Magic Touch

by Jayda Marx

  I gulped before answering, “In a sense, yes. I’m sorry, Puck.”

  He shocked me by laughing out loud. “Are you serious? This is incredible! I had a spy! Me!” I blinked in confusion and he laughed again. “Sorry, that probably sounds so messed up, but most people never give me a second glance.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be noticed.” I flinched when he gasped. “You were the presence I felt following me around and watching me, weren’t you?”

  “I was.”

  His smile widened. “Thank you for helping me clean the bathroom.”

  “It was nothing,” I insisted. “And I must say, your boss is a pompous ass.”

  Puck snorted. “You got that right.” His jaw suddenly dropped. “Oh. My. God. You did something to Nash and Lance, didn’t you? That’s why they started spitting out secrets like they were sour milk.”

  I chuckled at the phrase. “I did; I charmed them to tell their embarrassing moments.”

  “Oh hell yes," he laughed again. "I can definitely see the perks of having a magical boyfriend." His hand tensed in mine. "I mean...if I'm understanding the whole 'mate' thing correctly, that is."

  It wasn't the term mages typically used, but I understood its meaning. I'd always been drawn to studying human customs, and now I knew why; so I could better connect with my beloved.

  "You are," I answered, and Puck sighed in relief. It made my heart swell to know that he wanted a romantic relationship with me. "Finding their mate, or beloved, is the most important thing to my people; it means having a lover, partner and best friend for all time. Our souls are fragmented until we find the one person meant to complete us."

  "That's really beautiful," Puck replied with a dreamy smile. "So, do humans have that too? I've heard people say, 'so and so is my soulmate'; is that true for my people too and we just don't know it?"

  "Humans can form deep bonds with each other, but they're nowhere near as powerful as those shared by mages. Because of our magical bloodline, instinct and recognition are ingrained in us. When two fated mates meet, they recognize each other instantly and enter into a relationship that is similar to what you would call an engagement; they share a promise that they will love one another and spend their lives together. Bonding ceremonies follow quickly; they're similar to human weddings, except that they eternally bind the two souls together."

  "That's a pretty big difference," Puck insisted. "And how fast is 'quickly'?"

  "Usually a few days," I shrugged, and his eyes widened. "Puck, I would love to bond with you today, but I know things are different for humans. I would never rush or pressure you; we'll go at your speed and I'll be happy just to be with you."

  A beautiful smile crossed his lips. "I'm happy to be with you too." My heart beat faster as he squeezed my hand. "I want to know everything about you, Indigo; your life, your people, your dreams…everything."

  "I want to tell you everything, and learn all about you in return." He gasped when I placed a gentle kiss on his knuckles. "May I take you somewhere to talk? There's a very special place I'd like to show you."

  "I'd like that. Let me grab some shoes and I'll be ready." Puck dashed down a short hallway and returned just a minute later wearing a pair of sneakers. "Would you like to take your car or mine?"

  I didn't own a car; no mages did because we didn't need them to travel. "I've got a better idea," I told him with a wink. I drew a circle in the air and summoned a portal as Puck's jaw dropped.

  "That's incredible," he whispered. He reached out his hand, but pulled it back just before he touched the shimmering passage.

  "It's okay; I promise it's safe. We'll go together." I offered my hand and he threaded our fingers. "Ready?"

  He let out a breath and gave a nod. "Ready."

  Chapter Six

  Puck

  Passing through the portal felt like walking through mist. The air around me was cool and thick, and caused goosebumps to raise over my arms. The ground was solid below my feet, though I saw nothing but my own shoes when I looked down. I was literally in the middle of nowhere, but I wasn't afraid. I trusted Indigo to keep me safe wherever we were.

  I'd known him for such a short time, but I already trusted him more than anyone else in my life. I already cared for him more than I ever thought I could care for someone. When I looked at him, something inside me said that he was the one I was meant to be with; I felt it even before I learned of mates. I felt it before I saw him in person for the first time.

  When he said that fated mates bonded quickly, it made my pulse race; not from fear, but from excitement. I was on board with it all until he reminded me that human relationships didn’t normally move at that speed. I didn’t want to appear desperate, so I suggested we spend some time getting to know one another. Because no matter what feelings I had for him, when it came right down to it, I knew very little about him.

  Another iridescent circle appeared in the distance, and my heart beat faster, wondering where Indigo was taking me. He squeezed my hand gently and led me through the shimmering curtain. My breath caught at the heavenly sight all around me; we were in a forest, surrounded by trees and plants of every type and size. Thick grass and wildflowers cushioned our feet, but my favorite part was the clump of dogwood trees that circled us. Their blossoms were both white and vibrant pink, and filled the air with a subtle sweet aroma.

  “Indigo, it’s beautiful here,” I said as I took in all the sights.

  “I’m glad you like it. This is my favorite spot to relax and spend some time in nature. My village isn’t too far from here.” I didn’t doubt him, though I could see nothing but trees in every direction. “Would you like to sit down?”

  “Sure.” Before I could plop my ass on the ground, Indigo spun his glowing fingers and recited a chant, and a woven gray blanket appeared in his hands. He spread it over the grass and motioned for me to take a seat. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” I admitted, and he chuckled. I sat cross-legged on the soft blanket and he nestled in close to me. “How does it work? You said you were a creator of magic; do you just create things out of nothing?”

  “Not exactly. The things we create are specialized spells or potions; we blend our magic with elements in nature to create new substances.”

  “Like alchemy?” I asked, and Indigo smiled widely.

  “Exactly. You’re very intelligent, darling.” My cheeks heated and I shrugged off the compliment. I wasn’t used to receiving them. “But as far as the blanket goes, that was a simple summoning spell. I envisioned something I knew existed, and called it to me.”

  “You say that like pulling a blanket out of thin air isn’t fucking impressive.”

  Indigo laughed again, and the deep rumble made the hairs on my arms stand up. “Thank you. But to be fair, my bloodline does most of the work. Magic is embedded into my DNA. My people are all born with abilities, and we spend our lives perfecting our craft.”

  “What was the first thing you learned to do?”

  “My mother told me that one night when I was only a few months old, I was in my crib, crying for a bottle. I must have decided she was taking too long, because when she entered my nursery, I was drinking from a bottle which hovered over my face.”

  “Holy shit, you summoned stuff when you were a baby? You must be crazy powerful.”

  “You flatter me.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and I scooted closer to him. “But my powers are pretty average. Like talents and personalities, powers differ from mage to mage, and mine are middle of the road. I can do simple spells without incantations, but I have to recite special words for more complex charms. For powerful mages, it’s simply a matter of envisioning what they want and making it happen, but that’s not always the case for me.” He gave me a sad smile. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”

  I scoffed and furrowed my brows. “Indigo, you could pull a quarter from behind my ear and I’d think you were amazing. I was blown away when you snapped roses into existence; not to mention when you conjured up a
glittery transporting wormhole. You impress the hell out of me and I could never be disappointed.”

  He raised his hand from the ground and sank his fingers into my hair, slowly combing through my locks just as he’d done in my dream. “I adore you, Puck.”

  “Thank you,” I replied before mentally cringing at how bad at this shit I was. Luckily, it didn’t look like he thought my reply was rude; he just kept smiling at me, but I still felt the need to change the subject. “So...tell me about your village.”

  “Let’s see here.” Indigo tucked his long hair behind his ear as he thought. “Well, Evermere has stood for centuries and I doubt it looks much different now than at its beginning. It’s filled with stone homes with thatched roofs, and we grow most of what we eat. Tilling the land and harvesting vegetation strengthens our bond with nature.”

  “The town is peaceful and doesn’t move at the hustle and bustle speed of human cities since we don’t have jobs to run off to per se; we have potions to ward off sickness and repair injuries, so we don’t need doctors. The children are naturally drawn to learning and prefer to do so themselves, so we don’t need schools. We do teach the young ones spells and potions, but it’s something we enjoy, so we don’t see it as an obligation. Oh, and we have several festivals throughout the year where we all get together and celebrate life and bounty.”

  My soul yearned to experience the wonders of his town for myself. “It sounds like paradise,” I whispered, and Indigo flashed a pearly grin.

  “I love it, and I hope you will too.” Is he taking me there? Let’s go now! Before I could voice my pushy request, Indigo asked, “Will you tell me about where you grew up?”

  Damn. “Well, I didn’t grow up in one particular place.” He furrowed his brows in confusion, so I explained, “I spent all of my childhood bouncing from one foster home to the next.”

  Indigo caressed circles over my back with his large, warm hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful that I always had a roof over my head and food in my stomach, but I wish I had the chance to put roots down somewhere, you know?” Indigo nodded as he listened intently. “I never had time to form friendships before I moved to the next town and school. I never got attached to my foster parents because I knew I’d be leaving them.”

  “Do you know anything about your biological parents?”

  I shook my head no. “I never knew them, but I also never resented them. I’ve always had this feeling in my heart that they gave me up in hopes that I’d have a better life than they could provide; that it was their way of caring for me.” I shrugged. “Maybe it’s just silly wishful thinking; that I can’t accept that they just didn’t want me.”

  “It’s not silly,” Indigo insisted. “Instinct isn’t something to be taken lightly. If you feel it in your heart that it’s true, then I believe it is.” He trailed his hand up and down my spine. “Whatever their reasons and wherever they are, I know that they’d be so proud of the man you’ve become.”

  I tried to thank him, but my throat was too tight with emotion. I turned my head away from him to blink the moisture from my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I whispered when I had myself (mostly) under control. “I’m usually better at keeping this shit contained. It’s just...I’ve never had someone to talk to about this stuff and I guess it’s bringing up a lot of old feelings.”

  “You can talk to me about anything, Puck. I’m sorry that you’re upset, but I ask that you never hide your emotions from me. I’m here to share your burdens and your joy. You’ll never have to shoulder anything by yourself again; you’ll never be alone again.”

  “Fuck,” I muttered when tears rolled down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly and sniffed my dripping nose. Indigo didn’t laugh or chastise or scoff; he simply wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer, allowing me to rest my head on his shoulder and weep into his neck. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Years of pent-up emotions; loneliness, longing, and betrayal flowed out of me, and Indigo accepted them willingly. He didn’t speak a word; he just rested his cheek on my head and held me tightly, enveloping me in unwavering support.

  Since I was completely losing my shit anyway, I decided to tell him about one more dark spot in my past. He’d asked about it earlier, but I wasn’t ready to tell him. Now I ached to tell him; maybe it was selfish, but I wanted to share my burdens with him. I finally had someone to lean on, and my soul needed cleansed.

  I don’t know how long it took for me to calm down enough to speak, but eventually my eyes and nose dried up. I didn’t move from Indigo’s hold, though. It felt too good; too right. I needed his arms around me when I told my story.

  “Do you remember those boys at the restaurant?” Indigo nodded. “I met them when I moved to Warren during my senior year of high school. They welcomed me and talked to me in the halls every day and it was incredible. I was a nobody from nowhere who never stayed in one place long, so everyone tended to ignore my existence, but these guys were different. They were nice and I couldn’t believe that I’d finally found friends.”

  “One day, Lance invited me to his birthday party at his house. I’d never been to a party and I was so excited. I had a little money tucked away from the allowance I’d earned at my last home, so I took it to buy him a gift. I’d overheard him talking about a basketball team he followed and bought him a jersey. I was so excited to see him open something I knew he’d love.”

  “Well, when I got to his house, I was blown away; the place was huge. I’d never seen a house so big or fancy. Lance answered the door and waved me in. The place was packed with people from my school. Music was playing and everyone was dancing and having a good time. Being included in that was everything I ever dreamed of. Lance saw the gift in my hand and told me he had a present for me too. Before I could ask what in the world he was talking about, he led me to the front of the room, where Nash was waiting. Nash turned off the music and got everyone’s attention.”

  I swallowed hard before I continued, “Lance told everyone that he couldn’t believe I actually showed up to his party, and that he wanted to thank me properly. He handed over a box and I opened it quickly; I was too excited to be there and trusted them too much to even think it could be a trick. I pulled out a big pink dildo and everyone around me started laughing and pointing at me, including Lance and Nash. They said they couldn’t believe that a pathetic little faggot thought he’d actually be welcome with them.”

  “How dare they?” Indigo exclaimed. I appreciated his support, but I wanted to tell the rest of my sad tale.

  “Once I could feel my feet, I bolted. I’d never felt more betrayed or used. When Monday rolled around, I told my foster mom I was sick, but I didn’t have a fever, so she made me go to school. Everyone laughed at me again as I walked down the halls; even people who weren’t at the party had heard about it. Then I saw Lance at his locker, wearing the jersey I bought him. I spent the rest of the day crying in the bathroom and none of my teachers even noticed I was missing.”

  “The rest of that year, I kept to myself and didn’t speak to anyone. People eventually stopped laughing at me and moved on with their lives. I know it was just teenage stupidity and I shouldn’t let it affect me anymore; I’m a grown ass man, but it cut me deep. It changed how I saw the world and it was so hard for me to trust anyone after that. That’s why I was so quick to judge you in the beginning. I know it’s not an excuse, but I hope you can forgive me.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive,” he insisted, carding his fingers through my hair again. “I’m sorry that you went through that. It tears me apart to know that you faced that pain alone. You didn’t deserve that. And it doesn’t matter how old you are; it was traumatic and there’s no shame in the way it affected you then or affects you now.” I looked up to give him a little smile. His words were everything I never knew I needed to hear. “Thank you for telling me.”

  “Thank you for listening,” I countered before nuzzling my face back into the crook of his neck.


  “I’ll always be here for you, Puck. There’s just one thing I need to know.” I nodded and waited for his request; I’d tell him anything. “I forgot the name of the university they attend; I need you to tell me so that I can pay them a little visit.”

  Oh shit. I peeked up at him again and saw rage burning in his eyes. He was furious about the things they’d done to me and was hungry for revenge on my account. Damn if that didn’t make my dick stand up and say hello; I’d never had anyone who was willing to fight for me.

  I cleared my throat and said in my calmest possible voice, “I appreciate that, but I told myself a long time ago that it’s not worth stooping to their level. Don’t get me wrong; I loved the scene at Rosie’s yesterday, but I think we should leave it there. You can’t fight evil with more evil; I believe if you choose the high road, life will reward you.” I nudged his shoulder with mine. “You’re my proof of that.”

  Indigo sighed and shook his head with a smile. “You’re a better man than I could ever dream to be.”

  “I don’t believe that for a minute.” I snuggled back up to him, feeling lighter than I had in...well, ever. Releasing everything I’d kept bottled up for so long cleared my anxiety and freed my soul.

  I flinched when something cool and soft bounced off of my cheek. When it happened again, I begrudgingly peeled myself off of Indigo and looked up. Dozens of white and pink blossoms left their branches and slowly rained down over us. They landed in my hair and I held out my hands, catching the delicate blooms in my palms. I looked to Indigo, who gave me a sly smile and a wink. I could definitely get used to having a magical boyfriend or mate or sort-of-fiance...whatever the hell he was, I was just glad he was mine.

  Indigo plucked a flower from my shoulder and held it out for me to examine. Its four petals were a pretty shade of pink and held a small green cluster in the center. “Do you know why Dogwood flowers are so special?” he asked, and I shook my head no. “They’re so beautiful that it’s easy to think that they may be delicate or easily broken, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re strong and can survive tough conditions. They’re symbols of strength and power.”