A Spell for Shadows: Rosewilde Academy of Magical Arts

by Marie Robinson

  I glared up at her. “It was killing him; couldn’t you see that?”

  “Perhaps if you banished it more quickly, then—”

  Nathan coughed and gasped for air as he flailed his arms once and then rolled to his side to dry-heave.

  “Get some water,” I demanded as I clapped Nathan hard on the back to dislodge whatever ectoplasmic crud was caught in his lungs. “Nathan, can you hear me?”

  He waved me off him as Percy bolted from the room to, I hoped, get water for him. After another round of coughing, he rolled onto his back. “What… happened?”

  “Miss Cresswin failed to complete the ritual,” Headmistress Hayes snapped. “We’ll have to try it again, and this time—”

  “No,” I growled up at her. “Christ, he was nearly killed! We have to rethink it, plan a better protection, if we account for the fact that it went after the receptacle—”

  Nathan sat up, glaring at me. “She’s right. You should have kept going. What were you thinking? We had it, it was going to work. Can no one do anything even half-right in this godforsaken… get out of my way.”

  He stood unsteadily and gave me a final, disgusted, and disappointed look before he stalked out of the room, coughing again into his arm.

  Hunter bent and helped me stand. My whole body was sore from so much magic and from the wild exercise of the Sumerian banishing. “Thank you,” he said quietly as I rose with my hand in his.

  Hayes shook her head slowly, brushed her fingers over her brow, and gave a final sigh of frustration before she left the room as well.

  “You did the right thing,” Lucas said. “Any of us would have made the same choice.”

  “Except for Nathan, apparently,” I muttered. “We knew there was some danger, but…”

  I stared down at the ruined diagram. All of it would have to be done again. There had to be some way to pull it off without killing Nathan, without putting him at so much risk. My mind began to swirl with the possibilities, solutions, half-baked theories.

  “Come on,” Isaac said gently as he lifted my chin with his fingers and urged me toward the door. “You need to rest. We’ll figure it out.”

  “Yeah,” I breathed, “I know… I know we will. Just… Hayes and Nathan weren’t entirely wrong. We did almost have it. If I’d kept going… this could all be over.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” Hunter said as we emerged into the hallway. “Next time, it’ll work. We’re close.”

  “I know,” I said, and wrapped my arms around my stomach to hold back the sinking feeling there. “But I have a feeling we just pissed it off. And whatever happens next… whoever gets hurt? That’s going to be on me. I can’t shake the feeling that I just chose between Nathan’s life and someone else’s.”

  And I couldn’t admit it out loud, but I didn’t regret it.

  Amelia

  “This is the best Christmas present ever,” I sighed as I sank into the warm water of a hot spring just outside the academy grounds. It had taken some work, and a little distraction, but the boys had managed to combine their talents to call up a pool of hot water in a little meadow in the mountains. We had made some progress on Nathan’s connection to the shadow entity but stalled over the last day.

  Or, more specifically, I had stalled. Nathan was some kind of demon, pushing himself relentlessly. I couldn’t help but think about him in the workroom or library, poring over books, grumbling to himself about my absence. Or, maybe he was happy to have me out of his hair for a little while. Either way, Christmas Eve presented the ideal opportunity to step away and re-center a little. Most of the students were gone, and the faculty had been taught the banishing spell that was effective against the entity. For the moment, there was little danger anyone was going to die, and we still had another week to go before the school was populated again.

  That, though, wasn’t the only concern. Hunter glanced warily at the sky. “We’ve got about four hours before sundown,” he said. “We should make sure to get back before then.”

  “Right,” I breathed as the heat seeped into my muscles. I wiggled down in the smooth stone bowl, until my neck was in the water as well. “Santa Clause is coming to town, right?” I sang.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t make jokes. And don’t draw his attention.”

  It didn’t seem like a laughing matter, but I couldn’t help a brief chuckle. “I know. And I can’t really afford to take four hours off from this. Half an hour, and then we should get back.”

  Lucas grinned as he dropped trou and slipped into the water next to me. “An hour,” he argued. “What difference can an hour make? And you’ll go back, relaxed and fresh. We all will.”

  Isaac slipped into the pool on the other side of me, which only left Hunter at the edge of the pool, staring out at the woods, arms folded as he brooded.

  “Hunter,” I said, “come on. You said yourself, we’ve got four hours before you have to worry. Come join us.”

  He grunted quietly and looked around the woods a final time before he studied us enjoying the warm water. Most of the work was his—calling up the spring, shaping the stone, ensuring that the temperature stayed in a safe range. Isaac had added a little something special to the water that made my limbs feel like they could melt. Lucas had come up with the idea and found the spot, and probably harangued Hunter about it until he agreed. That had to have been serious work.

  Hunter finally sighed. “I suppose I may as well take advantage, before I have to do the work of putting it all back where it belongs.”

  “You can’t just leave it?” I pleaded, splashing a little as he kicked his boots off and began to unbutton his shirt.

  He shook his head and waved one arm at the surrounding landscape. “A hot spring doesn’t belong here,” he said. “Leave it, and you’d be surprised what kind of effect it might have on the environment. No, I’ll have to put it right.”

  “Respect for mother nature and all that,” Lucas murmured, his eyes closed as he leaned against the side.

  Hunter hesitated a moment before he took his shirt off and folded it carefully to place on top the boulder from which the warm water poured out. He reached for the button of his jeans, and paused, then turned away from us.

  “You can’t possibly be shy,” Isaac laughed. “Come on, we’ve only got an hour.”

  Glancing over his shoulder, Hunter shushed Isaac, and ignored his and Lucas’s amusement as he unzipped and peeled his jeans down. He folded those as well, and then paused for a long moment before he finally gave a loud exhale and hooked his thumbs into his boxers. I had flashbacks of being in his room, pressed against the desk under his weight, the last time he’d taken his clothes off. I hadn’t gotten to see him from this side yet.

  “Right?” Lucas murmured, and grinned at me when I blushed a little from staring.

  Hunter turned around and kept his hands over his groin as he stepped into the water and sank down. It was adorable, kind of—Lucas and Isaac were so utterly free with their bodies, I was convinced they only wore clothes in the first place for the sake of decency. And fashion, in Lucas’s case. Hunter, though? Even after we’d been together, even after he and Lucas and Isaac and Nathan had spent a year as a group of lovers—he still had some shyness.

  I reached my foot out and brushed his calf. “See? Not so bad. You make a good hot tub. Any chance I could get you to do this back Laura’s house?”

  “Not sure the city gives out permits for magical hot springs,” Isaac said, and splashed a little water at Hunter, who positioned himself on the opposite side of the pool from where we were snuggled together. “You’re going to stay all the way over there?”

  “I don’t like to get crowded in the heat,” he grumbled. But his foot brushed mine a little bit.

  We were quiet for a moment, soaking in the warmth under the auspices of the chilled winter air. There was snow on the ground, though not as much as some other years. All natural, this time. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, smiling as I remembered my
first Christmas at Rosewilde, how Hunter had made it snow when we went up to Waterbury to just be a normal group of college students. Well, except for the part where we controlled the weather. It had made the news, and probably made more than a few meteorologists question their career choices. It had to have been my favorite time of my entire freshman year.

  “Are we all going to keep pretending, then?” Lucas wondered.

  I raised my head and peered at him through lazy eyes. “Pretending what?”

  He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Please,” he groaned, “spare me the act, I think we all know there’s no point in it. You and Hunter? We’ve all seen how things have changed between you. Are we not going to address that? Here we all are, as vulnerable as it’s possible to get, just about.”

  Hunter shifted in the water, and wouldn’t meet my eyes, or anyone else’s. “It didn’t mean…”

  I raised an eyebrow, and he caught himself before he finished that sentence. With a great sigh, he twisted a bit and folded his arms over his sparsely haired chest. “Obviously, I don’t mean it like that, just… well, I don’t know. Don’t we have more important things to worry about lately?”

  It was Isaac turn to groan with irritation. He splashed Hunter again. “Do you have to be this stubborn? Really?”

  Hunter pressed his lips together and shrugged. His eyes turned to me, and I could see a mix of need and pain and hesitation there. Like it was up to me; like after he’d practically jumped on me before, he still wasn’t sure if I really wanted him.

  I wanted to glance at Isaac and Hunter as a plan formulated within me, but I didn’t want there to be any room for Hunter to doubt my motivations. I slipped across the unnatural spring, gliding through the water the short distance it was to the man. I crawled into his lap, my knees resting easily on the conjured natural, smooth benches Lucas had cast into existence. Hunter’s hands went to my hips as he watched me with nervous, but curious eyes.

  I could feel Hunter’s cock already three-quarters of the way hard.

  “They,” I turned my head back to see Lucas and Isaac, and grinned as I saw the two slide up against one another, watching us with clear lust, “are fine with us Hunter. I promise.”

  “More than fine, really,” Lucas said, his voice deepening from desire.

  “You two are quite a beautiful sight,” Isaac agreed.

  I looked back at them with a flirtatious grin and felt my stomach twist in arousal as I watched Isaac lick a trail up Lucas’s neck, all while Lucas trailed soft circles over the other man’s shoulder and watched Hunter and I with a deep hunger in his eyes.

  I turned back and wet my lips, Hunter’s eyes darting to my lips. “See, they don’t mind if we’re like this.”

  “Amelia, I…” he trailed off, and I saw the conflict in his eyes and leaned back slightly, looking at him fully.

  “Hey,” I said softly, “if you aren’t up for this, just say it and this will be over. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed.”

  “No,” Hunter rushed to assure me. “It’s not that. I want this, and I want you. It’s just been a while since the last time with them…”

  I ran my hands over his hair, careful not to disturb his sexier-than-legal hair was tied up. “It’s just you and me,” I spoke, my words caressing his lips, my breath losing itself in the rough scratch of his beard.

  “You and me,” he whispered back, his lips feeling like the sharp buzz of magic as if he’d spelled his words.

  He held me against him, his cock thickening as it was caught between us. Our mouths explored each other, languid and relaxed as our hands traced over familiar skin.

  “I don’t think I could ever grow tired of kissing you,” I said as we pulled back from one another.

  “I don’t think I could ever grow tired of touching you,” Hunter replied and I nuzzled my nose against his, some of my hair falling in gentle curls around us from the heat of the water.

  “I definitely will never grow tired of watching you two,” Lucas’s voice drawled, a sensual tilt on his lips.

  I rolled my eyes at him, more self-conscious than actually annoyed.

  “Well,” Hunter whispered as if in conspiracy, “If they want to watch us, let’s give them a show?”

  I cocked an eyebrow, “Well, look at who is jumping right into the fire.”

  He leaned forward, nibbling my lower lip before he replied. “The frying pan was boring anyways.” Hunter looked over my shoulder. “Well, act like gents. Quid pro quo and shit.”

  “A show for a show?” Isaac offered, tracing his fingers down Lucas’s chest, his dark eyes flaring as he watched me with an intensity that made me shiver.

  “It’s only fair,” I pointed out and Isaac leaned towards me, Lucas helps him stretch farther into the water. Hunter braced me as I reached to meet him, our fingers lacing together as we embraced and braced ourselves. “Seal it with a kiss?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Most definitely,” Isaac said a moment before kissing me in that decadent way only he seemed to possess.

  Kissing Isaac with Hunter’s hands strong around my waist, bracing me with the same evergreen strength he always offered. In Hunter’s hands, there was never any fear of falling.

  I pulled back, before I grew too desperate and flung myself back into his arms. Hunter was all too satisfied to have me back completely, his hands sliding up through the water to cup my breasts, his thumbs teasing my nipples. I arched into him, unashamed of the greed in my desire.

  “A magician’s word shouldn’t be broken,” Hunter said before he dipped his head and caught a nipple between his lips. But after little more than a teasing tug, he released me. Before I could ask, he lifted me easily in the water and started to turn me around. I got with the program and settled with my back against his chest. Hunter ran his hands down my thighs, spreading my legs until they fell to the outside of his. And then he spread his own legs, forcing my own legs open until I was totally revealed to Lucas and Isaac. Well, if I weren’t underwater.

  Hunter nuzzled my throat as he spoke a spell against my skin, the magic tickling me as it spread into the world. The water cleared around us, as if now glass—but there was no difference in resistance. It’s as if Hunter simply stilled the water, no matter what disturbed it. I lifted a hand, curious to watch the water drops fall back. But they were absorbed without so much as a small ripple.

  It meant, though, that where Lucas and Isaac had been blurred by the water, I could now see them as if we were outside of the spring. Which meant they could see where Hunter’s cock strained against my pussy. They were definitely looking.

  I brought my hands to my throat, Hunters large hands gripping my thighs, his fingers so close to touching me where I really wanted him to. It was as if I were casting a spell with how rapt Lucas and Isaac’s attention was on me as I slid my hands down my breasts, teasing myself briefly before going further down, fingers tattooing over my sensitive clit to tease Hunter’s cock.

  I whispered the spell for the condom, before guiding the head to my entrance. He raised me, nearly weightless in the water, and helped me sink on to him, the slight friction making me close my eyes in pleasure.

  I leaned back, draping myself over the larger man, letting him surround me. His shoulder was the perfect pillow for my head, and I turned my head towards him, nipping at his neck, tasting a hint of salt.

  “Time to show off,” I whispered the challenge against the shell of his ear, and Hunter ducked his head to nip at my neck. The sharp sting of his bite faded as he bucked up into me before easing back out.

  Hunter slid his hands under my legs, lifting me so that he had more room. Another incantation, and the water was holding me in place securely. I knew I could break the spell if I needed to, but the thought of being held in place while Hunter had his way with me was too hot to resist.

  His hands, now freed, traveled over my body, his cock never slowing, never speeding up, and never faltering. Steady thrusts over and over, promising more, while his hands enve
loped my breasts, kneading them and teasing me until I strained against my watery bonds.

  “Hunter,” I ground out, wanting him to get on with it. It felt good, great even, but he was touching me as if whispering promises. I wanted, craved more from him.

  “The show can’t be too short,” He said, his voice rough. “Plus, you aren’t watching your own.”

  My eyes flew open and I focused on Lucas and Isaac, their mouths latched as they gripped each other’s cocks. My gaze was arrested to where their hands pumped each other, and I realized Hunter was matching their pace. Every time Lucas’s hand slid up Isaac’s cock, Hunter slid out of me. Every time Isaac’s fist glided down Lucas, Hunter fucked back into me.

  I was hypnotized by the motions, entranced by the sight before me. The two men broke off their kiss, resting their heads together as they watched me, their pupils blown wide. Hunter’s hand pressed against my stomach, his fingers sliding down until he cupped me.

  “Fuck,” I groaned out, my lips swollen from biting them, as his fingers found my clit. Circling it, he dragged an orgasm out of me, my pussy clamping down against his cock, his thrusts never faltering. Hunter didn’t stop his fingers, drawing out my orgasm, until my legs quaked against the spelled water.

  He pressed a kiss against the side of my neck and whispered, the water relaxing around my body once more.

  “You’re going to have to teach me that spell,” I said, swallowing thickly.

  “Elementalist secret,” he teased me, and I rotated my hips in his lap, grinding down against him to make him groan. He retaliated by dragging a finger against my sensitive clit and making me twitch. “Here, kneel beside me,” he said, swatting me on the thigh, though the water prevented the sting.

  I scrambled to do so, shivering as my breasts were exposed to the cold winter air.

  “Lean over the side,” he said as he settled behind me. I could feel his drag the head of his cock against my pussy as I hurried to lean over, uncaring of the sharp sting of snow against my nipples. I looked up to see the vivid colors starting to drift their way over the sky before I turned to pillow my head on my arms, my face turned towards the two others.