powers.  This was what was causing her delay in healing, Jonathan had caused that extreme of damage.  He pulled his powers back even further as he read the situation unfolding around him, and guarded his thoughts and emotions.  There would be a time for expressing them later.

When they reached the door to the office, Baldur knocked, then entered first.  “Mahala, this is Balor, Vollrath’s older brother.  He wanted to come meet you before the final vote is cast in the meeting of the Coven Council of Elders.” His eyes then met Elmar, who looked none too happy about the other warlock being there as he helped Mahala to her feet. Baldur watched her with concern, she still looked unsteady.  Regret over the antics from the morning weighed heavy on him after all that had happened afterwards.

Mahala stood, still looking shaken and drawn hours after the incident had happened. Shaking Balor’s hand, “it’s a pleasure, Balor? I’m sorry, my head is still…”  She raised her hand to her temple then reached over to grab Elmar’s arm for balance quickly.  Her breathing deepened, and Elmar took her hand off of his arm so that he could wrap it around her back, and get her back to the couch to sit down.  She was getting pale and clammy. “Sorry...Sorry…” Her voice was slightly slurred.

“What did you do?” Baldur leaned forward and all but growled in Balor’s ear.  Magic crackled in the air from both Baldur and Elmar. “If you hurt her…”

Elmar got Mahala some water, and ran his fingers gently over her forehead as she relaxed back over on the couch.  He remembered that not only had she been choked, but slammed into the wall a couple of times by Jonathan.  Maybe she had been more injured than they had originally thought. He’d just been relieving her headaches and nausea, but it seemed that more than symptom relief might be needed for the future.

“I now cast my vote for death.  Immediate would be most prudent.” Balor watched Vollrath’s surprise.  “It has been hours since the attack, I can feel the residual magic of not only the Master Warlock of this Coven, but also of his two Seconds upon her still, and she is not fully healed.  When she rose to greet me, she could not stand more than maybe ten seconds without getting dizzy and almost passing out. Jonathan did not merely physically attack her.  If she had been a normal human she would be dead; if she were not such a strong witch, I also believe she would be dead, so the punishment should fit.”  He saw the glances around the room.  He was quite sure they expected him to diverge from Vollrath’s desire, but he could find no argument to do that.  That didn’t mean he was without more questions about Mahala, however. 

“El, is what Balor says true?  Do you need help, or have you got this?”  Baldur asked when he saw the concern that was etched on Elmar’s face.  If anything happened to her, Balor would learn even more how much Mahala meant to his brother. Vollrath might be the one to carry out a death sentence personally and instantly, something that hadn’t been done since his father had been Master Warlock.

“I’ve got it, I think.  He’s right about it, she’s still got a lot of healing to do.  Oh, and he also didn’t do anything, he wasn’t lying.” Elmar looked back and nodded.  As much as he didn’t like Balor, he wouldn’t lie about that.  “I’m wondering if she has a more serious concussion than we thought.  Jonathan slammed her up against the wall more than once, the walls in this place are concrete block, it could have done some damage.  When the meeting’s over, talk to Vol.  Probably don’t want to let her sleep tonight or be alone.”  Elmar wasn’t looking at them, he was focusing on the healing he was doing, and helping Mahala relax.  If he had looked, he would have seen neither man was happy with what he’d just said.  

“I’m ready to vote, let’s go back.”  Balor didn’t even wait for Baldur before heading to the door, his voice was clipped and short.  He had been able to read all he needed to know.  His brother’s residual magic, Baldur’s residual magic, Elmar’s magic, and the strength of her own, coupled with the fact that she was still healing meant Jonathan tried to kill her and almost succeeded.  There was nothing else he needed to know.  He hadn’t expected that. He’d seen the tape, he only had wanted to meet the woman, and he knew that Vollrath would not deny him.  Instead, he’d gotten a lot more insight into things than he’d counted on.

Baldur had barely caught up with him when Balor entered the boardroom once more.  He looked around at all assembled with condescension before meeting his brother’s inquisitive gaze once more.  “Interesting witch you have in your office, Vol.   Also, still seriously injured.”  Balor didn’t even try to hide his irritation as he looked around at the faces of the others again, noting their confusion and shock at this.  “Elmar is taking good care of her, at least there is a strong warlock to do the healing. I give you credit for that, Vol.” He inclined his head to his brother, who seemed to be confused where he was going with everything.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

14

TW - physical violence description, violence against women, choking, abuse, physical harm, injury

Vollrath, Elmar, & Baldur discover what happened to Mahala when she was alone in the office with Jonathan...

Before he sat down at his desk, Vollrath took a bottle of water over to Mahala, who told him she was now just feeling tired.  Baldur and Elmar watched as he said something softly to her and kissed her forehead, then closed his suit jacket over her again.  During it all, she hadn’t moved.  Jonathan was lucky she was alive, they were both sure.  Vollrath was never gentle with anything, yet he was handling her like she was made of the most fragile mercury glass. There was a look on his face, when he looked at her, that they had never seen before.  Since both had known him since they were all children, that told them a lot about what was going on with him.  Neither had a doubt now that she WAS the Lioness. “Okay, let’s see what really happened in here.”  Vollrath said as he took a seat in his office chair, and letting out a heavy sigh.  Baldur and Elmar grabbed chairs from the still overturned conference table and rolled them over, sitting so they could see too. None of them were particularly looking forward to having to watch her be attacked, but they all had to know what happened before the Council meeting. So, Vollrath hit play on the downloaded video, and they all waited.

They watched as the recording showed the three of them leaving, then Mahala unsteadily making her way to the bathroom. The heavy exhale from Vollrath had his two friends looking over at him, a bit nervously.  He was obviously still upset at the way she had staggered as if drunk, leftover side effects of his anger.  The guilt on his face was an unusual sight, and was one more clue that there was definitely something going on between Vollrath and Mahala that they had never witnessed before between him and another woman.  He was now holding his chin in his hand, obviously tense already and nothing had happened; they hoped that when it did, he would be able to contain it.

It was shortly after that point in the video when Jonathan entered the frame.  He sat down what looked like some reports on Vollrath’s desk, as he said he had.  Then he seemed to be looking for something on the desk, moving some files and looking through others.  There was some more shuffling of papers that were randomly on the desk until he froze, that was when the door to the private office bathroom opened and Mahala exited, still a little shaky and with a hand to her temple.  The audio hadn't been downloaded but from the gestures, there had been some kind of conversation about who she was.  The fact she had on Vollrath’s suit jacket apparently did not make it obvious she was somehow connected to him.  Jonathan’s head started shaking and he grabbed both of Mahala’s upper arms and slammed her into the wall.  There was a slight crack as Vollrath had a death grip on the arms of his office chair, and something plastic had broken. “Easy big guy, look over there.  She’s fallen asleep, nice and easy.  She’s fine.”  Elmar tried to reassure his friend, keeping his voice calm.  Or maybe he was reassuring himself, he was no less enraged.  The devastation in the room, and the way he’d just seen Jonathan handle the woman, concerned him, a lot.

The video continued on to her trying to get away, obviously saying something.  Mahala was once again slammed into the wall, then Jonathan had let go of one of her arms to choke her.  There was about 5 seconds of that, with all three of them growing increasingly tense and enraged, and they watched as she put her hands on Jonathan’s chest and shoved once, and the second time it was like the room exploded in a white light.  When the camera focused once more, the room was how they had found it when they rushed in.

“How did she do that?” Baldur asked incredulously.  If she was untrained as Vollrath had said, how could she have commanded that much power into someone else? He was still staring at the screen where Vollrath had frozen it, trying to wrap his head around what he’d just seen.  Nothing was making sense.

“She is untrained, she was terrified, and she probably didn’t mean to.  Think about it.  Her mind would have been focused on getting him away from her.  She’s been in the company of the three of us this morning for a while.  Three powerful warlocks, one being the Master of a whole Coven.  It is going to call to her dormant powers, which are damn strong, Bal.  Depending how much time she spent with Vol last night, could be a damn strong pull by now.  Not to mention whatever residual magic was floating around from Vol losing his temper over jealousy, and then having to help her feel better.”  Elmar laid out everything he was thinking.  He waited for Vollrath or Baldur to correct him if he got something wrong.

“She slept in my arms on my couch last night.” Vollrath caught both of them raising their brows as they looked at him. “You can judge for yourselves our level of affection and how close we were.  So, with the two of you both around her this morning, I’m sure that Elmar is correct.  Which is why her training has to start immediately.  It saved her life, but she could hurt someone on accident as well.” He looked at the two of them in turn before scrubbing a hand over his face and up into his hair.

Baldur considered it all. “She definitely shouldn’t be alone.  Elmar or I should stay with her during the Council meeting tonight.  You have to talk to them.  The video will speak for itself, I’ll call down to security to have them get us a copy with audio.  We need to protect her till you leave for your cabin with her.  She doesn’t seem the kind to attack someone else, but Jonathan has friends that might not listen to the truth.  Another incident like this one, even with provocation and you know that someone will be out for blood.”

Elmar nodded in agreement.  She also needed to be protected from anyone that Jonathan might know that would seek retribution.  She had not acted wrong, but others might not see that. “I’ll stay with her.  Bal, you figured out what was wrong first.  You can speak to the bruises we saw.  If they want to hear from me, they can send you or Vol in.  I can’t add much that you two wouldn’t be better for.  But if they come for her, they aren’t going to fare well.”  His tone and expression were serious.  There were times that he didn’t trust the Council and this was one.

“El, don’t start a fight where there isn’t one.” Baldur warned.  He knew exactly why he felt that way.  “Vol and I got this.  No one is going to come for her.  This isn’t the same situation as your sister.”  The growl that came from Elmar told him that he might have stepped on a nerve he shouldn’t have, but he didn’t flinch.  “It’s not.  Neither Vol or I are going to let them come for her. You just keep her company and make her tea, if she needs it, with some lemon.  Her throat has got to be killing her.”  He glanced in her direction, concern evident across his face.

“NO. ONE. is going to come for her.” Vollrath stated absolutely.  “We are not going to mention the level of familiarity between her and I, nor that she spent last night in my company.  She came here this morning to meet with the three of us after I confronted her on my property last night preparing to do a ritual she is not trained in.  I convinced her to hear the three of us out about her abilities, and the ritual she clearly did not understand.  That is all that they need to know.  Or do you gentlemen feel differently?”  Vollrath looked at both of them, as they agreed with him.  He too knew the Council often stopped listening when they heard something that they thought was the “real story”, and were wrong.  Limiting the story to just what happened in his office would prevent that.  “How do we explain her having your jacket?”  Elmar asked.  That was the only flaw he could see in the explanation that Vollrath was suggesting. “Everyone knows Vol’s temper.  She wasn’t understanding and accepting what was being said, and he started to lose his temper out of frustration.  She didn’t know about shielding and he didn’t think about that.  He caused her to pass out.  We’ll leave out the real reason: she didn’t understand that you and I were flirting with her just to piss off the big guy, and Vol was actually jealous and about to hit one of us.” Baldur gave a tight smile.  Not one of any of their finer moments and he would be happy to leave it out from anyone ever hearing about it.

“Yes, that would be the better explanation for that.  And we WERE making her tea so you both could tell me what an asshole I am, and how I need to control my temper.  So, it’s not like they will question that.”  Vollrath sighed.  He still felt guilty about that, and now more so that she had been hurt when he left her alone in the office. 

banners by @cafekitsune

[magical-mistakes-vm]

"Are you having trouble breathing, Mahala?" Baldur was concerned, and was relieved when she shook her head. That was at least one thing they weren’t going to have to deal with. The inability to speak and that damn big bruise, they were. Why weren’t they healing? He had tried more than one type of healing and reversal spell and enchantment and it didn’t seem to be helping. This was normally something he could do without hardly a thought. He had to figure it out and do it fast if they didn’t want Vollrath to know about the situation. "Don’t you worry about a single thing, we are going to fix this, babygirl. It's resisting my healing right now; but, you're going to be okay, I’m just going.. "

"To get the fuck out of my way." Vollrath interrupted him abruptly, with a voice that was a low and almost feral growl; and he saw Baldur visibly flinch when he did. As his friend stood and turned to step away from the couch, Vollrath grabbed his shoulder, "when it comes to her, don't EVER hide something from me again." He didn't yell or raise his voice, he didn't have to. Baldur knew how serious he was, and nodded. The only thing keeping Vollrath from leveling his own office was knowing it would just put her through more pain, and she was currently dealing with enough.

"Close your eyes, my little witch." Vollrath told Mahala, as he replaced Baldur, sitting on the edge of the couch with his hip right up against her. His fingers gently traced over the deep pink, purple, and blue bruise that seemed to be darkening as he touched it. It was the opposite of what should be happening, and it frustrated him. He had no clue what Jonathan had done, but he had the power and control to be able to make it so she would be just fine. There was nothing Jonathan could have done that he couldn’t undo, that’s part of what made him who and what he was. The warlock down in a containment room would be dealt with later, by someone else. With his anger, he’d kill him if it was he that handled things.

Mahala nodded as she felt his gentle and light touches; she trusted him. Her hand went over to rest on his thigh and she felt one of his rest on top of it. The warmth of his hand and the way he cradled hers softly was comforting, it almost felt caring and protective. Surely it was her imagination though, it had only been less than a day since they’d met. It seemed like ever since she had returned to the town where her mother had grown up, one thing after another had gone wrong, but so far the morning in Vollrath’s office had been the worst. That’s why it was so perplexing that the man himself was able to ease her worries and upset. It put a very slight smile on her lips as she lay and waited for him to fix everything.

His palm ghosted over the skin of her throat, barely touching it, as he tried to not put too much pressure on the bruise that would be painful even if there had been no magic behind it; Vollrath closed his eyes to focus his magic on not only healing but reversing whatever spell or enchantment had been cast to silence her. He could feel the resistance to his mystical powers, and that only served to feed the rage that was building within him; he used that frustration to fuel his efforts to heal her. A slight whimpering from Mahala, as he increased his magic to force back Jonathan’s, made him instantly come to a complete stop with his efforts. He now knew what had happened and why nothing was getting better, and he was going to need one of the other men to fix it. As with handling Johnathan, his solution would be to simply kill him, which would no doubt not make the Coven Counsel happy, and they would now have to be involved.

“Shhh…I won’t do anything more that will cause you pain.” He gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips, then her forehead as he tried to sooth her. “You can still breathe without any problems?” He tried to keep his expression soft and warm, as was his tone, so he wouldn’t upset her any more than she already was. When she nodded, he was relieved that at least it was not getting worse. Vollrath could feel some of the tension in his body ease, as he was reassured that she was not in danger of suffocation. It was just temporary pain, not a risk of death. That he could deal with.

For a moment he thought about which of his friends would be better to send on the required errand for him. “Baldur, can you please come here for a moment?” He heard both men start to approach, which made him chuckle lightly. Both of them were worried; a fact that both warmed and amused him. He knew that they’d gotten off to a bad start that morning, but it did seem they were trying to make up for it. This is why they were his closest and oldest friends, while all three of them were far from perfect, when they made mistakes, they were ready to make amends without question.

“What do you need me to do, Vol?” Baldur was ready for whatever Vol had to say, or so he thought. He looked down at Mahala who looked even smaller than she had before, swaddled in Vollrath’s jacket as she lay with eyes closed. Guilt gnawed at him for how everything up till that point in the day had gone. If he and Elmar hadn’t good naturedly tried to provoke their friend, she wouldn’t have been alone in the office, for everything to have happened.

Vollrath turned, so he was looking at his two friends, his expression instantly changing and becoming malevolent and dark. Both men stepped back and gave him wary glances, not sure if one of them had done something, or if there was another problem. His eyes grew darker to an almost chocolate brown, his brows coming lower and closer together, and his jaw harder and more set, which only added the dark edge in his voice when he spoke. “Go down to containment and knock the asshole there unconscious. If he accidentally hits his head too hard and dies, oops…” His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. “He was trying to kill her when she defended herself and he’s still tied to her because of it. I’d go, but I WOULD kill him.” Vollrath’s jaw clenched again and there was no doubt in either of the men’s minds in front of him that he was serious. That they could see his one hand still lightly caressing the side of Mahala’s face was both unsettling and impressive.

Baldur’s lips thinned, his eyes now darkening as well; not only with what he’d been asked to do, but also with what he knew would have to come later. He’d been in the Coven long enough to know what Jonathan’s actions meant for the Coven as a whole. “I’ll call the counsel when I’m done. We’ll hold the meeting in the main conference room after hours tonight, for judgment on punishment. I’ll make sure he doesn’t wake up until then, and I’ll add another band.” He nodded to Vollrath, and turned and exited the room, his hands balling to fists as he did. Whatever had caused Jonathan to attack her, there would be no justification for almost killing her. If she was human the sentence would normally be death. That she was a new witch coming into the Coven complicated matters greatly, but he had a feeling that the judgment would be exactly the same.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Elmar looked at Vollrath, who he could tell was having a hard time staying calm, and not lashing out at Jonathan through the floors that separated them. Elmar himself was having problems staying still. He needed to be doing something to help. He hated feeling useless.

“Pull down the surveillance feed onto my laptop. Once Jonathan’s unconscious, it should stop back-feeding the spell, that has her voice trapped and the bruise darkening when I’m trying to cancel it out. I want to know exactly what happened in this office, but I don’t want to put her through having to relive it. We’ll also know what the Counsel is going to see tonight and where we need to clip it to keep certain things…private.” His jaw was flexing as Vollrath was trying to control his temper. Elmar could see that somehow, Mahala was remaining calm next to him. No matter what he had said after calling Baldur over, she had not started getting upset again. The woman truly was an enigma, and he was now convinced she was the Lioness to Vollrath’s Lion within the Nachtnebel line.

Baldur reappeared at the door a few minutes later, “you’re clear. He won’t be waking up for….a while.” A tick started in his jaw that had Elmar’s brows raising, and he headed over to Vollrath’s laptop quickly. Two of the most powerful men he knew physically and magically both pissed to the edge of reason, sure he wanted to be near them…like he wanted to be in front of a raging rhino!

“Hold still, love, and this will be over in just a minute. It shouldn’t hurt again.” Vollrath picked Mahala’s hand off of his thigh, turning it over and kissing the palm, before replacing the palm of his other hand against her throat. Closing his eyes, he focused his energy and power, causing his hand to glow and a warmth to spread over the whole area. He could hear Mahala’s breathing deepening, which meant she was relaxing, and that reassured him that this time it was working.

After approximately five minutes, the glow faded and Vollrath pulled his hand back. Baldur was now standing and looking over his shoulder. Both men could see the bruise gone, hopefully this meant that all Vollrath had been doing had been successful this time.

“Babygirl, can you say something so big guy here doesn’t kill someone?” Baldur finally said something, when Vollrath didn’t, earning him a glare from his friend that had him rolling his eyes.

“You’re loud, asshole.” Mahala said softly, making Vollrath laugh.

“She’s not wrong.” Vollrath kissed her knuckles and then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Rest, sweetheart. I think Elmar’s ready for me over at my laptop. We won’t leave you in the room alone again.” That got him a thumb’s up, so he stood and headed over to his desk, followed by Baldur, who still looked ready to commit murder in an instant.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

12

“Other than the fact that she has no clue what she’s doing and needs your help with the magical part, she really doesn’t need you standing up for herself, does she?” Baldur asked once they were in the kitchenette on the top floor.  He was impressed, which didn’t happen often.  Most women looked at the three powerful warlocks to defend them and played “damsel in distress” to get attention, but it seemed that Mahala was not the usual female in any way.

“No, she doesn’t.  You can see she has a voice of her own, and isn’t afraid of using it; you can imagine that last night I too was put in my place at least once.  Once she knows how to control her powers, use potions, craft runes, and encant spells, she’ll be almost as powerful as the three of us.  With her stubbornness and tenacity, she will be a force to be reckoned with.  I’m honestly glad she is on our side.   I wasn’t being glib when I said she’s going to be my assistant.”  He cast a look over at Baldur with a smirk, then turned back to the reason he was there.  Vollrath filled the mug in his hand with hot water and poured in some sugar.  He remembered how she liked her coffee, so he was hoping she liked tea just as sweet.

“Das Lionessa Der Nachtnebel, hearing her roar was interesting…” Elmar said, making Baldur look at him then start shaking his head. Elmar raised his brows and started smirking.  There was no doubt in his mind, not after how Vollrath kept acting around her.

“No. You’re joking.  No, right?  Very funny.”  Baldur rolled his eyes, assuming Elmar was just being an ass again.  “Don’t even start with that just because Vol finally has found a woman he is…falling in love with? And can stand his grouchy ass, let alone stand UP to his grouchy ass.” Even he was finding it hard to define what the fuck he had been watching in Vollrath’s office. Elmar couldn’t be right; could he?

“Might want to tell the ancients and ancestors that, and be prepared for an argument.  Her mother called her “little lioness”, and I think you just saw she can roar even without using any powers.  She had no problem standing up to me last night, even when I was trying to make her back down; and she just set you two in your place without even having to raise her voice.  He’s the second one to call her that in less than 24 hours, and I hadn’t thought about that prophecy for…years.” Vollrath turned around and leaned back against the counter.  He had hoped that one of them would correct him on his feelings, but instead Elmar had reinforced it.  Now he was sure of it. 

 “Come on, Baldur, it’s pretty clear and logical.  It would explain what's going on with Vol.” Elmar gestured to Vollrath with his head.  ”Think about it, Mr. Freeze here suddenly thaws over a random unknown and untrained witch he just met last night?  Spent the night with her and not in a sexual way.  That is hardly the man we have known since we were kids..  Unless….” He raised his brows, tilted his head, and grinned.

Baldur looked between them. “You really think she is? Seriously?” His brows drew together as he considered it.  They were both making too much sense.  If she was, then there was a  lot of shit that was about to go down.  He’d stand by his friends through whatever, but it could get very ugly.

“I think she is.” Vollrath didn’t hesitate, as he bobbed the tea bag in the scalding water.  He’d done a lot of thinking, and it made sense.  It also made everything that was happening make sense.  

“I’m going to go with that as well.” Elmar said.  “Who else could thaw the Ice King and get him to kiss…" he grabbed his chest as he felt the wind suddenly knocked out of him.  Shaking his head, he looked at the other two. "Please tell me that was one of you two being an ass?"

Vollrath said nothing but set down the mug and immediately took off out of the room at a dead sprint with the other two men on his heels. Since it hadn't been any of the three of them, that meant there was only one room on the floor that it could have come from, Vollrath’s office.  None of them knew who had caused it, but there was no way it was good.  It had been a great use of power, and no one in the building should be doing that for any reason.

The scene in the office brought Vollrath to an abrupt halt, but Baldur and Elmar split up both to avoid him and due to what they were witnessing in front of them.  The conference table was overturned and a Coven warlock, Jonathan, was on the ground near one end.  Mahala was in the back corner of the office behind Vollrath’s desk, huddled up in Vollrath’s suit coat and trying to become one with the carpet.  Her dark hair hung in front of her face like a curtain, hiding her eyes from view, but it was clear she was shaking.  Baldur slowly approached Mahala, putting himself in front of her so he was all she could see, while Elmar was over with Johnathan. 

"Would someone like to tell me what the fuck just went on in here?" Vollrath demanded in a voice that left no doubt that he was enraged.   This was one instance that being the Master Warlock of the Coven had its major drawbacks.  He couldn’t be the one to go to Mahala, he had to remain impartial until he knew what happened.  His heart was back in that corner and now Baldur had blocked his view; he was hating that all he could see was Baldur's back.  Worry lanced through him with each step his friend took, but he knew that the woman that he was coming to love…yes, love was the word for it…was in good hands.

"That damn sneaky bitch attacked me." Jonathan announced in a clearly irritated and confrontational tone, trying to move away from Elmar, whose brow creased at the declaration.  Vollrath’s head whipped to look at him at Jonatha’s declaration, pinning him with an intense stare.    "Came in to deliver reports on the progress of the Marshall project and she was rifling through your desk.  When I tried to stop her, well you see what she did!" His arms gestured to the disaster the room was now in.

Elmar’s eyes met Vollrath’s and he shook his head.  Two and two were equalling six, and the powerful warlock didn't like it.  If she had that kind of control and knowledge, why would she have not guarded earlier?  Why get to the point of passing out over Vollrath’s jealousy? No, Jonathan's story wasn't right.  Elmar may have just met Mahala, but he would take her side instantly over what had been said by a warlock that had been in the Coven for decades.  There was more going on, and until he knew what that more was, he wasn’t going to accept that as the story.  He had been in a position of leadership too long.

"Band him." Vollrath ordered, not needing Elmar to actually say that he didn’t believe Jonathan.  It had been clear on his friend’s face.  He didn’t believe the other warlock either.  Something wasn’t adding up with his story, based on the woman he knew and the way he’d said it happened. Mahala might have the power to have destroyed his office, and more, but she didn’t have the knowledge of HOW to do it.  Her training hadn’t started yet.  

Vollrath turned his attention to Bladur, who was still very slowly approaching Mahala.  He could only see Baldur’s back, which frustrated him and made him wonder what was going on for his friend to be moving so slowly.  Was there something he didn’t know? "Bal?"

"Working on it.  Don't want on my ass, V.  I don’t believe his story, but she can still kick me." Baldur called over his shoulder, then turned his attention back to Mahala who was trying her best to disappear into Vollrath’s suit coat. While he didn’t believe what Jonathan said was the complete truth, something had caused chaos in Vollrath’s office, and Mahala did have a shit ton of raw power.  If she was defending herself she may have done it without realizing it.  There had to be some explanation and he needed to keep her calm and trusting him enough to find out what it was..

Finally closer to her, he crouched down, still making sure that he was all she could see.  An enraged Vollrath was intimidating even to him; since she was already scared, it was the last thing she needed.   "Look at me, babygirl. That's it. You're safe. We're back from the other room.  Can you tell me what happened?"  She shook her head and Baldur wanted to hit something. Why wouldn't she talk?  If she was refusing to cooperate, it was going to make things exponentially harder.  "Mahala, you've got to tell your…." He stopped when he realized that she was sobbing and gesturing to her throat, but there was no sound.  She wasn't refusing to tell him, she literally couldn’t. FUCK!  If Vollrath was mad about the teasing, this was going to send him into an apoplectic fit.

"Vollrath, would you please take Jonathan down to containment?   I think Elmar and I will be fine here." Baldur prayed his friend didn't come over to find out why he wanted him out of the room.  He reached out his fingers to brush just the tips of Mahala’s as they rested on the floor.  He needed her to know he wasn’t going to hurt her and also to remain calm till Vollrath was out of the room.   They'd fix what was wrong, but he needed Vollrath not to be losing his shit at the time. 

"Why?" Something was wrong, Baldur wasn’t telling him something, and Vollrath didn’t like it.  He couldn’t hear Mahala talking to his friend.  He only had heard Baldur’s voice.  With the slight confrontation earlier, he was sure he should be able to hear her.  What were they hiding from him?

"Trust me." Baldur closed his eyes and prayed to the ancients to help them.  “Just please take him out of the room.”  He leaned forward and laced his fingers with Mahala’s keeping his eyes on hers.  They would figure out how to fix this, but he needed Vollrath out of the room so they could.

Jonathan started to protest the request by saying that he was being treated like the guilty one when she had attacked him;  and that seemed all Vollrath needed to get him to drag the warlock from the room.  Now Baldur and Elmar only had a short time till he'd be back to figure out what was wrong and fix it.  No doubt Vollrath would be as quick as possible since he couldn’t have missed something was very wrong.

"She can't make a sound." Baldur scooped the frightened woman up off of the floor and took her over to the couch.  "If it's not her boyfriend trying to give her a stroke, one of his employees is trying to kill her." Gently he once more laid her down.

"Trust us, sweetheart.   We may be assholes, but we would never purposefully hurt you, and Vol will lose his mind if you're badly hurt.  We’re going to figure out how to fix whatever is wrong." Elmar gently took her hands to get them to release Vollrath’s jacket.  When it fell open, both warlocks swore under their breath.  Her entire throat was a mottled purple and red bruise.   "I'd say she hit him in self defense.  That is an ugly bruise."  Elmar’s words came out slow as he took in what was in front of him and tried not to follow Vollrath down to containment.

"Good bet." Baldur sighed as he agreed, his finger gently traced over the skin of her throat.  The bruise was beginning to swell, but held no residual magic that he could detect  "I can't find any magic tether or spell remaining.  Enchantment of some kind? He's got a wrought iron band on, he can't be holding her by force.  See if you can find something over in the mess.  Vol's going to be back any second and it’s going to get ugly fast." He saw Elmar’s shadow move as the other warlock went to try and see if he could find a talisman or other object.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

11

By the time that Baldur and Elmar came back into the room, Mahala was sitting up on the couch and leaning against Vollrath’s shoulder with his arm around her.  Elmar’s jacket was now on the back of one of the conference table chairs and had been replaced by Vollrath’s.  The two friends looking over at the couple couldn’t remember any time in their long friendships that they’d seen Vollrath like that with a woman.  They could only hope that this wasn’t a mistake on any of their parts.

“Is she feeling better?” It was Elmar who spoke and walked in to slip on his jacket again.  He stood at the end of the room, not really wanting to test the waters after earlier. Even having noticed the jealousy building in Vollarath, he could not have anticipated the reaction that had eventually happened.  Normally when irritated, his friend had a more verbal or physical reaction.  That it had ended up being a mystical one, and one that injured an innocent party, did bother Elmar.

“I am.  And from now on when you two piss him off, he’s going to take it out on you, not me.” Mahala’s voice sounded tired, but at least her head no longer felt like it was in a vice.  Vollrath had at least remedied that for her in ways that she still did not fully understand.  Magic was real, she was a witch, and the man that she was inexplicably drawn to was a powerful warlock…that was going to take a little bit to sink completely in..  “I don’t appreciate what either of you did, even if that hadn’t happened.  I want that completely clear. I was nothing but polite and respectful to both of you, and did not deserve to be used in some…” her eyes closed as she sought for the right word to use.  She was frustrated and that and the remnants of the headache made it hard for her to be as eloquent as normal.

Vollrath leaned over, kissing her temple and adding some extra healing as he did, to try to help. The look he was giving both Baldur and Elmar made it clear that he was still enraged, but controlling himself for her sake. He was not going to cause her one drop more of pain, even if he could remove it afterward.  The two men, well, that was a different story for a different time.

Finally Mahala’s eyes opened and she stood, a bit unsteady and using Vollrath’s shoulder for balance.  “Baldur, Elmar, her head turned slightly as she addressed them each.  “I am not a pawn to be used in some kind of game that you play with your friend to see if you can cause a reaction.  I am not a button to be pressed or a toy that can be manipulated to see if you can make him have a temper tantrum.  I am a living, breathing, human who also just so happens to be a witch coming into your coven, and what you did was not only unfair, it was insulting and demeaning. My mother fled from the Codona mansion either slightly before or right after I was born, she hid my abilities as well as her own from me for my entire life, and now I’m wondering if she was fleeing this Coven.”

Both Baldur and Elmar realized their gross miscalculation in their earlier actions on both a personal level and as leaders of the Coven.  While they had just seen how it was affecting Vollrath and been acting to get a reaction at his expense, they now saw how that looked to Mahala.  She was a new witch, who had faced off against Vollrath, of all warlocks, in the dark the night before and came out with him almost worshiping at her feet.  Yet she walks into their office the next day and they treat her as something just to get a rise out of their friend.  

“Mahala, I’m sorry.” Baldur said.  He now felt the regret he had seen etched in every line of his friend’s face when he’d left the office.  “We made a grave mistake in how we treated you, and I feel bad about it.” It was an honest statement and he knew that there was no way to step back and make it better now.  Forward would be different.

“You damn well should.” She was not going to give an inch, and she wanted that clear to both of them. “You behaved so juvenilely in this office that you should both be ashamed.  Save any further words, because the only redemption you’ll earn will be through actions.”  She looked at both of them and sighed heavily.  Mahala was feeling exceedingly tired, no doubt lingering effects from what had happened a short time prior in the office.  “I had really hoped to come here today and for things to go well.  It seems…I hoped in vain.” Her eyes and head tipped forward simultaneously, feeling a bit of defeat.  The previous night had shown her that she could not handle everything herself, she had hoped that the three of them would help her.  The only consolation was that Vollrath still would, even if the other two decided to bow out.

There was a slight wobble in Mahala’s balance, and Vollrath was on his feet in an instant with his arm around her waist to steady her.  Both of his friends had seen the kiss to her forehead that had almost seemed a completely natural action, and now how quickly he had just reacted was unlike anything they had witnessed as well.  There could be no missing that there was more at work than just simple attraction.  Physical attraction alone did not make such drastic changes to someone’s behavior overnight, not to someone as set in his ways as Vollrath was.  Mistakes had certainly been made on their part to agitate him. 

“Please sit and rest sweetheart, let me get you a snack and some tea.  You need to get your blood sugar up.”  Vollrath helped her to relax back onto the couch before placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.  Then walked towards the other men, his eyes hard and face serious.  “Walk with me gentlemen.  Let’s talk in another room for a minute.  I think the three of us have upset her enough for one day.”  His brows rose as he passed them and headed through the door.  Both men followed without a word, they knew an order when they heard one.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

10

“Vol, he’s right.  You lost your shit for absolutely no reason, and she got hurt.  It’s obvious what is going on to both Bal and I.  You need to get a hold on this.  Take care of her, we’ll be back.”  Elmar clapped him on the shoulder and followed their other friend.  They all needed a little space.

As soon as the door to his office closed, Vollrath ran a hand through his auburn hair and walked over to the couch where Mahala lay.  He’d watched her sleep the night before and even that morning, but she hadn’t looked like she did now.  There was a difference.  This was not a peaceful rest, it was something different.

Sitting on the edge of the couch next to her, he took her hand in both of his, holding it like it was the most fragile thing he’d ever touched.  It seemed so small compared with his, so delicate.  Gult flooded him and threatened to drown him.  “Mahala, I’m so sorry.  I don’t know…”  His eyes closed, Vollrath did know.  “I’m sorry, little witch, I didn’t trust you. I didn’t trust them.  I let stupid shit get to me.”  His head shook, this was just the thing his friends got on him all the time about, once his temper started to go, it was an explosion of some kind.  Never before had it been over a woman.   Keeping hold of one hand, he reached up and brushed her hair from her forehead, softly chanting a healing incantation as he did.

“What have you done to me?  How have you instilled such a fear of losing you in such a short amount of time?” The backs of his fingers caressed her cheek, his lips thinning as guilt weighed on him. “Instead of holding you closer, I lose my temper and this is the result.  I warned you it’s hard to let people close, but I never meant to do this.”  He knew that he had to get his temper in check when it came to her, or he would lose her.  It would only be a matter of time until he lost it AT her, not just AROUND her.  Their differences the night before had been nothing compared to how enraged he was at his friends for purposefully pushing his buttons regarding her.  “My little witch, you already have my heart.” The last sentence was said just above a whisper.

Mahala’s eyelids fluttered and her breath stuttered, the hand being held by Vollrath twitched and then held his back.  He leaned over her, putting his free hand against the back of the couch to brace himself.  She was waking up, now would be the test if she knew what had happened.  Now he would find out if she would forgive him, or if he was going to have to send Baldur and Elmar away with her to train her so he did not lose his mind.

“Vollrath?”  She blinked a couple of times, then her eyes squeezed shut and her hand not being held reached up to her forehead as her face scrunched.  “Did I hit my head?  What happened?” She blew out a heavy breath and slightly moaned.

“Let me.”  His voice was soft as he pulled her hand down and leaned back so he could once more run fingers over her forehead.  “I…” he sighed heavily, “I lost my temper, and forgot you don’t know how to shield your magic, or yourself from it.  I am so, so sorry, sweetheart.  I…” another heavy sigh, “I never meant to hurt you.  I made a mistake in not being more careful and calming down.”  He kept easing her pain as he spoke, hoping, praying that she wouldn’t hate him.

One eye slitted open to look at him.  “You losing your temper feels like I bashed my face on your desk?”  He nodded, guilt overwhelming him once more as he waited as her open eye once more closed.

“You’re going to have to work on that, as in like, today.  I do not consent to be knocked unconscious because you and Elmar get in a fight.  Knock him out.  Or Baldur.  They’re bigger.”  She moaned slightly and her face started to relax.  “Whatever you’re doing is helping.”

Vollrath just sat and stared at her as he worked healing magic over her. She wasn’t pulling away, she wasn’t rebuking him, she wasn’t doing all of the scenarios that had gone off in his head as he had been waiting for her to open her beautiful eyes.  He leaned forward and gently placed a kiss on her forehead.  “Anything for you.” It was almost spoken as a prayer as he did, it was a vow.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

9

Mahala comes to Vollrath's office, but things don't go as planned...

“Baldur, Elmar, good, you’re both here.”  Vollrath walked past their desks in the office on the top floor between the Executive Receptionist’s desk and his inner office.  “I need you in my office, now.” Although he didn’t slow down as he walked through to his office, his voice was firm and both men raised their brows as they looked at one another, stood, and followed.

“I’m taking it that there was some excitement with the witch last night?” Baldur asked after closing the door behind the three of them.  He had expected a call after everything was completed the night before, so he was curious how bad it had gone.

“You could say that,” Vollarath gestured for them to sit, “Mahala will be my new assistant.  We will need to rearrange my office to add her desk next to mine.  I will be taking next week off.  She will be here in two hours to meet the two of you and for more formal explanations of all that will take place.  Elmar, I will need you to do more in depth testing for strengths, she’s had no formal training.  Baldur, I need you to procure a dagger and a pistol.”  He looked between them.  Both men were staring, mouths slightly open.

“Did you fall and hit your head on the way into the office this morning?”  Baldur was the first to speak.  “Drink a potion you meant to give her?  Finally get laid?”

Elmar choked, shook his head, then put his elbow on the armrest of the chair he was in and rested his forehead in his hand.  “If you’re going to kick his ass, can you please take it outside this time.  I’m tired of having to pay extra to get blood out of the carpet.”  Vollrath hit hard, and for some reason people did not stay out of his arm’s reach.  Next time they were getting darker carpet in their offices.  “How about, what had brought about these changes, Vol?  This is not like you, and you know it.”

“You’ll both know when you meet her.  I won’t have to explain a damn thing.”  Vollrath hoped he was right, because if he had to try to explain it, they were going to think he had hit his head or that she had done something to him.  That would go badly and he did not want it to.

“We’d better, Vol.  We’d better.”  Baldur stood and walked towards the door.  “This is NOT you.  So either she comes in and I understand, of Elmar there is going to find out what the fuck is up while I hold your ass down.  I can see now that is what will have to be done.  Something’s wrong with you, and I love you too much to let you destroy yourself.” He opened the door and walked out.

Vollrath sighed, rested his elbows on the desk and put his head in his hands.  “Elmar, do you have anything to say?  Go ahead. I don’t want to fight with you both,  but if I have to I will.  And if either of you two hurt her, I will hurt you.”

“Vol, he’s right.  This isn’t you.  You don’t do this shit.  He’s just worried, WE are just worried.  Threatening to fight us doesn’t make me feel any better.”  Elmar stood and rested a hand on his friend’s head.  “You are like a brother, Vol. I’ll wait till I meet her.  Okay?  No judgment until then.”

****

Two hours later the downstairs receptionist called up that Mahala had arrived and was being sent up in the elevator that went directly to his office.  Vollrath had Balder and Elmar come in, so they’d be together when she arrived.  For as calm as he appeared on the outside as he stood between his two friends with his hands clasped behind his back, his nerves were a wreck.  The words of both friends echoing in his head.

When the doors opened, Mahala stepped out in a beautiful black business suit, looking polished and utterly gorgeous.  She looked at the three powerful warlocks standing in similar positions before her and slowly took each one in.  When Vollrath had dropped her off that morning, he’d been in a hoodie and jeans, now he was in a three-piece suit and it looked damn good on him.  Each of his friends was as well, and they were handsome as well, but not quite as much as her warlock.  She remembered what Vollrath had told her, lighter hair and grey eyes was Baldur, black hair and almost black eyes was Elmar.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”  She stepped into the office, her nerves making her feel as if her stomach was to empty itself upon the carpet.  “Vollrath, it is a pleasure again.”  She gave him an affectionate smile and inclined her head toward him with lowered lashes, a pink tinge coming to her cheeks.  Then she turned her attention to her left.  “You must be Baldur,” she extended her hand.  “It is a pleasure to meet you.  I’ve heard quite a bit about you and your friendship and leadership within the Coven and corporation.”

For his part Baldur was stunned.  Mahala Codona was not what he had been expecting, and as soon as he took her hand he felt the immense power that radiated off of her.  She wasn’t even trying to cloak it, which meant that Vollrath had been right about her being completely untrained.  “Pleasure is all mine, Ms. Codona.” He brought her hand up and kissed the back.  If he hadn’t known better he would have sworn he heard Vollrath growl.  “Unfortunately I cannot say the same, Vollrath seems to be keeping you a secret, and I can see why.”  Now he was sure Vollrath was grinding his teeth, wasn’t this interesting?  Was his best friend jealous?   “I look forward to getting to know you better today.” Just to fuck with Vollrath at this point, Baldur gave her the most charming smile and flirtatious look he could.  She was gorgeous and he could see why Vollrath was interested.  He didn’t poach from friends, but he would fuck around with Vollrath a little bit.

Watching Baldur had Vollrath wanting to hit him even more than his words earlier did.  The pink that tinged Mahala’s cheeks at his flirting had him wanting to clear his desk and rage.  He knew it was irrational and that the look she gave him after Baldur had released her hand was one that said he was still the only one in the room she was interested in, yet he couldn’t help the jealousy.  What was wrong with him?

“Which means you are Elmar?” Mahala gave the other warlock a bright smile as she offered her hand to him.  Baldur seemed nice, so she was hoping that Elmar was as well.  Something seemed to be bothering Vollrath, but she was trying not to let that make her nerves worse.

“I am, Mahala.” He took her hand and shook it, then like Baldur brought it up to his lips, knowing full well Vollrath was about to crack a molar or two.  Watching her exchange with Baldur who had been the most against the woman and her affect on Vollrath, he had started to figure out that there was a shit ton going on.  As soon as she touched him, he knew there was and while that didn’t tell him what was going on with Vollrath, it did tell him that she wasn’t a threat to him.  “It seems our Master Warlock and friend did not do your beauty or grace justice.” He released her hand with a smile, and a slight bow to her.  “You and I will be working very closely today.  He has asked me to help evaluate your mystical gifts.  I want to warn you that this can be a little hands on, but I promise it is painless.”  He smiled at her, his eyes meeting her and making sure his voice was smooth as silk.  Learning from Baldur, he watched as the pink bloomed on her cheeks and Vollrath’s breathing changed once more. “It might take into the evening, but I promise Baldur and I will make sure not to bore you or tire you too much, and will get you home safe.”

“You and Baldur?” Vollrath had just about enough of the two next to him testing his patience, and he now was sure that was exactly what they were doing.  Mahala looked at him confused, and he realized he had no clue how he’d just sounded.  Judging from the fact Elmar was fighting a laugh he could only guess it was less than friendly.

Baldur stepped forward, time to see how bad his friend had it.  “Miss Codona, I think that Vol and El have had a slight miscommunication earlier about the day’s plan.” He offered her his arm.  “Let me take you in the other room and get you something to drink while they clear that up.  I’ll make sure you are very comfortable.” His best charming smile was given in her direction as he kept out of Vollrath’s reach doing it.

Mahala looked uneasy now and she felt almost ready to panic.  She could feel something in the air and it was starting to make her dizzy.  She blinked a few times looking at Elmar, Vollrath, and then Baldur again.  There was tension, it was obvious on Vollrath’s face, but not the other two.  Something was wrong.  Had she done something?  “Um..sure.  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause a problem.”  She took a breath and put on a tight smile as she took a step towards Baldur, reaching a hand out to slide into the crook of his arm.  The second she touched his arm, she felt the world spin, black coming in from the edges, and pinpricks of light filling her vision.  She gasped at a spike of pain, and then it all went black.

“FUCK VOL!!”  Baldur caught Mahala before she hit the ground. “You want to dial down your agitation and power, you’re even giving me a migraine.  Damn, bro.”  Sweeping her up in his arms, Baldur carried her over to the couch.  “Can one of you get a pillow at one end so I can put this poor woman down, and then we can think of how to explain that you just caused her fucking pass out from jealousy big guy?”  Baldur was pissed.  He knew his best friend had a temper, but this was a bit extreme.

“Good job, Vol.  Get a woman that looks at you like the sun, and you give her a stroke in one day.  Normally it takes you closer to a week to run them off.” Elmar got the throw pillow ready for Mahala’s head and then took his suit jacket over to cover her legs since her skirt was riding a little high for his comfort, and he really didn’t want to meet Vollrath’s fist.  “You do know that we were giving you shit, right?  Poor girl was oblivious too, and she’s the only one that paid for your anger.  You need to work on that before you kill her.” Elmar turned to face Vollrath who was standing at one the windows with his forehead against the cool glass looking defeated and dejected.

“Is she okay?”  Vollrath’s voice was quieter and more pained than the other two men were used to hearing.  He was holding so much guilt for not controlling himself.  With how well the night had ended and the morning began, he still wasn’t sure why he had lost his temper like that.  There was no doubt in his mind about who she had affections for, yet he had been so jealous he could not control it.  Since she was the only one in the room who had no idea how to shield herself from the magic of others, she’d been hit full force with his power when he’d lost his temper.

“Why don’t you find out for yourself.  You did it, you fix it.  I need air.  I’m going out for a cig.  Come on El, let’s let the room air out.  We’ll be back.  Get your head on straight.  She seems sweet.  I see now, she’s not the problem.  YOU are, Vol.  Fix it.”  Baldur stalked out of the room, he was pissed.  He’d never seen Vol act like he was right now.  He had a good idea why after meeting Mahala, but Vol had to get a handle on himself, or Mahala was the one going to get hurt.

“Vol, he’s right.  You lost your shit for absolutely no reason, and she got hurt.  It’s obvious what is going on to both Bal and I.  You need to get a hold on this.  Take care of her, we’ll be back.”  Elmar clapped him on the shoulder and followed their other friend.  They all needed a little space.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

8

Things take yet another interesting turn as Vollrath and Mahala keep talking...could something more be at play here?

Somewhere between the kitchen and his bedroom as they had briefly discussed how the next few days would go, they both had started to relax.  She was going to be introduced to his company as his new Assistant.  Only Baldur and Elmar would know who she truly was, and, more than that, what she meant to him. Although, he was already trying to figure out how to explain it to them, since it still wasn’t making much sense to himself.  They had known him since childhood and no doubt would be in shock.

Vollrath had told her more about his friends and Seconds in leading the Coven, about his family, his normal life, and what the Coven was like.  It had then been her turn to tell him about what her life had been like.  He knew that there was something wrong with her childhood and made a mental note to have both Baldur and Elmar look into it.  Her family was as powerful as his, so not to tell her about her gifts and for her mother to have kept her moving around the country as a child made him worry for her.  Now she was under his care, she would be safe, however he wanted to know who or what could be after her.  Bringing her under Coven protection now was even more crucial than ever and he was not going to let her be alone, ever.

Starting on Saturday they were going to take a trip into the mountains to his cabin.  There, away from people and the noise of the city, they would start to do training on all aspects of her abilities and magic in general.  They’d spend at least a week up there, Baldur and Elmar could hold everything for his company and the Coven down that long without having to contact him.  They might come back the next weekend to handle issues if they needed to, or they might just stay up there.  How things went would all depend on how good of a student she was.  He didn’t mention it, but it would also depend on how things were going between them. 

“See, much more comfortable up here.” Vollrath kissed the top of her head as he adjusted the throw that was covering both of them as they reclined on the sectional in his master suite.  Only one lamp in the room was on and it cast a soft golden glow over them that added to a warm amber glow from the gas log fireplace that Vollrath had lit up to take the chill out of the air.  Currently they were sitting in the corner of the sectional, Vollrath leaning back against one side, legs outstretched with Mahala between them, her head just tucked under his chin. “I already admitted you had a point.” A slight chuckle followed, but he already knew she was teasing from the sound of her voice.  “Don’t make me elbow you again, I’ve got both our mugs and I don’t think you want me to spill hot coffee on you.”

“I don’t know.”  He teased back as he gently retrieved his mug from her, making sure that he, in fact, did not spill it on himself or, worse, her.  “Having you play nurse on a burn on my upper thigh might not be so bad.”  His other arm held her a bit tighter against him as he anticipated getting smacked for that comment, playfully of course.

“VOLLRATH  NACHTNEBEL!”  Now Mahayla laughed outright.  “Do you always make such innuendos on the first date?” Leaning slightly to the side, she looked up at him, fighting a laugh and trying to look offended.

“Already with the full name, my dearest little witch!  Was that really necessary?”  Now he was laughing and pretending to be offended as well.  Both were failing miserably, mostly due to not being able to contain their laughter.  “And no, I do not make such innuendos on the first date, ever.  I am a perfect gentleman, which you will see on our first date.  As it is Wednesday, it means in two days.  However, this is not our first date, this is just your first time in my home, therefore the rules are different.”  He’d already kissed her, he’d already wiped away tears, he’d already held her in his arms to help calm her nerves over being overwhelmed.  Assuming she’d agree to a first date seemed like a foregone conclusion at this point.

“You seem pretty assured I want to go on a date with you.  I mean, I guess I could lower my standards….” Mahala shrugged her shoulders, tipping her head to the side, and slightly rolling her eyes before taking a drink of her coffee so she didn’t laugh.  

“Das Lionessa Der Nachtnebel, you do go for the jugular, my dear.  I believe my pride is not only wounded, but completely dead.” Vollrath chuckled and shook his head.  He absolutely adored her ability to snark back at him.

“I’m sure it will recover with the flattery of some female at some point.  With your good looks it won’t take you long to find one to throw herself at you I’m sure.”  She kept her voice dismissive, but the thought of another woman in his arms like she was at that moment made her heart hurt, and she had no reason why.  They had just met and she didn’t know if there was anyone else he was seeing.  She only assumed not after what he’d said in the kitchen.

“No…no…I believe only one female at this point is going to work.  A devastatingly beautiful little witch I found practicing forbidden rituals in my woods this evening.” A kiss was dropped at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.  “And it is absolutely going to have to be Friday, delivered in a beautiful dress, over a fine dinner with wine.  No other way will it be resurrected.” 

“Fine…I can’t have the Master Warlock of the area walking around with his pride in the grave at my expense.  You shall get your first date, Vollrath.  However, I can’t guarantee that there will be a second.”  She tipped her head to look back at him.  “You best be on your good behavior.”

“Only my best, and I can guarantee there will.” He grinned at her and kissed the tip of her nose.  He could already hear Baldur and Elam insisting he’d lost his mind.  Maybe he had, but he was enjoying it.

“Why does that make me think that you’re still not guaranteed to be a good boy.” Mahala laughed, the sound making Vollrath’s heart do something funny.  Yes, he had lost his mind.  Tomorrow at the office would be confirmation, he was sure of it. “Darling, I am a warlock, I’m rarely a good boy.  When there is a beautiful woman in my arms who I am attracted to, I’m even less of one.”  He grinned and held her even tighter against him.  If he could convince her not to go into the other room to sleep that night or go home, he would be the best boy ever.  

“I feel like I’m being warned.”  She laughed and then her face grew a little more serious.  “What did you call me a minute ago?  Das lionessa…?” Mahala couldn’t remember the rest of it.

So she had caught it, Vollrath had wondered when she hadn’t immediately asked.  “Promise to not try to run screaming, I would hate to have to chase you.”  He had said it without thinking, almost as if it flowed naturally.  Now, now he was nervous.  

“Why?  Did you insult me in some foreign language? Vollrath, you’re kind of scaring me again.” Her eyes narrowed at him, wondering what he had really said and why he was nervous.  It sounded like he’d called her a lioness, but she wasn’t sure why he’d want a reassurance she wasn’t going to run if that was the case.

“Mahala, please just promise.” Now his voice was serious, those hazel eyes holding a silent imploring as well.  While he waited for Mahala to respond, Vollrath felt like he was holding his breath, not sure if she would agree.  So, when she finally nodded, he sighed heavily.  “My grandmother was a powerful witch, much like you.  My grandfather, her husband, called me the Lion of the family.  She gave a prophecy that one day I would find my equal, das lionessa der Nachtnebel.  And further, das Lionessa der Nachtnebel will rip out their throats and take their heads.  Don’t ask what that means, I have no clue, other than I took it to mean that when she stood by my side that she would rule as my equal, since my grandfather always said I was more vicious than he’d seen in generations.”  He swallowed, waiting for her response.  How bad had he just fucked things up with a woman that seemed to cause him to take two steps forward and one back all night, and was he going to have to chase her down?  There was no doubt he’d lost his mind to even be thinking the things he was about her, let alone how he kept feeling, but he wasn't’ letting her go or losing her.

Mahala turned to look away from him, not saying a thing.  Her eyes darted about as she absorbed what he was saying.  All night they’d been doing a back and forth dance, a push and pull with one another.  It had started in the forest, and had not stopped.  This revelation was something more though, it felt like all the air had been sucked from her lungs.  Her mother had always said she was “her little lioness” because of how feisty and headstrong she’d been as a child. More than once she’d been told her viscous temper had no equal, and that she was more likely to take someone’s head off than make a friend.  There was no way that Vollrath could have known any of that, and this seemed one more thing in a weird set that had been going on all night.

“So, you think?  You think that’s me?” Finally she asked, still feeling like there was a weight on her chest.  She was still facing away from him, needing that tiny bit of disconnect to handle things.  

“I didn’t think.  It just came out as if that was your name, who you are.  Like it was right.”  There was an uncertainty in his voice, and the fact she wasn’t looking at him was not helping him any.  He kept his hold on her, praying she wouldn’t try to run.  They had gotten so relaxed with one another somehow from how things had gone down in the mudroom just a few short hours earlier.  Why could they not have just a few calm hours?

“I told you I don’t believe in fairytales, but after tonight I’m beginning to wonder.” Mahala said after  a moment to think. “My mother called me her little lioness.”  Her voice stuttered and she leaned over to set her mug on the tray table. “Said that I was likely to take someone’s head off because of my temper. So either you’re reading my mind, or….”  She let her voice trail off, and she felt his arms tighten around her as she leaned back, closing her eyes to try and calm her nerves and racing heart.  “Now we just need the villain, or maybe that is what I’m going to find when I go through that mansion I inherited.  It seems that would fit with my mother running away and never coming back, an evil king?”  She took a deep breath, still trying to fit everything right in her head. Opening her eyes, she once more tipped it to look up at him.  His lips thinned, brows drawn together, forehead lined, and eyes tight, his expression hit her heart, causing her hand to rise to rest against his cheek.  “You can see I’m not walking away even if it is like a fairytale and I’m in the center of it somehow.”  

Vollrath felt like something had hit him in the middle of his chest and his breath came out in one rushed huff, leaving his lungs burning.  His words from the kitchen, the one thing he’d asked her, she’d not thrown those words back at him the way some had in the past but instead used them to sooth his nerves that few ever knew he had.  “You could completely destroy me, Mahala Codona.  You know that?”

“I won’t.  You trusted that when you told me how to do it.”  She closed her eyes as she rested fully back against him.  “And I trusted you when you told me I was safe with you after you scared the shit out of me when we came in your house.” Mahala moved her head so her forehead rested against the side of his neck.  “You and I, we hold power over one another, and yet we already trust.  I won’t claim to understand it either, Vollrath.  This whole night has been….”

“A constant contradiction?” He finished for her, for the second time in an evening.  She nodded softly, and it made him smile.  He couldn’t argue with her.  The whole night seemed like a continual and constant contradiction.  They’d go from almost fighting to being soft with one another.  Him wanting to throttle her to wanting to kiss her till she was dizzy from being breathless.  There was a message from the ancients in there somewhere.  

After a few minutes of silence, Vollrath asked the one question that he needed for that night. “Please, stay with me tonight. We can stay right here.  I don’t want you leaving me.”  With all they had talked about, with all the back and forth, with it feeling like the ground was shifting under his feet, he didn’t want to be alone and the only person he wanted with him was her.  He wouldn’t force her to stay, but he might beg.  Baldur and Elmar were going ot have him fucking committed to the closest mental institution.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Mahala’s voice was soft, relaxed, and calm.  She didn’t know what the next few days would hold, but at the moment, she just wanted to stay right where she was. 

[magical-mistakes-vm]

7

A confession draws them closer

Vollrath, for his part, wasn't fairing much better and was glad this had happened in his home and not office.  Being forced to cover for his reaction would have made him fuck up, he was sure.  "I'll keep that in mind for the future."  Would he ever, and how she affected him as well.  At the moment he was trying to figure out how to not ruin things but get to talks they needed to have.  Nothing since they had walked into his house has gone according to his plans, and that was a rare occurrence. 

"I'm always open to bribes." Her hand that had landed on the back of his head during their kiss, lightly ruffled his hair.  She was starting to get nervous again under his intense gaze, even if now there was no hostility in it at all.

"Is that so?" He slid her off the stool so she was standing pressed against him, then slowly started backing towards the coffee pot. He had an idea. Hopefully he was not as clueless at romance as he thought.  "Hopefully homemade bribes work just as well as store bought."  He grinned as he spun her to face the counter where the pot was then caged her against it with his arms.

The small gasp and laugh told him enough that he'd done well so far.  "Maybe I can bribe you to share more about you tonight." He reached to get the mugs and placed a kiss against the side of her neck as he set them down.  "I'll even trade some about me."  As he started to pour the mugs, he rested his head against hers.

"I might be amenable to that trade." Mahala couldn't hide the smile in her voice as she answered him.  She may have said she didn't believe in fairy tales but she almost felt like she was in on at the moment.  The princess with the powerful wizard seducing her and also having fallen in love with her at first sight, only to reveal she was a sorcerss.

Finishing pouring, Vollrath wrapped his arms around her from behind.  "I'm sorry that I upset you earlier." He wasn't sure where that came from. If there was something he did only slightly more frequently than kissing a woman but rarely enough no one could remember the last time, it was apologize. 

"I have a feeling it won't be the last time we have a miscommunication. " She laid her arms atop his.  "We have lived very different lives in different worlds."  Her head leaned back against his chest. "It means a lot that you apologized though." She turned her head and tipped it back to look up at him.

"There is probably one more thing I should mention before you meet Baldur and Elmar." How did he explain this one to her?  Since meeting her he could barely stop touching and placing his lips on her.  Still Vollrath needed to get it out of the way.  Gently kissing her upturned lips, since he very well could get smacked or pushed away shortly.  It might be his last opportunity for a while.

"You're stalling." Mahala teased with a grin.

"I am.  You didn't have to point it out though." He chuckled and held her slightly tighter, wondering where this ease came from.  "See, they will of course mention it, and.." he lightly sighed.  Swallowing hard he decided to just spit it out. "I am not normally like this around a woman.  At all. Not this relaxed, not this affectionate, and," due to his nerves getting the better of him, he dropped his lips down next to her ear.  "I know you won't believe this, but the last woman I kissed that wasn’t family was in college, and I've slept with a few since then. I don’t just mean on the lips, I mean anywhere, period."  His eyes closed.  They could be starting over from scratch in seconds and he was already missing the feel of her in his arms, the smell of the way her body chemistry interacted with the sandalwood oil she'd gotten on her during the interrupted ritual, and the feel of her skin under his lips.

Turning in his arms to face him, Mahala’s face was awash with a mixture of confusion and shock. "Are you serious right now?" Her eyes searched his face as she waited for a response. He couldn’t be, could he?  He had kissed her forehead when they were still out in the woods on his property. 

Normally when Vollrath heard that question it was full of sarcasm, but hers was full of confusion, as was her expression.  "Yes. I told you earlier that you are very special, my little witch.  Don't ask me to explain, because I can't.  I'm not playing games, Mahala, I gave you my word." There was a soft sigh as he finished talking and at the end his voice sounded defeated; he wasn't sure how to feel, which was in itself a new feeling.  He was a Master Warlock and head of his own company.  Normally he was fully in control of everything and everyone around him.  Then he found Mahayla in the forest and he felt like his world was upended. 

"I didn't mean it like…now I'm the one who is sorry, Vollrath.  Bad word choice." Gently one hand rose to lay on his cheek, the auburn stubble there tickling at her palm and fingertips.  "I just meant it has all felt so…" she struggled to find the word without once more using a poor word choice. 

"Natural." He ended the sentence for her as she nodded. "You also don't need to apologize.  It seems we are both in new territory tonight."  His lips formed a soft smile as his eyes softened around the edges.  Vollrath didn’t believe in love at first sight, but this was definitely a new territory that he’d never been in before and he was curious exactly what this was.  What he did know was that having Mahala in his arms DID feel like the most natural thing in the world and the little acts of affection required no thought like they had in relationships in the past.  

“Very new.  Whatever is going on between us plus this whole thing with witches, warlocks, hunters….I’m just…overwhelmed…” She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the middle of his chest.  Her emotions were starting to get the best of her and she let out a stuttered breath, almost a dry sob as she just felt everything hitting her at once.  When Vollrath’s strong, muscled arms enveloped her to hold her gently, there was something so comforting in it, and she felt herself wrapping her arms around him and just relaxing into his strength.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Vollrath kissed the top of her head, his hands gently caressing her back.  “How about we skip talking in here and take the coffee up to my bedroom, I have a huge sofa up there we can relax on? It’s more comfortable and not so bright.  It’s my sanctuary from the world”  For some reason the thought of having her wrapped up in his arms, relaxing in his room, made his heart speed.  He felt a NEED to do this, to have her close and keep her that way.  

When she nodded against his chest, he smiled against her hair and kissed her head again. “You are safe, Mahala, always with me.” It was a vow that went to the very core of his soul.